Re: using VCO on phone

[Guest guest]

Hi Crew -

This is interesting that you all aren't using VCO (Voice Carry Over) on your

TDD (Telephone Devices for Deaf) phones. I find it to be one of the

easiest ways to communicate with most hearing people. The CRS (California

Relay Service) operators are very helpful. They explain the service to

people I'm calling, they call back if we get hung up on, I give them clues

or names when necessary. Only requirement is our voice must be understood by

hearing person on the other end. If not we can type to operator and they

will voice to hearing person.

They give me clues as to what's going on the other end. They type in ( )

(childs voice), (typing in bkground), (crying), (sigh), (sounds happy), (very

pleasant), etc...

when needed to clarify. They are a buffer and a *witness* that have often

helped me get through difficult conversations. They sit *on hold* with me

for long periods sometimes. Basically, their job is to make my call as close

to a regular call as possible. An advantage is that you can't be interupted

- the person you are calling has to wait til you say *Go Ahead*.

I talk directly to party I'm calling, They talk directly to me and operator

types what they are saying.

In California, I have a free TDD provided by the phone company and when there

are major upgrades, they will trade my old TDD for a new one. This is my

*little world of command central*. My phone, my TDD and my computer

stuff. I know that this is not really used by many people because most

places I call know * oh, this must be Lynn*.

BTW I do have a portable TDD also - it was about $300 and it slips into my

back-pack when I travel. Well that's enough, I feel like an advertisement.

hugs to all,

LynnBK

na wrote:

> I know, you're right. I should make the calls myself. I agree that it's

> better to use VCO! You will absolutely get better results from a relay call

> if you voice for yourself. That's a very good point. >

Pete wrote:

<< I haven't used VCO yet, but was reading about it on the NY Relay Service

website. Does anyone who is totally deaf use it? (it sounded like it was

geared for Hearing Impaired people) and since it sounds like the CA doesn't

talk with the receipent at all, what do you find works best when telling the

person that they have to use GA and that only one of you can talk at a time?

Do you say, I'm deaf and calling via a relay service ..etc etc or ? >>

writes:

< < If you use the VCO option and talk to the person DIRECTLY, I find that

they

are more accomodating- you're not just some faceless deaf person, you are

someone they have had a conversation with on the phone.

It took me a while to get comfortable using Relay, but now I don't hesitate

to use the phone. >>