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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

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.