Martha
Mattox-Baker
Copyright 2000
I had a unique experience, for me [while at the SWC San Diego Con]. I was asked by Larry Littleton to go to the Deaf Community Services to try out the Video Relay Service. I figured it would be interesting and said yes. So I went with Larry and Susan Littleton and also Jane and Larry Schlau, and Jazzy. Larry first showed us how to use it.
WOW!!!! It is really neat. You turn the TTY on and press 'V" and sit down.
First thing you see is what the other person will be seeing: yourself. Then you see the connecting speed. And then an operator comes on. She signs her number just the same as a regular relay person would. You then SIGN the number you want to call.
The operator will have a white board where she copies the number you want, then verifies the number before calling it. Then you sign back and forth with the operator; you do not see the person you are calling but the operator signs and you sign back. No typing needed! And with ASL you can see the expressions that you can't see with typing. It really added expression to the conversation. The visual effects with signing are so important.
Larry told me the only state that has this full time is North Carolina. It is on trial basis in California. and after we tried it out we filled out a survey form. I feel fortunate that Larry asked me to go to try it! It is one of the highlights of the week for me.
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