How to Make a Relay Call From Florida

Florida Relay operators facilitate communication between people with specialized phone equipment and those with standard telephones.

According to the Florida Deaf Network, thousands of people utilize Florida Relay each day to conduct business and personal calls. Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc., is a non-profit organization that supplies communications equipment to deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech-impaired citizens of the state.

Instructions

Hearing Callers

1. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-955-8770. Provide the operator with the phone number you wish to call.

2. Conduct your conversation normally. The operator will type what you say word-for-word and read to you what the other person types.

3. Say "GA" or "Go ahead" when you are finished speaking. Say "Signing off" when you are done with the call.

Deaf Callers with Text Telephone (TTY)

1. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-955-8771. The operator will type her identification number, "F" or "M" for her gender and "GA."

2. Type the number you wish to call and "GA." The operator will dial and tell the other person that she is calling from Florida Relay. She will read to him anything you type and type for you anything he says.

3. Type "GA" at the end of each message. When you are finished with the conversation, type "SK," which represents "Stop keying."

Hard-of-Hearing Callers with TTY

1. Dial 7-1-1 or 877-955-8260 for Voice Carry-Over (VCO). The operator will respond with her identification number, her gender code and "GA."

2. Say the number you wish to call. When the operator types "Voice now," begin speaking to the person you called.

3. Read the other party's messages on your TTY display. The operator will not repeat what you say.

Speech Impaired Caller with TTY

1. Dial 7-1-1. The operator will key in her operator number, her gender code and "GA."

2. Type the number you wish to call and "HCO please GA." "HCO" (Hearing Carry-Over) informs the operator that you can hear the other party and only need her to voice what you type.

3. Listen to the other person and type your responses. Remember to use "GA" at the end of each message.

Speech Impaired Caller with Standard Telephone

1. Dial 7-1-1 or 877-955-5334 for Speech-to-Speech calls (STS). The Relay operator will answer with her identification number and request the number you want to call. STS operators are specially trained to convey the words of the speech impaired.

2. Begin your conversation when the operator says "Voice now." Say "GA" when you are finished.

3. Converse normally. The operator will only repeat what you say if the person you call did not understand you. You may be asked to repeat yourself if the operator is unsure of your message.

Calls with a Captioning Phone

1. Dial the number directly from your CapTel phone. The Captioning Relay Service will automatically be connected to the call.

2. Dial 877-243-2823 to call someone with a CapTel phone. When connected, enter the phone number you wish to reach and the # key.

3. Both parties speak normally. The person with the CapTel phone hears the conversation and receives a transcription of the other party's words on his phone.

Tips & Warnings

• All numbers, including 7-1-1, are toll-free and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

• Speak directly to the other person, not the operator. Do not say, "Tell him..." or, "Ask her..."

• See the FTRI website for Spanish and French Creole Relay numbers and 24-hour Customer Service lines.

• Operators will ask if you have used Relay service before and assist you if you have not.

• Dial 9-1-1 directly for emergencies whenever possible. Calling 7-1-1 first can result in delays.

References

• Florida Deaf Network: Florida Relay Service--Telephone Numbers
• Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc.: What is the Florida Relay Service 711?
• Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc.: Types of Relay Calls

Resources

• Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc.
• Florida Deaf Network: Relay Service Online & Video Relay Service