Using a TTY

<sup>For more information, additional copies, or copies in alternative formats, call the Access Board at:
1-800-872-2253 (voice)
1-800-993-2822 (TTY)
1-202-272-0081 (Fax)

This device is also referred to as a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) or a Text Telephone.</sup>

 
^{RECEIVING AND CONCLUDING A TTY CALL
1) Place the phone receiver in the receiver cradle of your TTY adapter. (For correct
receiver placement, note picture, notch, or the word "cord.") Turn your TTY on.
2) The person who answers the call is the first to type. Type your agency name and
your name. Then type "GA."
3) "GA" means go ahead and type. This is the signal for the other person to begin
typing. "HD" means hold. This is the signal that the person typing must stop for
a minute, but he/she will be back. In fact, do not leave the phone unless you first
type "HD.' "SK" means stop keying. This is how you show that the conversation
is ended and that you will hang up. It is polite to type good-bye, thank you for
calling, or some other closing remark before you type "SK."
Some sample opening and closing messages are:
Hello, Access Board, this is Jane Smith, may I help u? GA
Dept. of Justice, Ms. Smith here. May I help u? GA
Good AM, this is Ms. Smith at the Dept. of Agriculture. GA
Thank u for calling, bye to SK or GA
Have a good day. GA to SK}

^{Because of the amount of time it takes to send and receive messages, it's important to
remember that short words and sentences are desired by both parties (see list of common
TTY terminology below).}

^{PLEASE NOTE With TTY calls you will not be able to interrupt when the other person is typing.
Sometimes you may get a garbled message in all numbers or mixed numbers and
letters. You should strike the space bar and see if the message clears up. If not,
when the person stops typing, you should say, "Message all garbled, please
repeat." If the garbled messages continue, this may mean that one of the TTYs
is not working properly or that you have a bad connection. In this case you
should say something like, "Let's hang up and you call me back or I'll call you
back."}

^{MAKING A TTY CALL
1)Again, place the phone receiver securely in the TTY receiver cradle and turn on
your TTY. Make sure you have a dial tone by checking for a steady light on the
TTY status indicator.
2)Dial the number and watch the status indicator light to see if the dialed number
is ringing. The ring will make a long slow flash or two short flashes with a pause
in between. If the line is busy, you will see short, continuous flashes on your
indicator light. When the phone is answered, you will see an irregular light signal
as the phone is picked up and placed in the cradle. If you are calling a
combination TTY and voice number, and do not have a voice announcer on your
TTY, you should tap the space bar several times to help the person on the other
end identify this as a TTY call.}

^{PLEASE NOTE
If your call is not answered via TTY after 1 0 to 15 seconds, you should again tap
the space bar to let the person know that it is a TTY call. If you still receive no
answer, this could mean one of several things. You may have dialed an incorrect
number, or your call did not go through. A signal on your monitor light that
someone is speaking may mean you have reached a recorded message.}