Communicate

Telephones, whether they be landline, VOIP, or mobile, can be made accessible to individuals with low and no vision. The following companies offer technology that includes magnification, screen reading, and other audible access functions.

Some employees with various limitations may require additional, detail-oriented training to help them learn to do their job tasks or to enhance their knowledge of their duties. Due to difficulties with memory associated a condition or from medications taken, an employee might benefit from training refreshers, whether given in part of in full, extended time with a trainer, or the use of alternate materials.

A person who performs certain job-related tasks for a person with a disability to help overcome limitations resulting from the disability. Examples include a page turner for a person who has no hands, or a travel attendant to act as a sighted guide to assist a blind employee on work-related travel. WPAS may include personal care-related assistance such as helping an employee to access the restroom, eat or drink at work, or travel for business purposes.

Personal assistive listeners reduce problems associated with background noise in one-on-one listening situations. By sending the sound signal directly to the individual's ears (using a headset, ear bud, hearing aid, etc.), an ALD enables an individual to hear and understand important sounds. Personal assistive listeners provide amplification and sound clarity.

Assistive listening systems, also known as assistive listening devices (ALD), transmit sound directly to an individual who is wearing a sound receiver (hearing aid, headphone, neck loop etc.). ALDs reduce problems associated with background noise in one-on-one and group communication. By sending the sound signal directly to the individual's ears, an ALD enables the individual to hear and understand important sounds while also reducing frustration associated with hearing unwanted background noises.There are three major types of ALD technology: FM radio signal, infrared light, and induction loop systems. FM systems transmit sound via radio waves. FM broadcast frequencies (72-76 MHz) are designated for use by FM systems. Infrared systems use lightwaves to send electrical signals to receivers that convert the electrical signals back to electrical energy and then sound. Induction loops use electromagnetic transmission to send sound through a loop of wire surrounding a seating area. A personal amplified system is another ALD option for one-on-one conversations and home media purposes. The personal systems are very small and portable and involve the use of a small microphone and receiver.ALDs can be used to accommodate applicants or employees who are hard of hearing and who benefit from amplification. ALDs can be used for one-on-one communication with coworkers or clients, small group meetings and training situations, or large-area listening situations, such as conferences or social events.   Hearing loop systems generally need to be professionally installed. For a list of installers, see HearingLoop.org's vendor list or another list provided by the Hearing Loss Association of America (.pdf).

Communication aids provide communication access to people who have speech, hearing, or cognitive impairments. By typing words and sentences or touching pictures and symbols, an individual who has no speech or limited ability to speak can communicate through text, synthesized speech, or a prerecorded voice. Communication devices can be used to communicate in situations involving personal communication, groups, or the telephone.

The use of basic learning techniques, such as conditioning, biofeedback, reinforcement, or aversion therapy, to alter human behavior. A form of psychotherapy that uses basic learning techniques to modify maladaptive behavior patterns by substituting new responses to given stimuli for undesirable ones. Also called behavioral therapy and/or behavior modification.

Communication devices that utilize the Bluetooth brand of technology.

Sound travels to a person's ears as vibrations, which are transmitted though the air and through the person's bones. For some people with hearing loss, the ability to receive sound transmission through the air may be limited or unattainable. Bone conduction technology explores the development of communication products that focus on the use of a person's bones to transmit sound.

Telephones with braille on the keypad to assist vision-impaired individuals with dialing numbers and using other phone operations.

Texting and communication devices designed to assist blind and low-vision individuals to relay messages to others.

Amplification and clarity technology can be beneficial to many people, but sometimes text communication is needed. For individuals who have some degree of functional hearing but who still have difficulty using the telephone, a captioned telephone may be the solution. For example, the Captioned Telephone (CapTel) is a phone that works like any other telephone but it displays live captions of the conversation. The CapTel phone automatically connects to a captioning service where a trained operator transcribes what is being said. The message is then displayed on the phone's display for the CapTel user to read while listening to the caller. Another option that may be helpful to federal employees is Relay Conference Captioning (RCC). This service is available to all federal employees nationwide who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and gives them equal access as participants in conference calls and/or multi-party calls. Relay Conference Captioning is a service of Sprint and GSA. It is made available free of charge to all Federal Employees. For details, visit: http://www.fedrcc.us/fedrcc/.

Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may benefit from the use of Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) services during small and large group communication situations when verbatim conversation is essential to effective communication. CART is a process of converting speech into text through a third party (CART writer). A trained CART writer or stenographer uses a keyboard or stenographic machine to transcribe spoken speech into written text which is then transmitted onto a viewing device (e.g., computer monitor, video screen). Many captioning services offer remote CART and internet captioning where the CART writer is not physically present at the event but can listen-in through a telephone line.

CART enables people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or who have auditory processing difficulties, to participate in meetings and training events by viewing realtime text of the lecture/training/meeting. However, sometimes it is not practical or possible to have a CART writer available on-site. It may be possible to access CART services remotely.

The following companies offer accessible cell phone solutions for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. If you are looking for amplifiers, a TTY that can be used with a cell phone, a hearing aid compatible headset for use with cell phones, Bluetooth technology, and hearing aid compatible cell phones, see the links provided below.When researching cellular phones, ask the wireless service provider about the opportunity to test the phone before you buy. If you are seeking a phone that will couple with a hearing aid's microphone, look for phones that have a rating of M3 or M4. A higher "M" rating indicates that the phone will be less likely to interfere with a hearing aid. If you are seeking a phone that will couple with a hearing aid's telecoil, look for phones that have a rating of T3 or T4. A higher "T" rating means the phone is less likely to interfere with the hearing aid when in the telecoil mode.

The following companies offer communication access technologies that are uniquely designed to be used by and with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The software products and equipment offer such features as: Speech to Text, Speech to Video Sign Language, Speech to Computer Generated Voice, Text to Computer-generated Voice Or Video Sign Language, or face-to-face text communication solutions.

Electronic organizers are electronic devices, such as PDA's, that allow an individual to download important information such as names, phone numbers, email address and dates. They might have alarms/cues that will remind the individual of datelines, meetings, and so on.

Programs that allow editing of pictures for multimedia purposes.

Handheld computers and personal devices that don't have a specific function.

"Hand-free" telephones are very useful but usually are not completely hands-free. Generally, the user must be able to push at least one button to initiate calls. In addition, many are designed for residential use and are not compatible with office telephone systems.

Many workplaces are now using computer based telephone applications and as a result, computer headsets are needed to perform job tasks. There are a number of computer headset products to investigate, including analog computer headsets, USB headsets and amplifiers, and VoIP computer headsets. Most all of these products offer volume and mute control, and noise canceling technology. Contact the following companies for details regarding the products they offer and for assistance selecting a product that meets the demands of the job and the needs of the employee.

The following telephone headset products are designed for use by individuals who need amplification or clarity using a headset. Many of these products are designed for use with t-coil equipped hearing aids while others can be enabled via Bluetooth. Some of these products are to be used with cellular phones and audio devices (e.g. MP3 players), while others can be used with cellular, corded, cordless, single-line, and multi-line phones. Products that offer tone control are also listed. Go to the web sites provided or contact the resources listed for technical assistance regarding these products.

HCO is for hearing persons with varying degrees of speech loss who wish to listen directly to the person they call and respond by typing using a TTY. The HCO option is available on many TTYs. Free HCO service is available through the Telecommunications Relay System, and private relay services, and is an operator service that allows people with speech impairments to place calls to standard telephone users via TTY

Sign language interpreters are professional who assist with communication between individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and use sign language and individuals who do not use sign language.  In the US most sign language interpreters use American Sign Language (ASL).  However, other types of interpreters such as Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDI), tactile interpreters, or Cued Speech interpreters may be needed in addition to or instead of ASL interpreters depending on the communication needs of the individuals involved.

Job coaches are individuals who specialize in assisting individuals with disabilities to learn and accurately carry out job duties. Job coaches provide one-on-one training tailored to the needs of the employee. They may first do a job analysis to identify the job duties, followed by developing a specific plan as to how they can best train the employee to work more and more on his/her own until completely self-sufficient and able to perform job duties accurately and effectively without assistance.

Screens that display text from TTY devices with much larger dimensions than normal for easier reading.

Products and services to improve literacy skills.

