Facts about Florida Residents
• State population : 18 – 19 million
• Florida follows national average 16% of population has hearing loss (approximately 3 million are Deaf and/or
Hard of Hearing).
• Estimated that another 2-5 % of the population is
Speech disabled.
Federal Legislation
Americans with Disabilities Act
ADA
• 1990
• Title 4
(Telecommunications)
Deaf,
Hard of Hearing, Deaf/Blind, Speech
Disabled
• Relay Service
Relay Service
TTY User
Voice User
Relay Operator
1. TTY user dials 711 to connect to the Relay service and then types his/her message
2. Operator reads and voices the typed message and then listens and types the spoken message
3. Voice user listens and then speaks back for his/her reply
Florida Legislation
Telecommunications Access System Act
(TASA)
• 1991
• Chapter 427 Florida Statute….
“All persons have the right to basic telecommunication services at reasonable affordable costs”
• Administrator
• Funding
TASA Funding
Monthly surcharge
All telephone landlines in Florida
Businesses pay on the first 25 lines
Surcharge collected by local telephone companies.
Money sent to Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc. (FTRI) to pay for
Florida Relay Service … 46%
FTRI … 54%
Equipment ... 29%
Distribution/Training ... 11%
Administration ... 8%
Outreach ... 6%
LOCAL COMMUNICATIONS
LOCAL SERVICE ITEMIZATION
SERVICE – July 1 - Aug 1
DESCRIPTION
TELEPHONE NUMBER 000-0000
TELE/ACCESS ACT CHARGE
QUANTITY
1
UNIT RATE
.11
PAGE 1
July 1, 2009
AMOUNT
.11
* Surcharge is set by FPSC annually.
** Description on phone bill will vary depending on local telephone company.
Who Is FTRI?
Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc .
• Administrator of TASA Law (F.S. 427)
• A private not-for-profit organization
• NOT a state agency
• Governed by Board of Directors.
• Located in Tallahassee.
Create awareness, educate public and promote the
Florida Relay Service.
Distribute specialized telephones to Florida residents.
Florida Relay
What is it?
• Communication Link
Connects people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf/Blind, or Speech
Disabled to standard telephone users and vice versa.
• Calls are processed by a Relay OPR
Operator interfaces between caller and receiver to relay the message.
• All calls (conversations) are strictly confidential
No phone records are kept.
• Available 24 hours, 365 days a year.
Florida Relay
How is it used?
• Personal and business calls
Made every day by thousands of people throughout
Florida.
• Local calls
At no charge.
• Long-distance calls
Billed by the individuals long-distance carrier
(provider).
• No limits and restrictions
On the number or length of calls.
Florida Relay
How to Access?
Dial … 711 to use the relay anywhere.
(711 is the national number for Relay)
Or, dial the appropriate direct access number .
1-800-955-8770 (Voice) 1-800-955-8771 (TTY)
1-877-955-8260 (VCO) * 1-877-955-5334 (STS) *
1-800-955-1339 (ASCII) 1-877-955-8773 (Spanish)
1-877-9558707 (French Creole) … 8 a.m. - 2 a.m. daily
* Recommend direct-dial
Florida Relay
Access Numbers to Remember
711 … Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS).
411 ... directory assistance for both local and long distance numbers. Charges may apply when using directory assistance.
911 … emergency assistance in case of an emergency,
Relay users should call 911 directly, not the Relay
Service for emergencies. This will save valuable time in urgent emergencies
Florida Relay
Types of Customers
•
TTY/TDD
Is for individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf/Blind, or Speech Disabled.
• Allows a person to type his or her own conversation through the relay OPR who then voices aloud the typed conversation to a hearing person.
Florida Relay
Types of Customers
Voice Carry-Over (VCO)
• VCO allows deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals who prefer to use their own voice to speak directly to the party they are calling.
