Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc.Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc.

• 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.

Facts about Florida Residents

Federal Legislation

Americans with Disabilities ActADA

• 1990 • Title 4

(Telecommunications) Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf/Blind, Speech Disabled

• Relay Service

Relay Service

3. Voice user listens and then speaks back for his/her reply

Relay Operator

Voice User

TTY User

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

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%

Example of Telephone Bill

PAGE 1

July 1, 2009

LOCAL COMMUNICATIONS

LOCAL SERVICE ITEMIZATIONSERVICE – July 1 - Aug 1

DESCRIPTION

TELEPHONE NUMBER 000-0000TELE/ACCESS ACT CHARGE

QUANTITY

1

UNIT RATE

.11

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 LinkConnects 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 OPROperator 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 RelayHow 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 RelayHow 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)

1-877-955-8707 (French Creole) … 8 a.m. - 2 a.m. daily

* Recommend direct-dial

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

Access Numbers to Remember

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 CustomersCapTel

(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 RelayBusiness 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

Florida RelayKeeping Kids in Touch

Equipment Distribution Program

The Communication Challenge

FTRI Equipment Distribution Program (EDP)

• Who is eligible?

• Deaf

• Hard of Hearing

• Deaf/Blind

• Speech Disabled

• Be a Florida resident.

• 3 Yrs of age or older

• Be certified with a hearing loss or speech disability.

FTRI EDPEligibility Requirements

FTRI EDPWho 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

RDC #8/ #26

RDC #2

RDC #5

RDC #3

RDC #4/ #15

RDC #24

RDC #9

RDC #12

RDC #13 RDC #16

RDC #17

RDC #18

RDC #19

RDC #20

RDC #21

RDC #22

FTRI –Tallahassee/RDC #23

RDC #7

RDC #14

RDC #10

RDC #25RDC # 2 – League for the Hard of Hearing (Ft. Lauderdale)

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 # 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 # 12 – Deaf & Hearing Connection for Tampa Bay (Seminole)

RDC # 13 – Community Center for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Manatee/Sarasota Co (Sarasota)

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 # 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)

RDC # 25 – Disability Resource Center, Inc. (Panama City)

RDC # 26 – Hearing and Speech Center of Florida (Miami)

FTRI Regional Distribution Centers

9/27/11

*Hours of operation may vary from RDC to RDC.

• VCPH … Volume Control Phone for the Hard of

Hearing • Makes incoming speech

clearer.

• Includes a volume control adjustment.

FTRI EDP Amplified Telephones

Clarity W425-Pro (38 dB)

ClearSounds CSC-40 (40 B)

Clarity XL-40 (40 dB)

Clarity XL-50 (up to 60 dB)

Clarity XLC2(48 dB)

• ILA … In-Line Amplifier (40 dB)

• Connects to a standard telephone.• Increases the volume and makes incoming speech clearer.• Provides more amplification.

FTRI EDP Specialized Equipment

ClearSounds’ CS-IL40 Clarity’s HA-40

• 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”

FTRI EDP Specialized Equipment

CapTel User Other Party

1. You talk to the other party…

2. …who talks back to you to hear.

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…

Captioning Service5. …for you to read on

the CapTel display.

• 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.

FTRI EDP Specialized Equipment

Ultratec’s 4400

Ultratec’s 425

• 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.

FTRI EDP Specialized Equipment

Clarity SR-200

• 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.

FTRI EDP Specialized Equipment

Sonic Alert TR75

+

FTRI EDP Specialized Equipment

• TeliTalk … 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

• RC 200 … For individuals who are hearing or speech-impaired 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

FTRI Websitewww.FTRI.org

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 32301www.ftri.org

Join us on Facebook

Thank You for Your Interest and Support!