University of Rochester

ACCESS Rochester

New York Relay Service

This service is offered at no cost to the user. The Relay Service makes it possible for a person who uses a standard telephone to contact and have a phone conversation with an individual who uses a TTY. This is done by following the simple instructions below for either "Hearing Persons" or "TTY Users." After calling the appropriate "800" number, a specially trained communications assistant will place the call and then relay conversations between both parties. Communications assistants will provide simple instructions to new users, and every call is handled in the strictest confidence.

Hearing Persons To communicate with a deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech impaired person who uses a TTY:

  1. Call toll free, 24 hours/day 1-800-421-1220.
  2. Tell the communications assistant the TTY telephone number and the name of the person you want to call.
  3. As the call is relayed, talk to the other party as though you were speaking directly to the person you are calling. The communications assistant will relay your conversation. Each time you finish speaking, say "Go Ahead" to indicate that it is the other party's turn to respond.

TTY Users If you are deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech impaired, you can type your message on a TTY telecommunications device by:

  1. Calling toll free, 24 hours/day 1-800-662-1220.
  2. Use the TTY to tell the communications assistant what type of call you want to make (local, long distance, collect, person-to-person, etc.), followed by "GA" ("Go Ahead").
  3. Type your part of the conversation as if you were communicating directly with the person you are calling and the New York Relay Service will relay it.

TTY Phone Locations

River Campus

American Sign Language Program
Lattimore 116
273-5130
Carlson Library
Circulation Desk
273-5138
Disability Resources Office
Wallis 36
275-7618
Interfaith Chapel
Middle Level
461-1773
Learning Assistant Services
Lattimore 107
275-9048
Office of Minority Student Affairs
Morey 310
275-9104
Goergen Athletic Center
Information Desk
275-7643
Rush Rhees Library
213 Subley Music Library
274-1304
Warner School
Dewey Hall, 2nd Floor
275-3183
Wilson Commons
Information Desk
275-4188

Medical Center

Audiology & Speech Pathology
Ambulatory Care Center
Strong Hospital
Room 1-1500C

273-4488
275-4842
Social Work Division
Interpreter Services
275-0243

The Medical Center also has two public TTY phones. These phones are located in the Emergency Department (phone closest to the vending machines) and in the Main Lobby (located by the parking garage exit). They are identifiable by the black box visible under the phone.


Previous Home Next