this is new to me.

dan

Bob Segalman wrote:

> Dan -
>
>              No, I am not talking about the TTY relay as that requires
> typing and many people with speech disabilities can not type easily.
> Speech-to-Speech allows a person with a speech disability (like me with CP)
> to talk to a communications assistant (CA) who is trained to understand
> difficult speech.  The CA makes phones calls for me and repeats everything I
> say.  If you give me your phone number, I'll call you and demonstrate STS.
> Here's the basic info again for your convenience.
>
>             Maryland is one of the nine states providing STS, but I'll
> gladly explain to people how to bring it to their state.
>
>                     - Bob
>
> PEOPLE WITH SPEECH DISABILITIES NOW HAVE A TELEPHONE SERVICE
>
> If you have a speech disability and live in : ARIZONA,
> CALIFORNIA, MARYLAND, NEVADA, SOUTH CAROLINA, WISCONSIN, GEORGIA,
> MINNESOTA and WASHINNGTON STATE, you can now use a new, free telephone
> assistance service 24 hours a day.
>
> This service, called Speech-to-Speech, provides "communications
> assistants" (CA) for people with difficulty being understood by the public
> on the telephone. We hope that the FCC will require all states to provide
> Speech-to-Speech in two years.
>
> If you have a speech disability, you can dial toll free to reach a
> patient, trained communications assistant who is familiar with many speech
> patterns and has excellent hearing and language skills. This operator makes
> telephone calls for you and repeats your words exactly.
>
> Users now make about 5,000 calls a month nationally. Speech-to-Speech
> is also useful if you use a speech synthesizer. Speech-to-Speech is
> the only way for many people to telephone others not accustomed to
> their speech. Many Speech-to-Speech users have Parkinson's disease, cerebral
> palsy, multiple sclerosis, or Muscular Dystrophy. Other users include
> people who stutter or have had a laryngectomy or ALS.
>
> I have cerebral palsy and Speech-to-Speech made telephone use
> much easier for me. You can try out Speech-to-Speech, report
> problems or get more information by calling 800-854-7784 and
> asking the CA to call Dr. Bob Segalman at 916-263-8689 (W)
> or 916-362-0982(H)  See also the new web page on Speech-to-Speech:
>
>   http://www.stsnews.com/
>
> Here are the U. S. Speech-to-Speech access numbers:
>
> ARIZONA 1 800 842 6520
> CALIFORNIA 1 800 854 7784
> MARYLAND 1 800-785-5630
> SOUTH CAROLINA 1 877 735 7277
> WISCONSIN 1 800-833-7637
> GEORGIA 1 800 229 5746
> WASHINGTON STATE 1-877-833-6341
> NEVADA 1-888-326-5658
> MINNESOTA 1-877-627-3848
>
> Sweden has completed a Speech-to-Speech Trial.  Australia now has a
> permanent service. For Swedish information e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> (Inga Svanfeldt) and for Australian information e-mail:
> [log in to unmask]
> (Tom McCaul)
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: lawrence keplinger <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, December 12, 1999 8:07 AM
> Subject: Re: Fw: Telephone Access for People with Speech Disabilities
>
> > are you just talking about the maryland relay system for deaf people?  the
> deaf
> > person uses a tty,  awn operater then speaks what was type to to person
> and the
> > other phone.
> >
> > dan
> >
> > Bob Segalman wrote:
> >
> > > Mag - The Speech to Speech Communications assistants (CA) are recruited
> from
> > > among the TTY CAs.  Most of them are young women
> > > as young people hear better and men don't listen (smile).
> > >
> > > - Bob
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Magenta Raine <[log in to unmask]>
> > > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > Sent: Sunday, December 12, 1999 10:35 AM
> > > Subject: Re: Fw: Telephone Access for People with Speech Disabilities
> > >
> > > > bob, where do the crs / sts find these interpreters? just curious.
> > > >
> > > > mag
> > > >
> >