A Guide to Planning Accessible Meetings

Telephones

Note: Technology is constantly changing and many of the tools listed below are gradually being replaced by newer devices. For the most up-­to­-date details on regulations, proposed rules, and resources, visit the website of the Federal Communication Commission's Disability Rights Office.

Video phones and relay services: Many people who use sign language to communicate use video phones. These devices connect to a television or computer, allowing phone calls to be made with video transmission over a high speed Internet connection, similar to Skype. These devices allow sign language users to call each other directly, or to call non-signers through a sign language interpreter. The interpreter communicates with the signer through video and with the non-signer through the telephone. The interpreter acts as an operator by connecting the call, and then interprets all communication. Video interpreters are hired by private companies that provide Video Relay Services (VRS). All interpreting minutes are reimbursed through a fund managed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Mobile devices equipped with high speed data and wifi may also be used as portable video phones. 

Teletypewriters (TTYs) and Telecommunication Relay Service (TRS): People with hearing and speech disabilities who do not use sign language to communicate, those without access to high speed Internet, and some other signers often use teletypewriters (TTYs), which used to be called Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDDs). The TTY cradles the receiver of a land-line phone and has a screen and/or printer which allows the user to type and read messages. A TTY-user can communicate with those using standard phones through the Telecommunication Relay Service (TRS), which uses a third-party Communications Assistant (CA) to type the spoken message and read the typed message. This service is paid for by a fund managed by the FCC and can be accessed by dialing 711.

Captioned telephones: Both Internet protocol captioned telephone services (IP CTS) and analog CTS caption a conversation so that it can be read, just like captions on television or video. For more information on phones and services, visit the Hearing Loss Association of America.

Internet Protocol (IP) relay service: IP Relay service allows people with hearing and speech disabilities to use TRS through a computer or web-enabled device rather than through a TTY or telephone. A major advantage to this is that the user is able to participate in conference calls. IP Relay is paid for by the FCC.

According to the ADA regulations, meeting facilities that provide equipment for participants to make outgoing calls on “more than an incidental convenience basis” must provide the same opportunity for people with hearing and speech disabilities. This generally means that if public pay phones are available, a TTY-equipped phone or a Public Access Videophone (PAV) must also be available. A PAV can be used to make any form of TRS or point-­to­-point video or TTY calls.