Is there a relay service for deaf people in Ireland?

Question

I know that in the USA there are several telecommunications companies that offer relay services for the deaf, I'm wondering if it is the same in Ireland?

Answer 1

I'm not sure how extensive it is, but I think the UK uses the video relay service. That's where a deaf person signs using a camera, the image is seen by an interpreter who interprets the signs into a telephone to someone who is hearing. The hearing person responds on the phone, and the interpreter signs it back to the deaf person using the video relay.

Answer 2

Yes, there is. It's called RNID Typetalk Relay Service.

There are an estimated 450,000 deaf, hard of hearing, speech–impaired and deafblind people in the UK that cannot use a standard telephone. For them textphone communications provides a vital lifeline along with TextDirect and Typetalk.

By making calls through TextDirect textphone users have automatic access to the Typetalk Relay Service, the new TextDirect Relay service for people with communication difficulties.

Along with access to Typetalk TextDirect converts ringing and busy tone into text messages, which are displayed on the textphone display and allows the telephone companies to provide a text rebate.

If you use a textphone you can make a call through TextDirect by dialling prefix 18001 before the telephone number you want. TextDirect is available from most UK telephone networks.

TextDirect is provided by BT, Typetalk is managed by the RNID and both are supported by the UK Telephone Industry.

Answer 3

ask some of the ones in the us, and they have info on other places