• The operator will type the voice responses back to the VCO user who reads the typed message across the text screen
Florida Relay
Types of Customers
CapTel
(enhanced VCO)
Florida Relay
Types of Customers
Hearing Carry-Over (HCO)
• HCO allows people who are speech disabled to use their hearing abilities to listen directly to the other party
• The operator then voices the typed responses from the HCO user to the hearing person, who then speaks directly to the HCO user
Florida Relay
Types of Customers
Speech-to-Speech (STS)
• Speech to Speech allows individuals with speech disabilities to use their own voice, while utilizing the assistance of specially trained operators to make their calls.
• When spoken words become difficult to understand, the operator assists verbally, making communication between both parties as clear and personal as possible
Florida Relay
Products and Features
Translation Service available
English … from ASL-based text
Spanish … bilingual service to support Spanish to Spanish and/or Spanish to English translation
French Creole … bilingual service to support
French Creole to French Creole and/or French
Creole to English translation
Florida Relay
Confidentiality
Privacy Concerns
• Relay OPRs cannot, by law, disclose content of any conversation
• Relay OPRs may not intentionally alter a conversation
• Relay OPRs must relay calls word for word
All conversations are confidential
No records are kept
Florida Relay
Business Partnership Program
• Educational program for businesses to use the Florida Relay Service
• Provides telecommunication access for all people
• Supports consumer interaction www.ftri.org
• Educational program for kids grades 3-5 to use the Florida
Relay service
• Brings about diversity awareness to range of students that are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf/blind or speech disabled
• Free teacher’s kit that correlates with the Sunshine
State Standards, FCAT, and
ESOL
Equipment Distribution Program
FTRI
Equipment Distribution Program (EDP)
• Who is eligible?
• Deaf
• Hard of Hearing
• Deaf/Blind
• Speech Disabled
FTRI EDP
Eligibility Requirements
• Be a Florida resident.
• 3 Yrs of age or older
• Be certified with a hearing loss or speech disability.
FTRI EDP
Who Can Certify?
• Deaf Service Center Director
• Hearing Aid Specialist
• Audiologist
• Licensed Physician
• Speech Pathologist
• Appropriate State/Federal Agency Representative
• State Certified Teacher for the Hearing Impaired or Visually Impaired
FTRI Regional Distribution Centers
FTRI –Tallahassee/
RDC #23
RDC #24
RDC #5
RDC # 2 – League for the Hard of Hearing (Ft. Lauderdale)
RDC #25
RDC # 3 – Deaf Service Center of Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach)
RDC # 4 – Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services (Daytona Beach)
RDC # 5 – Independent Living Resource Center (Jacksonville)
RDC #9
RDC # 7 – Center for Independent Living in Broward County (Ft. Lauderdale)
RDC # 8 – Center for Independent Living of South Florida (Miami)
RDC # 9 – Citrus Hearing Impaired Program Services (Crystal River)
RDC # 10 – Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services of Pasco/Hernando (Port Richey)
RDC #10
RDC #12
RDC #13
RDC # 12 – Deaf & Hearing Connection for Tampa Bay (Seminole)
RDC #21
RDC # 13 – Community Center for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Manatee/Sarasota Co (Sarasota)
RDC #17
RDC # 14 –Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida (Gainesville)
RDC # 15 – disAbility Solutions (Daytona Beach)
RDC # 16 – Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services of the Treasure Coast, Inc. (Jensen Beach)
RDC # 17 – Deaf Service Center of SW Florida (Fort Myers)
RDC # 18 – Center for Independent Living of Central Florida (Winter Park)
RDC # 19 – Central Florida Speech & Hearing Center (Lakeland)
RDC # 20 – Space Coast Center for Independent Living (Rockledge)
RDC #7
RDC #14
RDC #4/ #15
RDC #22
RDC #18
RDC #20
RDC #19
RDC #16
RDC #3
RDC #2
RDC #8/ #26
RDC # 21 – Hearing Impaired Persons in Charlotte County (Punta Gorda)
RDC # 22 – Deaf Service Center of Lake & Sumter Counties (Leesburg)
RDC # 23 – Area Agency on Aging (Tallahassee)
RDC # 24 – Center for Independent Living Disability Resource Center (Pensacola)
*Hours of operation may vary from RDC to RDC.
