Struggling to Communicate Using a Standard Telephone? Check out Maine Relay!
Maine Relay Service is a free statewide service that connects voice telephone users with people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, have a speech disability, or are late-deafened. The service allows consumers to use specialized equipment (such as a captioned telephone, TTY, VCO [voice carry-over] or HCO [hearing carry-over]) to communicate with standard voice telephone users through specially trained relay operators (RO). Stay connected with family, co-workers, and friends. It has never been easier with Maine Relay. Maine Relay Service is available 24 hours a day, every day, 365 days a year. All calls are confidential. No records of any conversations are maintained.
In addition to Maine Relay, Mainers can use Relay Conference Captioning (RCC), Sprint IP Relay, Sprint Web CapTel and Speech-to-Speech Relay.
Relay Conference Captioning (RCC) is for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech difficulty. Users can actively participate in virtual meetings, conference and multi-party teleconference calls, and videoconferences. With RCC, the user can read captions of what is said during teleconference calls – on a laptop, tablet, or mobile device – with options to print, email or save transcripts. RCC is a free service available Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. To schedule an RCC event, go to: mainercc.com
Sprint IP Relay allows the user to make everyday phone calls using text (no voice or hearing required). You can make calls with Sprint IP Relay on your smartphone, tablet or computer to type and view the transcript. The user types what they want to say to the relay operator (called the RO). The RO relays the message to the caller, then types their response back. Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkZJfAJj07o
Sprint Web CapTel is a relay service which works a little different; using the telephone allows the user to use their own voice, while reading the captions, using a computer or tablet to read captions on the call. Register for Sprint IP Relay, go to: https://sprintcaptel.com/products/webcaptel
Speech-to-Speech (STS) Relay is a free service for people with a speech disability. Maine Relay STS provides one-on-one support for telephone calls. A specially trained STS operator simply listens to the conversation and repeats the user’s message, whenever needed.
Want to learn more about Maine Relay and other relay services? Go to: https://www.maine.gov/trs/home
Check out videos about these relay services. Go to: https://www.maine.gov/trs/video
My name is Debra Bare-Rogers. I work at Disability Rights Maine and I am the TRS (Telecommunications Relay Services) Advocate. I provide state TRS outreach throughout the state called Maine Relay Service. As the TRS Advocate for the state of Maine, I provide free virtual presentations and trainings to organizations, nonprofits, staff, support groups and individuals who want to learn about how Maine Relay works. Email: drogers@drme.org.