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From: jhall@ihuxz.att.com (John R Hall)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Illinois Relay Center
Message-ID: <12955@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 20 Jul 90 04:51:12 GMT
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Reply-To: jhall@ihuxz.att.com (John R Hall)
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Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
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Index Number: 9346

Although I missed the start of this discussion, I find the topic
interesting for a couple of reasons.  I used to volunteer some time
as a relay operator at Deaf Contact Chicago which was one of the
precursor organizations to the professionally staffed Illinois
Relay Center.

Deaf Contact's main problem was that there weren't enough
volunteers to act as operators, with a maximum of two or three
simultaneously but more often than not just one.  On the other
hand, we could handle any type of call including local calls which
were free, long distance credit card and collect calls, emergency
and counseling calls.  Also, keeping in mind that the operators
were volunteers, there was a level of caring which was not
motivated at all by money.

The Illinois Relay Center is being run as a service to the local
phone company (Illinois Bell) by AT&T.  The main advantage is that
there are many paid operators working 24hrs/day which gives you
much better coverage than before.  Also, the technological advances
such as the voice bridge are more likely to be introduced in this
environment vs. the volunteer organization which couldn't afford
it.  I don't know if this has been mentioned yet or not, but there
is a Deaf AT&T Bell Labs manager who is working at the center in
Chicago.  In fact, I was in a meeting with him where he was
describing the Voice Bridge because he can talk but not hear.  The
disadvantage of not being able to make out of state calls was
mentioned at that time, too.  California Relay has the same problem
I believe.

I can easily forward comments about the Illinois Relay to the management
there, so feel free to send me mail.  The people involved with the project
at AT&T want to make it the best service possible.
--John R. Hall