RDC # 25 – Disability Resource Center, Inc. (Panama City)
RDC # 26 – Hearing and Speech Center of Florida (Miami)
9/27/11
FTRI EDP
Amplified Telephones
Clarity XL-40
(40 dB)
•
VCPH … Volume Control
Phone for the Hard of
Hearing
ClearSounds CSC-40
(40 B)
Clarity W425-Pro
(38 dB)
• Makes incoming speech clearer.
• Includes a volume control adjustment.
Clarity XLC2
(48 dB)
Clarity XL-50
(up to 60 dB)
FTRI EDP
•
ILA … In-Line Amplifier (40 dB)
• Connects to a standard telephone.
• Increases the volume and makes incoming speech clearer.
• Provides more amplification.
ClearSounds’ CS-IL40 Clarity’s HA-40
FTRI EDP
Specialized Equipment
•
VCO … Voice Carry-
Over Telephone
• Allows a person to receive a text message through a relay service and verbally reply to the caller with his or her own voice.
“read and talk phone”
CapTel User
1. You talk to the other party…
2. …who talks back to you to hear.
Other Party
5. …for you to read on the CapTel display.
Captioning Service
3. Everything they say also goes through a
Captioning Service…
4. …who re-voices what is said to a powerful voice recognition system which transcribes the words into captions…
FTRI EDP
Specialized Equipment
•
HCO
…
Hearing Carry-
Over Telephone
• Allows you to listen to the caller and type a reply on the telephone keypad.
• Used as a standard telephone,
VCO, HCO, or TTY
FTRI EDP
Specialized Equipment
•
TTY … Text Telephone
• Used to type a message to another TTY user or a person using a standard telephone through the Relay service.
• Built-in flasher that lights up when the phone rings.
Ultratec’s 4400
Ultratec’s 425
FTRI EDP
Specialized Equipment
•
VCPS … Volume
Control Phone for the
Speech Impaired (26 dB)
• Provides more volume when speaking.
• Also provides 40 dB incoming volume adjustment
• Ring volume up to 95 dB.
FTRI EDP
Specialized Equipment
ARS … Audible Ring Signaler (95 dB)
• Plugs into a jack away from the telephone.
• Or connects directly to the telephone.
• Rings when the telephone rings and allows you to adjust tone and volume.
Clarity SR-200
FTRI EDP
Specialized Equipment
•
VRS …Visual Ring Signaler
• Connects to a lamp.
• Makes lamp flash on and off when the telephone rings.
• Has a remote receiver that allows a lamp to flash in other rooms.
+
Sonic Alert TR75
FTRI EDP
Specialized Equipment
•
…
Speech Aid
Telephone for individuals who have had laryngectomy surgery
• Provides phone-powered speech aid
• Speaker phone
• Head set
• Memory dialing
FTRI EDP
Specialized Equipment
•
…
For individuals who are hearing or speechimpaired and mobility impaired.
• Voice activated answering
• Speaker phone
• Remote control
• Head set
• Air switch
FTRI EDP
Specialized Equipment
Deaf/Blind Communicator
• 32 cell refreshable Braille display
• Available in either Nine-key Braille keyboard or
Qwerty keyboard
• Speech output
• Effortless thumb navigation by line, sentence, or paragraph
• One-handed mode for people with limited mobility
• Context sensitive help and indexed user guide
• Serves as a Braille display for PC's screen reader
• Weight: 1.3kg / 2.9lb
• Dimensions: 25cm x 15.5cm x 5cm / 9.9” x 6.1” x 2”
Tactile Ring Signaler
• Vibrates when the phone rings
THE END
FTRI Office
1-800-222-3448 (Voice)
1-888-447-5620 (TTY)
FTRI Outreach Department
1-888-292-1950 ext. 232
1820 E. Park Avenue, Suite 101
Tallahassee, FL 32301 www.ftri.org
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