RNID TypeTalk Service

RNID Typetalk is a national telephone relay service which enables deaf, deafblind, deafened, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people to communicate with hearing people anywhere in the world. The aim is to bring the benefits of the telephone to individuals and employees with communication difficulties.

 

 

A textphone is an adapted type of telephone often used by people who are severely or profoundly deaf. Textphones are also referred to as Minicoms. Historically a textphone user has had to be reliant on the person they wish to speak with also having a textphone. In a large organisation such as a local authority it may be impractical for all staff members to have direct access to a textphone.

 

RNID Typetalk provides a link between the textphone user and the hearing person and helps put the hearing impaired caller in touch with the person they wish to speak to. The link is a highly trained RNID Typetalk operator who understands the needs of deaf and speech-impaired people and provides a discreet and confidential translation service.

 

 

For a person without a hearing impairment wishing to make a call using Typetalk you prefix the number you wish to call with 18002.

 

This will then be connected to the desired number via a typetalk operator. If you contact a hearing impaired person who is using a minicom the typetalk operator will relay your spoken word to text and their text to spoken word. If a hearing person answers, the typetalk operator will withdraw from the call.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The typetalk service can be used by a hearing impaired person wishing to contact a council official or a council official wishing to contact somebody who uses a textphone.