How Can I Talk to Deaf People on the Phone?
- 1). Make sure your friend has a telephone typewriter (TTY) or a telecommunications device for the deaf (TTD). These are telephones that allow deaf individuals to type messages on a keyboard and send them via telephone lines to the other end.
- 2). Dial "711" for a relay service and wait for an operator to take your call.
- 3). If calling long distance, tell the TTY operator which long-distance carrier you prefer. Otherwise, the operator will apply the relay service's default long-distance fees.
- 4). When prompted, give the operator the TTY number you want to call. Wait for the operator to dial.
- 5). Converse with your deaf friend through the operator. The operator will type your messages to your friend and read your friend's messages back to you. On your end, you speak to the operator, while on his end, your friend types messages on his TTY or TTD.
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