David Rose's presentation at the UKCoD Conference on Nov 3rd. Conference theme was focused on looking at the need for modernising current telecom relay services for deaf people.

1. A foot in both camps
A consumer perspective of USA & UK
Telecommunication Relay Services
David Rose, MA - Consultant: Deaf and Disability Matters
Email address: davidroseuk@uwclub.net
© Conference – Nov 3rd
, 2010

2. A consumer perspective
 10 years in USA
 Different pace of development of
relay services in USA & UK

3. USA Telecommunication Relay
ServicesIphone relay
Video relay services
Captioned Telephone

4. Such sophistication! What a choice!

5. Make a CapTel Call
Via the Web or Mobile Device
• Coming Soon – Sprint Wireless
Captel!
• Free Sprint Wireless
Captel App provides
word-for-word captions
for your wireless device

6. Telephone Numbers for Relay Users - USA
 All deaf and hard of hearing
users have a 10 digit
telephone number
 Allows hearing people to call
directly to deaf people easily
 Allows deaf job seekers to list an
actual phone number on their CVs

7. Relay Conference Captioning - USA
 Allows deaf people to
participate in conference calls
 Captioned Telephone
(Captel) is similar to a voice carryover relay
service in near-instant captions
 Specialised Telecommunications
Assistance Programs
Equipment for deaf blind and others

8. Relay Services in USA & UK
In USA, at least 25 Relay Service companies providing
multiple services - web, traditional, and video
– 5 are deaf-led companies
In UK, there are 4 VRS providers:
o Sign Video: deaf-led social enterprise, UK
o Sign Translate: Charity, UK
o Sign On Screen – Deaf Connections, Charity, Scotland
o Sign-Now, Company, Scotland
BUT…………………..

9. What do we have now in UK
(or not……) ?
o We dial 16 digits number to call via Text
Relay
- Hearing people get confused….
o Relay Conferencing Captioning
- We don’t have it ….
o Captioned Telephone (CapTel)
- It stopped 3 years ago…..

10. And….
o VRS services are not available 24/7/356
o VRS is limited to those with Access to
Work budgets or those can afford to pay
o No healthy competition in the marketplace
to provide top-notch services

11. Numbers in UK?
• Approx 160,000 +
Deaf BSL users
• Approx 9 million are deaf &
hard of hearing
Are they getting a good relay
telecommunication service now?
The answer is NOT YET….

12. What we as consumers
can do about it?
Deaf Access to Alternative Relay
Telecommunications (DAART) – a
new consumer group set up in
September 2010 who firmly believes
that the TRF is the way forward & to
complement the work of
TAG

13. What do we want?
DAART is open to suggestions for
expansion of services providing they
meet the following conditions:
 Sustainable long term funding
 Fully functional equivalent TRS
 Set up an independent Telephone Relay
Fund (TRF) for management &
development of a modern TRS
 Contracts be a minimum of 3 – 5 years

14. Also…..
 Services are available 24/7/365
 Must keep up with technology developments
 Ensure all deaf , deafened, deaf blind & hard
of hearing community members can benefit
 No more than the cost of normal phone
call

15. And finally…..
 0.5% funds be generated from telecom
industry or by any other means
 Appropriate terminal equipment to
access different types of relay
services
 Consumers as stakeholders must be
involved in the entire process

16. DAART Equal Access to the Telecoms Now
You can learn more about DAART:
o Facebook
o Twitter
o www.daartcampaign.co.uk
o Mission & Campaign Policy Statements,
Response to Govt. Consultation Papers, &
Consumer Views
©