Telecommunications Relay Service

When some people can't use the phone like most people, they need help. They may not hear, speak, or see as well as others. That's where a Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) can help.

A TRS is like a special helper who uses a phone to talk to someone who can't use the phone like most people. The helper can use a special phone to type in what the person is saying or sign language if they can't speak. This is called Text Telephone (TTY) or Video Relay Service (VRS). Then, the helper says what the person is saying out loud to the person on the other end of the phone.

For example, imagine someone who cannot hear very well wants to call their friend to say hello. They might dial the phone number for the TRS, and a helper will answer. The helper will ask if they want to make a call and who they want to call. They will then connect the call and type what their friend is saying using TTY or sign language if their friend uses VRS. The helper will then read the typed message to the person who called. They will also speak out the message from the caller's end to the person on the other end of the phone.

TRS helps people who cannot use the phone like most people, to communicate with their loved ones, friends, and anyone else they need to speak with. It helps everyone to stay connected to each other, and that's a great thing!