Accessibility & Health

May 2025

Instead of scrolling through one long list of resources on our website, now you can select a general topic of interest and search within that topic area for specific resources and information. This will streamline your ability to learn with us!

By dialing 7-1-1, individuals with hearing or speech disabilities can access TRS—a free, nationwide service that uses trained operators to relay conversations between text-based devices and standard voice telephones.

How does it work?

People who have hearing or speech disabilities can use a text telephone (TTY) or text messaging to communicate with people who use standard voice telephones with the help of TRS. The communications assistant (TRS operator) tells the voice telephone user what the TTY-user is typing and types to the TTY-user what the telephone user is saying.

TRS also supports speech-to-speech translation for those who have difficulty speaking. When a person who speaks with difficulty is using a voice telephone, the communications assistant listens and then verbalizes that person’s words to the other party. This is called speech-to-speech transliteration.

Public Health Examples

1. Scheduling Appointments: When a patient who is deaf or hard of hearing needs to schedule a vaccine, clinic, or screening appointment by phone, staff can use TRS to communicate effectively.
2. Contact Tracing or Case Investigation: During outbreaks, contact tracers may need to reach individuals who use TTY or have speech disabilities. TRS helps ensure accurate communication of important health information.
3. Emergency Notifications: In urgent public health situations (e.g., disease outbreaks, boil water advisories), TRS can help ensure timely communication with community members who rely on text or speech-to-speech services.
4. Follow-Up Calls for Services: If health department staff need to follow up with individuals receiving home visits, medical equipment, or chronic disease management support, TRS enables communication when the client can't use a standard voice phone.
5. Public Health Hotlines: TRS ensures that hotlines for services like tobacco cessation, mental health support, or disaster response are accessible to all community members.
6. Community Outreach and Education: When promoting public health events or resources, TRS can facilitate phone-based outreach to individuals who use TTY or have speech disabilities.

We have hosted many webinars over the last year. If you've missed any, you can still access and watch them! Find them conveniently linked below and on our Trainings page.