What
is Relay? Telecommunications Relay Service
Providing equal communication access on the telephone.
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is
a free, 24-hour service that allows people who are Deaf, Hard
of Hearing, Deaf-Blind or Speech Disabled
to communicate via the telephone. Through the use of specialized equipment,
relay users can communicate freely with hearing friends, family and
businesses—or with other relay users.
How relay works
When you place a call through Hamilton Relay Service, a highly trained
Communications Assistant (CA) facilitates the call for you. The
relay user is typically using a text telephone (TTY) or other device
that is used to type messages. The CA reads those messages to the
hearing party on the other end of the line—and then types
the hearing party’s responses for the relay user to read.
With Hamilton Video Relay, the relay caller uses
a Web camera to communicate via sign language. The on-screen interpreter
then voices
to the hearing caller—and signs the responses back to the relay
user.
Hamilton Relay Service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a
week. (See Video Relay Service section for hours of operation). There
are no restrictions on the length of relay calls or how many calls
you choose to make.
