Speech-to-speech Service in California

[Karen Ozmun]

thought some of you might be interested in this information about a new
telecommunications service in california for those with speech
impairments.  karen ozmun


                 PEOPLE WITH SPEECH DISABILITIES NOW HAVE
                        A TELEPHONE SUPPORT SERVICE

     If you are a Californian with a speech disability you can
now use a new, free telephone assistance service 24 hours a day.
This service, called Speech-to-Speech, provides human voicers for
people who have difficulty being understood by the public on the
telephone.

          You can dial 800-854-7784 to reach a patient,
          trained operator who knows your situation
          and has acute hearing. This operator makes
          telephone calls for you and repeats your words
          exactly.

     The service was successfully tested with 2,000 calls made by
people with speech disabilities in November. Speech-to-Speech is
also useful if you use a speech synthesizer. Speech-to-Speech is
the only way for many people to telephone others not accustomed
to their speech. Many Speech-to-Speech users are people with
Parkinson's disease or cerebral palsy.  I have cerebral palsy and
Speech-to-Speech made telephone use much easier for me.

     If you use this free service, please make your first call to
us by dialing 800-854-7784 and asking the operator who answers
for 916-927-3794.  If enough people identify themselves as users,
the California Public Utilities Commission will make Speech-to-
Speech permanent.

Bob Segalman, Ph.D. and Cindy Gooch, M.S.
916-927-3787 V/TT; 916-649-1665 FAX
E-Mail: Bob.Segalman at deaftek.sprint.com



          A SERVICE OF THE DEAF AND DISABLED TELECOMMUNICATIONS
          PROGRAM OF THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION


                TELEPHONE SERVICE FOR PEOPLE WITH SPEECH DISABILITIES
                        REQUEST FOR SUPPORT LETTERS

        Would you please write a support letter to insure that
telephone service for people with speech disabilities is continued?
Here is a sample text and mailing information.


SAMPLE TEXT

Mr. Wesley Franklin,  Executive Director
        California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102

Dear Mr. Franklin:

        Speech-to-Speech is currently in operation and the California
Public Utilities Commission needs to rule before September 1 if it is to
become a permanent service.  This service allows people with speech
disabilities to use the telephone. It provides human voicers trained to
understand people with speech disabilities.  Speech-to-Speech expands
California's telephone system for the deaf (called the California Relay
Service) to include people with speech disabilities.

        Without action by September 1, there will be insufficient time
to make arrangements for Speech-to-Speech to continue beyond its current
termination date of October 11.

                        Sincerely,

MAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Please address letters to Mr. Franklin but mail them to:


        Bob Segalman, Ph.D.
        Sacramento Center for Assistive Technology
        650 Howe Avenue, #300
        Sacramento CA 95825
        Voice: 916-927-3794
        FAX: 916-649-1665
        e-mail: Bob.Segalman at deaftek.sprint.com