Disability services
There are many phone services to assist cusomers who may have hearing or speech disabilities, including the following:
Dial 7-1-1 for the Kansas Relay Center
The Kansas Relay Center (KRC) is a free service that connects customers who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities with others, using either standard telephone equipment or telephone equipment that has been specifically designed for individuals with disabilities. Making a call is simple: dial 7-1-1 or the toll-free number, 1-800-766-3777. A trained Communications Assistant will answer your call and relay the telephone conversation between you and the party you are calling. All call information and conversations are confidential. Relay service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This service will handle local and long distance calls. In placing a long-distance call, you will be asked who your long distance carrier is. You will then be billed for the call or you can place the call collect or to a pre-paid calling card.
| Telephone Numbers for Kansas Relay Center: | |
| TTY | 1 (800) 766-3777 |
| Voice | 1 (800) 766-3777 |
| VCO | 1 (800) 766-3777 |
| HCO | 1 (800) 766-3777 |
| Spanish | 1 (866) 305-1343 |
| Speech to Speech | 1 (866) 305-1344 |
| Customer Service (Voice) | 1 (785) 234-0200 |
| Customer Service (TTY) | 1 (785) 234-0207 |
Types of TRS Calls
Computer (ASCII) users can access the Kansas Relay Center by setting the communications software to the following protocals: speeds ranging from 300 to 2400: 8 Bits, No Parity; 1 Stop Bit; Full Duplex. For speeds at or below 300, follow the above using Half Duplex.
Hearing-Carry-Over: HCO allows hearing individuals with very limited or no speech capability to type his or her conversation for the Communications Assistant to read aloud to the hearing person. The HCO user hears the other party’s response.
Internet Relay: Connect to the relay using your computer or other web device http://www.hamiltonrelay.com/internetrelay/index.htm . The Communications Assistant handles the call the same as a traditional relay call – “voicing” or reading everything you type to the other party – and typing everything the other party says for you to read on your screen.
Spanish Relay: Spanish Relay is for Spanish speaking individuals with a hearing or speech disability.
Speech-to-Speech: STS helps users with speech difficulties converse with one another, with a specially trained Communications Assistant acting as the intermediary.
Text Telephone: Also called TeleTypewriter, TTY is a specially designed typewriter-like device that allows users to carry on telephone conversations in the form of text conversations with the Communications Assistant.
Voice-Carry-Over: VCO enables people who have difficulty hearing on the phone to voice their conversations directly to the hearing person. The Communications Assistant types the hearing person’s response to the VCO user. VCO requires a specially designed telephone
The Kansas Telecommunications Access Program (TAP) is a telecommunications FREE equipment distribution program. The program is funded through the Kansas Universal Service Fund (KUSF) and is regulated by the Kansas Universal Services Fund (KUSF and is regulated by the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). The purpose of TAP is to provide specialized equipment to Kansan’s with disabilities or impairments in order to access basic telecommunications services. For more information, go to www.kansastap.org.
TTY callers should directly dial 9-1-1 or other existing emergency numbers in emergency situations. Emergency 9-1-1 centers are now equipped to handle TTY calls. After the 9-1-1 dispatcher answers the call, press the space bar may to help inform the dispatcher this is a TTY call. Dial 9-1-1 directly, as using Relay Service for 9-1-1 may result in a delay to getting your urgent message through.
