Telephone

• Find out if the person wants to use their speech, smart phone, tablet, communication device or assistance from someone they know when communicating with you over the telephone.
• Offer other options such as email, social media, internet video call, message relay services, or other text-based communications.
• Depending on the nature of your services, you may need policies and safeguards in place to ensure that the individual with a communication disability has authorized the assistant and that you are speaking to that person over the phone.
• If answering a phone call, do not assume the person is drunk, if their speech is unclear.
• Politely tell the person if you do not understand.  They will say it again or communicate it in another way.

Video: Krystine

Video: Krystine on using a communication assistant over the phone.

Video: Colin Phillips using a communication device on the phone.

Video: Colin Phillips on booking transportation.