Georgia Magazine - October 2017 - 36

the facts of life ... in georgia

CapTel

COURTESY GEORGIA RELAY

For those who have difficulty
hearing while using a standard
phone, Captioned Telephone, or
CapTel, displays every word that
is spoken, so you can listen while
reading what the caller says. To
learn more about CapTel, visit
georgiarelay.org.

Speech-to-Speech (STS)
Georgia Relay makes telecommunication simple, dependable and convenient for people
who have difficulty using a standard phone. By so doing, it ensures equal access to the
phone system and helps Georgians with hearing, visual or speaking impairments stay
connected with their communities.

Keeping Georgia connected
BY LAUREL GEORGE

Picking up the phone and speaking to a friend, making an appointment or calling for help are tasks that
many people take for granted. But
for millions of Americans-and thousands of Georgians-with hearing,
visual or speaking impairments, it's
not that simple. That's why the state
of Georgia provides Georgia Relay, a
free public service that makes communicating by telephone easy, accessible and reliable for everyone.
Established in 1991, Georgia Relay is available 24 hours a day, 365
days a year to ensure that people
who have difficulty communicating
over the phone can stay connected.
A broad segment of the state's population benefits from Georgia Relay,
including veterans returning home
with damage to their hearing-the
No. 1 service-related injury-and seniors experiencing age-related hearing loss.
Many communication solutions
are available, including specialized
equipment-such as Captioned Tele36

Georgia Relay ensures that
people who have difficulty
communicating over the phone
can stay connected.
phone, which allows an individual
who has difficulty hearing over the
phone to listen while reading wordfor-word captions of what's being
said-and services, such as Speechto-Speech, which allows people with
mild to moderate speech difficulties
to be understood on the phone. Anyone can initiate a Georgia Relay call
by dialing 711.
"Whoever you are and whatever
challenges you face, chances are we
have the tools to help you stay connected," says Georgia Relay Outreach
Coordinator Brendan Underwood.
To learn more about Georgia Relay's products and services, call (866)
694-5824 or visit georgiarelay.org.
More online at www.georgiamagazine.org

STS can be a simple solution for
those who have difficulty speaking on the phone. A specially
trained communications assistant
facilitates calls, and no equipment
other than a standard telephone is
needed. To learn more about STS,
visit georgiarelay.org.

GATEDP
The mission of the Georgia Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program (GATEDP) is to
provide no-cost and reduced-cost
telecommunications equipment to
Georgia residents who have difficulty using a standard telephone.
To see if you qualify, call (888) 2979461 or visit gcdhh.org/gatedp.

Georgia Relay Partner
Companies that become Georgia
Relay Partners receive free materials and training for answering and
placing relay calls, making it easier
to serve customers with hearing,
visual or speaking impairments.
To find a list of current Georgia
Relay Partners or to learn more
about the program, visit georgia
relay.org.

Group presentations
Georgia Relay offers presentations
to groups interested in learning more about its services. To
schedule a presentation, contact
Georgia Relay Outreach Coordinator Brendan Underwood at (678)
620-6776 or brendan.underwood@
hamiltonrelay.com.
GEORGIA MAGAZINE

http://www.georgiarelay.org http://www.georgiarelay.org http://www.gcdhh.org/gatedp http://www.georgiarelay.org http://www.georgiarelay.org http://www.georgiarelay.org http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - October 2017