Deaf campaigners call for equal telephonic rights
DEAF CAMPAIGNERS are making themselves heard at a reception in Parliament at Portcullis House to highlight the campaign, “Bringing Deaf Telecoms into the 21st Century”.
Consortium group TAG, which represents all the main UK deaf organisations concerned with telecoms and broadcasting, said that deaf people were being held back in life because phone technology just wasn’t keeping up with deaf people’s needs.
In order for equal rights to be achieved, chairman Ruth Myers said that it was vital services keep pace with technology – otherwise home and work life can become very isolated.
Up until now deaf people have had several options when it comes to phone
communication – for example phones which turn speech into
text.
But one service, known as captioned telephony, was forced to close in December for financial reasons.
Phones are such a huge part of life in the 21st century it is important that everyone has access to services – the closure of the captioned telephony service brought isolation to those who relied on it.
Other services have advanced for deaf people, such as having a sign language interpreter via video link, however these options are simply far too expensive.
"No-one can participate fully in today’s fast-moving society without easy and affordable access to the telephone," said Ms. Myers.
Malcolm Bruce MP, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness said deaf people, "are bereft of key telephone services that could help them gain social, educational and professional equality with the rest of society.
“Four decades after telephones became commonplace in British households, many deaf people still struggle to use the telephone network and some cannot use it at all." µ
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UK Deaf people have issue and I hope it feature out to help them. The American have more opportunities choice for communicate on phone such as Videophone called "Sorenson Communication Inc" and I am sure you can check on WWW. It help a lot for Deaf people in 21st Century technology. I hope UK Deaf people have same opportunities as America Deaf people. Deaf people use smartphone such as blackberry with full data wireless plans without need use voice. I heard Deaf Japanese use cellphone like a videophone cause their speed wireless faster than America version. Wait and see.....
That article was interesting!!!

Well, here in America, we deaf guys are trying to get our rights to a full 10-digit phone number that is automatically directed through a relay service to our text telephones (TTY) or computers (IP addresses). Some of us use webcams or TV-mounted videophones for video relay with sign-language interpreters. 

You see, in order for hearing people to call us, they usually have to dial in a relay number like 1-800-955-8771 and then tell the relay operator to dial in my phone number. That is 2 phone numbers for the hearing person to use, and does not work with most companies/businesses that depend on calling customers back. What we need is our own phone number that looks just like a normal person's number, that is automatically routed through a relay service as the caller is trying to reach me. It could be a translator that voices and types text back and forth, or a sign-language interpreter translating. 

Thanks, the INQ.. I love you guys!
"No-one can participate fully in today’s fast-moving society without easy and affordable access to the telephone," 

And that's viewed as a disadvantage?