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>How To Make A Relay Call

Following is a step-by-step guide to using CRS to communicate with people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired, or with people who use a standard telephone. A relay call can be made by TTY, Internet Relay Service, Video Relay Service, or Speech to Speech Relay Service. A relay call can include Voice Carryover ( VCO ) and Hearing Carryover ( HCO ) service

TTY Relay Service

TTY Telephone image

From standard telephone to TTY

A TTY is a small telecommunications device with a keyboard for typing and a screen for reading conversations.

A TTY is often used by people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-disabled.

  1. Dial a voice relay operator:
    • 711 or
    • (800) 735-2922 or
    • (866) 735-2922 (GoAmerica)
    • (866) 734-2777 (Nordia)
    • (888) 877-5379 (Sprint)
  2. Give the relay operator the area code and TTY number you wish to call.
  3. The operator will voice what the TTY user says to you and type to the other party what you say.
  4. The conversation can go back and forth as long as you wish.
  5. You will need to talk slower than usual because everything you say is being typed.
  6. There are no charges for using the relay service. Usual charges for long distance calls will apply.

Click here for More Tips on TTY Relay Calls

From TTY to standard telephone

  1. Dial a TTY relay operator:
    • 711 or
    • (800) 735-2929 or
    • (866) 735-2929 (GoAmerica)
    • (866) 734-2888 (Nordia)
    • (877) 735-2929 (Sprint)
  2. Give the relay operator the area code and voice phone number you wish to call.
  3. The operator will type what the other party voices to you, and voice to the other party what you type on your TTY.
  4. The conversation can go back and forth as long as you wish.
  5. There are no charges for using CRS. The usual charges for long distance calls will apply.

Click here for More Tips on TTY Relay Calls

Voice Carry Over And Hearing Carry Over Relay (VCO AND HCO)

Click here for Voice Carry Over Relay (VCO)

Click here for Hearing Carry Over Relay (HCO)

Voice Carry Over telephone

VOICE CARRY OVER Relay (VCO) is for people who are deaf or hard of hearing but who wish to speak through the telephone receiver directly to and be heard by the other party. The relay operator types what is said by the other party and the VCO user reads it on his or her TTY. The conversation continues back and forth this way until both parties conclude the call.

  1. For VCO Relay Service dial*:
    • 711 or
    • (800) 735-2929 or
    • (866) 735-2929 (GoAmerica)
    • (866) 734-2303 (Nordia)
    • (877) 877-8859 (Sprint)

    • *For calls TO a VCO user dial:
      • 711 or
      • (800) 735-2922 or
      • (866) 735-2922 (GoAmerica)
      • (866) 734-2777 (Nordia)
      • (888) 877-5379 (Sprint)
  2. Ask the Relay Operator for VCO Relay.
  3. Give the Relay Operator the area code and phone number you wish to call.

Click here for Tips and other types of VCO calls.

2-LINE VCO RELAY (2LVCO) is similar to the above but uses two telephone lines: One is used with a TTY for incoming text from the relay operator to the VCO user, and the other line is used for voice from the VCO user who speaks directly to the other party. The line used for voice needs to have conferencing or three-way calling capability from the telephone company.

Click here for Tips and other types of VCO Relay Calls

HEARING CARRY OVER Relay (HCO) is for people who can hear but who have difficulty speaking clearly but wish to hear the other party directly. The HCO user types on a TTY what he or she wishes to say and this is spoken by the relay operator to the other party. The conversation continues back and forth this way until both parties conclude the call.

  1. For HCO Relay Service dial*:
    • 711 or
    • (800) 735-2929 or
    • (866) 735-2929 (GoAmerica)
    • (866) 734-2304 (Nordia)
    • (877) 735-2929 (Sprint)

    • *For calls TO an HCO-user dial:
      • 711 or
      • (800) 735-2922 or
      • (866) 735-2922 (GoAmerica)
      • (866) 734-2777 (Nordia)
      • (888) 877-5379 (Sprint)
  2. Ask the Relay Operator for an HCO call.
  3. Give the area code and phone number you wish to call.

Click here for Tips and other types of HCO Relay Calls

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Speech To Speech Relay Service (STS)

Speech to Speech Relay Service makes it possible for people who can hear but who have a speech disability to carry on a telephone conversation with anyone they might wish to communicate. Some STS users communicate with a voice synthesizer or voice enhancer device. As needed, a specially trained STS Relay Operator re-voices what is being said by the STS user. The STS user hears the other party's voice directly. The conversation continues back and forth this way until both parties conclude the call. No special telephone equipment is required.

  1. For Speech to Speech Relay Service dial:
    • 711 or
    • (800) 854-7784 or
    • (866) 854-7784 (GoAmerica)
    • (866) 734-2305 (Nordia)
    • (888) 877-5302 (Sprint)
  2. Give the Relay Operator the area code and phone number you wish to call.
  3. Either party can tell the Relay Operator how active to be in re-voicing.

Click here for Tips and other types of STS Relay Calls

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Internet Relay Service

computer photo

Internet Relay Service is a Web-based relay service. Text-users who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled can initiate a relay call by connecting with an Internet Relay Operator who, in turn, dials the phone number of the other party to be called. The conversation between the text-user and the other party continues back and forth until both conclude the call.

  1. CRS Internet Relay Service for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled.*

    2. *Calls to Internet Relay users: At the present time, the ability to make a relay call to an Internet Relay user is an optional service. Contact the Customer Service Department of each vendor to find out if this feature is offered:

  2. If you receive a call from someone who is using Internet Relay, you will need to talk slower than normal since everything you say is being typed.

Click here for More Tips on Internet Relay Calls

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Video Relay Service (VRS)

videophone

Video Relay Service (VRS) makes use of a web cam and the Internet, or a videophone and high speed Internet access. A Relay Operator/Interpreter fluent in sign language can see and be seen by the calling party. VRS is often preferred by people who wish to use sign language and/or lipread the relay operator. The Video Interpreter relays conversations back and forth between VRS users and people who use standard telephones until both parties conclude the call.

  1. CRS Video Relay Service can be reached at the following websites:

    Follow call instructions on the site.

  2. Making a call from a standard telephone to a VRS User:

    At the present time, the ability to make a relay call from a standard telephone to a Video Relay user is an optional service. Contact the Customer Service Department of each provider to see if this feature is offered. However, a VRS user can make a relay call to you. CRS Video Relay Service will relay a conversation between you and a VRS user.

Click here for More Tips on VRS Relay Calls

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CRS

 
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