A neckloop is a loop of wire designed to be worn around the neck that allows an audio signal to be transmitted from a sound source to a hearing aid. Neck loops work with hearing aids that contain a t-coil, but some are also designed to work with hearing aids that contain a Bluetooth chip. By using a neckloop, a listener can benefit from amplification while avoiding background noise. Neck loops can be used with many different types of sound sources including some types of assistive listening systems.

A mentor is a person who not only helps an employee with a disability learn a job, but also helps the employee adjust to workplace culture. For example, a mentor might help an employee develop appropriate social skills, learn workplace rules, and improve problem-solving skills. Often times a mentor is an experienced coworker who has knowledge of the workplace and the job rather than an outside service.

Products that amplify outgoing speech while using the telephone. Products may include telephones having adjustable outgoing voice amplification, or personal, portable voice amplifiers that work with a telephone.

Paging products and services can be used in place of traditional overhead paging, such as code paging in a hospital, and may be used to notify a person who is deaf or hard of hearing to routine or emergency announcements. These devices and services can offer paging in text format to pagers, smart phones, tablets, and desktop computers, as well as through remote interpreter services.

A personal on-site paging device transmits a signal from the base transmitter to a receiver (the pager) through vibration and/or a numerical code display. These are local paging systems that work within a specified area.

Assistants or companies that can help an individual with organization or developing organizational skills.

What are captions? Captions are defined by the National Captioning Institute as, "subtitles, translations of the spoken word to the written, which permit deaf and hard-of-hearing people to see what they cannot hear. There are two kinds of captioning--open and closed. Open captions always appear on the screen, while closed captions must be 'opened' to be seen. Closed captioning is the process whereby captions are converted to electronic codes and inserted in the regular television signal, specifically on Line 21, a portion of the picture normally not seen." As of July 1993, all televisions 13" or greater in size that are manufactured in the United States or imported for use in the United States must be equipped with built-in decoder circuitry to enable the viewing of closed captioned video and television programming.Why consider using captions as a work-site accommodation for someone who is deaf or hard of hearing? Employers often use videotapes as training tools for employees. When tapes are used that have not been captioned, the tapes are inaccessible to employees who are deaf or hard of hearing. Employers should make an effort to ensure that all employees can benefit from training tools. When purchasing training tapes, consider purchasing tapes that have either open or closed captions or contact captioning service providers that can add captions to training videos. Employers might also use captioning as a way to provide real-time communication access to meetings, special events and web casts. Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) offers word for word translation of audio information and is provided by a professional who is skilled and trained in using stenographic equipment. Many captioning providers offer remote CART and Internet captioning where the stenographer is not physically present at the event.

A scribe or notetaker writes or types information that is communicated to him by another person. A scribe does not interpret information or perform essential job functions.

Social skill building products, software, and techniques can help a person with a disability learn the appropriate social skills to exhibit at school, at work, or at home.

Individuals with physical, cognitive, sensory, and learning impairments may have difficulty accessing computers. Traditionally, a computer user accesses a computer with a standard point and click mouse and a QWERTY keyboard (named for the top left-hand side of the rows). The computer takes the information that is inputted and processes it. Individuals with physical, sensory, or developmental limitations may not be able to use these standard input devices effectively and may benefit from using speech recognition. Standard computer input devices are keyboards made for typists who use two hands and ten fingers; speech recognition software is made for computer users with a variety of limitations, including individuals with no hand or finger movement.

Telephones, whether they be landline, VOIP, or mobile, can be made accessible to individuals with low and no vision. The following companies offer technology that includes magnification, screen reading, and other audible access functions.

Some hearings aids have a special feature called a telecoil, which allows the sound from a telephone or other sound source to be sent directly inside the hearing aid for customized amplification. Connecting via telecoil also helps to limit the impact of background noise on the listening experience. Another name for a telecoil is t-coil. A specialized type of headset may be needed in order to make the most of a telecoil enabled hearing aid while using a telephone.  An audiologist or other may be helpful in determining whether or not a particular person is using a telecoil enabled hearing aid and would benefit from a telecoil compatible headset. You can also contact a hearing aid manufacturer or distributer for information on the features of the hearing aids that they carry.  It is best to have the brand name and model number handy when inquiring about the features of a hearing aid.

