Canadian VRS?
Its cool that VRS is allowed for Canada, but what about text relay version? I don't think I'd be able to use the VRS if I don't have a cam.
I'm stuck in the same boat as the original poster that created this thread. I can't use a normal phone, even if its LOUD, because my ears just don't process the syllables right. It sounds like gibberish. So I prefer to read and type when it comes to conversations.
I can tell you a [sarcastic tone] funny [normal tone] story. I had gotten one of those online text relay services--like Nextel6 or iprelay or siprelay, etc--and I happily gave my number around for people to enjoy using so they could call me instead of worrying about being online to talk to me. Well, my excitement turned into total crushout. My friends didn't want a relay-style service just to call me and dropped trying to communicate with me at all or just the occasional IMing, but my family totally dropped the relay service entirely since they wanted "a normal call" with me. Here's the kind of frequent whining I'd get from them... Note: words in caps are from their stronger emphasis being made in their voice whenever I would suck it up and give them a call on a payphone. Because of the crushout, I stopped sucking up to them.
"Can't you have a normal phone conversation like everybody else?"
"I want to hear YOUR voice, not some stranger's!"
"Can't you use a NORMAL phone?"
"Couldn't you just call me on this payphone? I don't care if you call Collect."
"I want a conversation with you that won't have an eavesdropper on it."
"Couldn't you use your hearing aid for this?"
Note: I rarely use hearing assistance; it seems more of an annoyance than a help and often just amplifies the gibberish, so I use it only for urgent situations--I can't afford interpreting.
"Can't you find a service online that'll let you TALK to me instead of reading my words? I know you can hear me."
Note: *huge heavy groan* If I can hear, great. But that doesn't promise comprehension of the gibberish I hear!
"You're normal. You don't need this stuff."
Note: *another groan*
"The relay operator is too slow."
Note: To me, they can be awfully fast.
Etc. You get the idea. In short, I'll bet those services have me disconnected, as nobody calls me anymore. I've learned about a new free service, called i711 and their 1711 Call Me, but I don't know if they allow me to call a Canadian number. I'm in Canada, but services like this can't tell; go figure. I have sent off a question to them, hoping to find out if its possible. If so, I may get rid of these other relays I'm using and switch to them. At least I'd be getting an 1-800 number that might appease people -some-, but it'll still annoy the poo out of them because its still a relay service.
[sighs] If you live in Canada, life is harder for a Deafie. I feel I shouldn't have moved here. There's so much more available to the Deaf in the US and I used to live there.
