It’s okay to use different methods of communicating over the phone. I use many different methods of talking over the phone because, depending upon the situation, one might be more effective than another.

I usually use my personal care attendant (PCA) to help me talk over the speaker phone because I can hear the other person and they can hear me. I use my alphabet board and my PCA relays what I’m saying to the other person. This way works well for me because it’s fast, especially if the person I’m calling is unfamiliar with AAC devices, or if they might be impatient when I use my Vmax. And some people, like my mom and dad who have poor hearing, have a difficult time understanding my device. So I feel more comfortable with having my PCA interpret what I’m saying in those situations.

Using my PCA is especially helpful when I don’t know ahead of time what I’m going to say, and I can’t really preprogram my device for the conversation. But once in a while I can preprogram what I am going to say. For example, I can call my PCA and tell him if I have a problem, or tell him what I want for dinner. He is patient and he knows to ask “Are you still typing?” or “Is there something else?”, and I can then say “Yes” or “No”.

When I don’t feel I need my PCA to help, I mainly use the TDD online relay service. The relay service is not just for deaf people but also for any disabled person who can’t talk. To use this system you type a phone number into a web page through your browser. There is another dialog box if you want to tell the operator such as “Keep redialing and hold for a live person”. After you type in the number and an opening message (if you want), an operator comes online and makes the actual call. The operator reads what you’re typing to the person on the other end.

I use this service when I’m calling the bank or the Social Security office where I would have to press a bunch of buttons but can’t because I’m not fast or coordinated enough. With the relay service, the relay operator keeps the person on the other end’s attention and from hanging up by saying “Hold on, the person is typing”.

Sometimes I use Skype with people who have a web cam, because they can see that I’m typing with my Vmax.

It can be hard for me to use the phone with my Vmax because people sometimes are impatient and hang up on me or they are unable to understand my device. I grew up using the TDD relay service and I’m very comfortable with it so that is why I mainly use it. I’m new at using Skype but I see great promise here. The key to effective communication is to use whatever method you are comfortable with. I use the method that I feel comfortable with in each situation – whether it’s via my PCA interpreting for me, using my Vmax or the relay service.