Telephone amplification can be of benefit to some individuals who are hard of hearing. Amplification can be achieved through many assistive technology solutions, such as an in-line amplifier, portable amplifier, amplified phone, personal amplifier (assistive listening device), t-coil compatible headset, or clarity amplifier.Choosing the right amplification solution may take some time. Individuals are encouraged to try various assistive technology solutions until the right product is identified. Many vendors and manufacturers offer money back guarantees on the products they sell. Contact the vendor for more information regarding return policies.It may be helpful to contact the State Assistive Technology (AT) Project for assistance in selecting an amplification product. State Assistive Technology Projects are funded under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-394). These projects can provide technical assistance on assistive technology, consultation, product demonstrations, equipment borrowing, and low-interest loans for individuals with disabilities.

When a phone rings, these devices will flash a light or turn a lamp on and off. Works with analog and digital phones.

Programs for text messaging on different machines and platforms to support hearing impaired individuals with communication.

A TTY is a text telephone device that enables individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or who have a speech impairment to make and receive telephone calls. The device requires two TTY users to type messages back and forth to communicate instead of talking or listening. When messages are typed on the TTY keyboard, the information is displayed on the TTY display panel and transmitted through the phone line to a receiving TTY. Another term used for TTY is TDD. TTY is an abbreviation for the phrase "Tele-Typewriter" and TDD is an abbreviation for the phrase "Telecommunication Device for the Deaf."The Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is a 24 hour, 7 day a week, free relay assistance service that enables TTY access in situations where someone who uses a TTY may be calling a voice phone or vice versa. Using a TTY, Voice Carry Over phone (VCO), voice phone or videophone, an individual dials the toll-free number to contact the TRS system which will connect the caller to a communications assistant (CA). In some states it is possible to dial 711 for direct access. The CA directs the call for the individual. When the individual at the recipient end of the call answers, the CA explains his or her role in the call and from that point forward will relay the communication between the two parties, exactly as stated by both parties either in text, voice, or ASL.It may be helpful to contact the State Assistive Technology (AT) Project for assistance in selecting a TTY. State Assistive Technology Projects are funded under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-394). These projects can provide technical assistance on assistive technology, consultation, product demonstrations, equipment borrowing, and low-interest loans for individuals with disabilities.

An individual may request that communication be done orally instead of in a written format. When possible, the employee would be allowed to respond verbally to inquiries and questions, e.g., allowing telephone responses instead of e-mails.

Deaf and hearing individuals can communicate by telephone through a sign language interpreter by placing a video relay call. Video relay calls are made using a high-speed or broadband Internet connection (i.e. DSL, cable, or T1 line) and a videophone connected to a TV, or through a personal computer equipped with a Web camera and video relay software. The person who is deaf signs to a video interpreter on their monitor, who then communicates with a hearing person via a standard phone line by relaying the conversation between the two parties.

Video remote interpreting (VRI) is a fee-for-service form of interpreting which allows consumers to schedule interpreters via a point-to-point videoconference instead of having a live, on-site interpreter.

A voice amplifier might be used as an accommodation for an individual who has difficulty speaking loudly enough to be heard in noisy environments or who has a medical need to speak softly due to voice limitations. Amplifiers can be personal, portable, hand-held or body worn systems, or large area sound field or public address systems.

A voice-carry-over (VCO) phone is another telephone solution for individuals who are deaf. VCO is an option for people who use their own voice, but who cannot hear. For example, an individual who has lost hearing later in life may prefer to continue to use their own voice to talk to others on the phone. Using VCO, the person who is deaf places a call to the Telecommunications Relay Service. The relay operator types messages to the VCO user, and the VCO user responds to the voice caller with his or her own voice, instead of using a TTY.

Word prediction software displays a list of words that typically follow the word just entered. Word completion software displays sample words after someone starts typing part of a word. Macro software allows users to complete several steps of a task in a few programmed keystrokes. Many software programs contain all of these options.

People with reading limitations may have difficulty transferring information from one medium to another. Problems can occur when hand-copying written information from another source, when reading charts or lists, or when taking notes on information that is provided verbally. Using a word processor may help organize ideas, use correct spelling or grammar, compare lists, create documents, make signs, or otherwise communicate through written words.

Writing or editing software can improve written work by reworking phrases, correcting grammar and usage errors, suggesting adjective or adverb enhancements, and/or modifying sentence structure.