Speech-to-Speech (STS) Relay Services

NOTE:  This material was compiled by TDI (with thanks to STS News) to provide contact information on relay services for people with speech disabilities in the United States, Australia and Sweden.  Non-commercial reproduction is encouraged with acknowledgment of the source. TDI is a resource and advocacy center promoting equal access to telecommunications and media access for people who are deaf, late-deafened, hard-of-hearing or deaf-blind. TDI has no affiliation with any company listed, and does not offer accuracy or endorsement.  Furthermore, TDI does not warrant any product or services mentioned herein to be in compliance with any Federal state or local laws. This Fact Sheet is a working document, where its contents would be modified from time to time; please contact TDI for recent updates or if you are aware of corrections or additions. This document is available in alternate formats upon request.

If you have a speech disability and live in the USA (including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands), you can now use a free relay service (TRS) 24 hours a day. This service, called Speech-to-Speech (STS), provides communication assistants (CAs) for people with difficulty being understood by the public on the telephone.  The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington DC regulates relay service: STS is a form of relay service. STS is also available during limited hours in Sweden and Australia. 

STS is provided through the TTY relay in each state.  Unlike TTY, STS enables people with speech disabilities to communicate by voice through a CA as many people with speech disabilities have difficulty typing.

People with speech disabilities can dial toll free to reach a patient, trained CA who is familiar with many speech patterns and has excellent language recognition skills. This CA makes telephone calls for them and repeats their words exactly in a 3-way calling environment. Every month users make about 6,000 calls nationally.  STS is the only way for many people to telephone others not accustomed to their speech. Many STS users have Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, ALS, multiple sclerosis, or muscular dystrophy.  Other users stutter or have had a laryngectomy.  STS also helps some speech synthesizer users.

Bob Segalman, Ph.D. has cerebral palsy and developed the concept of STS. Now it makes telephone use much easier for him.  To try out STS, report problems or get more information: Call 800-854-7784 and ask for Dr. Bob Segalman (direct 916-263-8689). You may also visit the STS website: http://www.stsnews.com/ or contact Katherine Keller at stslistserv@stsnews.com to place you on the STS List Serve.

Bob is gathering support letters to insure that every state implements an STS Outreach Service to tell people with speech disabilities about STS.   If you're willing to sign a support letter, please e-mail Bob at: bsegalma@dor.ca.gov and indicate which state you live in and request a draft.

For a list of U. S. Speech-to-Speech access numbers go to:
http://www.stsnews.com/RelayNews/STSDialUpTelnumbers.html

You can also access STS by dialing 711 and asking for Speech to Speech. If the communications assistant can not assist you with an STS call, please let Bob know by e-mail stating your name, date and time of call, location, and telephone number. 

Australia provides Speech-to-Speech Relay (SSR). Contact: Bobbie Blackson at feedback@aceinfo.net.au.

Sweden has just extended its STS trial for one year. Contact: Birgit G Lindh at birgit.g.lindh@telia.com. Tel.0046-175 623 68 (work)

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