ADAAG Manual

Permanently Fixed vs. Portable TTYs

While TTYs are available in a variety of designs, including portable models, ADAAG requires TTYs to be permanently fixed at pay phones. This allows ready and independent access for people needing them. Portable TTYs provided on an as-needed basis cannot substitute for fixed devices except in certain limited situations as an "equivalent facilitation" where they can be made readily available (i.e., nearby pay phones) at all times that the public pay phones can be used. ADAAG gives the example of a hotel registration desk in the vicinity of pay phones staffed at all times. Portable devices can be used to provide access to desktop and residential-type phones under ADA requirements outside ADAAG. This includes access to phones in hospital and hotel rooms; (TTYs at hospital or hotel front desks will allow patients or guests using TTYs in their rooms to access in-house services).

In new construction, TTY equipment can be provided as part of the pay phone contract with a phone company, independent pay phone provider, or route subcontractor. For existing installations, contact the phone service provider to add a TTY to an existing bank or to modify an existing pay phone enclosure with a shelf and power outlet to accommodate a portable device. Adding a shelf or power outlet or, where vandalism is not a concern, attaching a portable TTY next to an existing phone can also be done by a carpenter or construction contractor.