Chapter 1: ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TOOLS
Assistive Technology Manual

TTY

TTY BACKGROUND
GENERAL TTY DIRECTIONS
TTY DIRECTIONS WHEN A PHONE IS USED FOR BOTH VOICE/TTY
PROGRAMMING A TTY
USING VOICE MAIL TO ANSWER TTY CALLS
COMMUNICATION USING A TTY
OBTAINING A TTY

TTY BACKGROUND

TTY allows people who are deaf or hard of hearing and have speech impairments to use the telephone to communicate by allowing them to type messages back and forth to one another instead of talking and listening. A TTY--sometimes referred to as TDD, or telecommunication device for the deaf--is usually required at both ends of the conversation in order to communicate.

If you don't have a TTY, you can still communicate by using the Minnesota Relay Service (MRS) at 1-800-627-3529. With MRS, a communication assistant (CA) types whatever you say so the person you are calling can read your words on his or her TTY display and type back a response, which the MRS operator reads aloud for you to hear over the phone. MRS is a great system and works well as a backup, but it should not be used as a replacement for a TTY. A TTY call is a direct connection between a deaf person and the organization or agency they are calling; a relay call involves a third party.

Another device you can use is an Intele-Model. It turns your personal computer into a TTY, automatically switching between ASCII computer code and Baudot code, allowing you to communicate with people using various types of TTYs and computers. It directly connects to your phone line and detects dial tones, rings, or busy signals. The Intele-Modem works with standard communication software on your computer.

Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) provides information about TTY use and communicating with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. To contact CSD:

• Northern area: (877) 456-3839 V/TTY

• Southern area: (877) 456-2021 V/TTY

• Metro area (includes St. Cloud): (651) 224-6548

GENERAL TTY DIRECTIONS

How to Dial from the Keyboard

How to Answer Calls when the TTY is being Monitored

How to Set Up for Auto Answer

Save an auto answer message in the memory.
a.    Turn your Superprint on. You will read "READY" on the display.
b.    Hold down [Select] while you press [4] (MESSAGE SAVE).
c.    Type a number from 1 to 9.
d.    Create your message.
e.    Save your message. Hold down [Select] and press [4] (MESSAGE SAVE) again.  

How to Return Calls when the Auto Answer has Been On

How to Turn Auto Answer On and Off

TTY DIRECTIONS WHEN A PHONE IS USED FOR BOTH VOICE/TTY

How to Make a TTY Call

1. Turn your Superprint on. You will read "READY" on the display. If you have an automatic announcer, the message "ANNOUNCER ON" will appear.
2. Place your telephone handset in the Superprint acoustic cups. Be sure the cord is on the left and your printer is on.
3. Hold down the telephone receiver button for two or three seconds, then release it.
4. Watch the signal light for a dial tone. It glows steadily red when there is a dial tone and flickers if the TTY Announcer is "speaking."
5. Dial the number you want to call and watch the signal light for a ring. The signal light will flash on and off slowly if there is a ring and quickly if the line is busy.
6. When the person you are calling answers, begin your conversation.
7. When your call is finished, turn your Superprint off and hang up the telephone.

How to answer a TTY Call

1. When the phone rings, place the telephone handset in the acoustic cups and turn the Superprint on. You will read "READY" on the display. If you have an automatic announcer, you will read "ANNOUNCER ON."
2. Begin your conversation. If the Announcer is on, it turns off automatically. Make sure the printer is on.
3. When your conversation is finished, turn the Superprint off and hang up the telephone.

PROGRAMMING A TTY

Programming varies for different TTY models. The instructions given here are for the current models of the Superprint by Ultratec (Model 200 or 400). If you have a different model, consult your manual, the supplier of your machine, or the Regional Service Center.

Programming an Outgoing Message

The top row keys are number and function keys. Hold down the shift/select key and hit the "4" key ("save"). The display will read "message num 1-9." Select it. The display will read "type new message." Type a greeting including office name and city. Type GA at the end of the message. After typing the message, hold the shift/select key and hit "4" to complete the process. The display will read "message saved."

Using a Programmed message to answer an incoming call

When a TTY call comes in on your voice line, place the telephone receiver firmly into the acoustic cups on the TTY machine. Hold down the "shift/select" key and hit number "5" (send). The screen will read "message num 0 or 1-9"; hit the number key on which you saved your outgoing message and it will be sent and displayed on your screen. Continue with the conversation until both parties are done.

Programming the TTY answering machine function

If your TTY is on a dedicated line, you can program it to act as an answering machine. First, record an outgoing message (see above). Hold down the "shift/select" key and hit the "9" key. The screen will read "ans message num 1-9." Hit the number for the recorded message. The screen will read "Rings? 1-9". Select the number of times you would like the phone to ring before the answering machine takes the call. After you enter the number of rings, the screen will read "auto answer on." Hitting any key (or the space bar) will turn off the auto answer feature (the screen will display "auto answer off").

USING VOICE MAIL TO ANSWER TTY CALLS

If your phone rolls to voice mail when your line is busy or unanswered, then the voice mail message should include a TTY message. To make the process easier, have a script prepared. You will access your voice mail as if you were going to record a voice only message; begin with a brief voice message, then the TTY message, finish with a brief voice message. When you retrieve your messages, if you hear a TTY message, you can place the handset on the TTY and retrieve the message.

Here is a sample script: "(voice) Hello, you have reached ________________. Please leave a message so that we may return your call. There will now be a series of electronic tones that is a TTY message. Please hold during these tones. Place the handset on the TTY quickly and type the following: "Hello, you have reached ________________. There will be a brief voice message after this TTY message, when the signal light stays off, please leave your name and number so that we may return your call as soon as possible. (Remove the handset) (Voice) Thank you, please begin your message now."

COMMUNICATION USING A TTY

1. Answer the phone promptly; return messages as soon as possible. Whether making or receiving a TTY call, identify yourself and any other people who may be reading the conversation.
2. Type "GA" each time you are finished speaking. This indicates to the other person that it is their turn to speak. "GA" means "Go Ahead."
3. Abbreviate any words as long as the meaning will be clear in the context of the conversation. For example, "ur" for "your" and "pls" for "please." Don’t worry about misspellings if the meaning is clear. If you misspell a word, you can type a few x’s right after the misspelling and retype the word. If the other person doesn’t understand, they may ask you to repeat or clarify.
4. Ask the other person to repeat or clarify anything that you do not understand. "Q" is used in place of a question mark.
5. When you believe the conversation is complete, type "GA or SK." This will let the other person know that you are ready to hang up unless they have something more they would like to say. When both parties have typed SK, the conversation is complete and you may hang up. "SK" means "Stop Keying."

Abbreviations

These are abbreviations commonly used when speaking with someone on the TTY.

DEED TTY Numbers

Listed numbers are all either TTY direct lines or voice lines where a TTY is readily available. Every effort has been made to identify which numbers share a voice line; however, there may be some numbers listed as TTY only which do in fact, share a voice line. Any corrections to this list should be directed to the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, 651-296-1823.

OBTAINING A TTY

TTYs from Ultratec may be ordered from:

Graybar Electric                                  
13310 Industrial Park Blvd.                 
Plymouth, MN 55441
Contract #: 419579  
Contact: Jenny
Tel:  (763) 550-9254
Fax: (763) 550-9270

TTYs may be repaired or serviced through Ultratec by taking the steps on their website, which is at http://www.ultratec.com/info/Repair.html. There is a Service Cover Sheet that you may obtain from that website, which should accompany your TTY when you send it to them. Make sure to call before hand to see if there isn't something you can do before you go to the expense of sending it back.

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