711 Illinois Relay Logo   How 711 Illinois Relay Works.

Home

Making
Calls
Through
Illinois
Relay

Receiving
Calls
Through
Illinois
Relay

FAQ

Go to
ITAC
Website

 Making Calls Through Illinois Relay

If you use a standard telephone and want to call someone who uses a TTY, the Communications Assistant (CA) types your words to the person who uses a TTY and voices the TTY users typed words to you:

  1. Dial 7-1-1
  2. When a Communications Assistant (CA) answers, give the telephone number of the person you want to call.
  3. When the person answers, proceed as you would with a regular call. Speak directly to the person you are calling, not to the CA. Example: "Hi Mary, How are you doing?"
  4. Say "Go Ahead" or "GA" when you are ready for the other person to respond.
  5. When you are finished with your conversation, end the call by saying "Go Ahead or SK" (stop keying) giving the TTY user an opportunity to continue or end the call.

If you use a TTY and want to call someone who uses a standard telephone, the Communications Assistant (CA) will voice your typed words to the person using a standard telephone and type the standard phone users words to you:

  1. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-526-0844
  2. When the Communications Assistant (CA) answers, type the telephone number of the person you want to call. Example: 555-1212 PLS.
  3. When the person answers, proceed as you would with a regular TTY call. Direct your conversation to the person you are calling, not to the CA.
  4. Type "GA" when you are ready for the other person to respond.
  5. When you are finished with your conversation, end the call by typing "GA or SK" (stop keying) giving the person you are calling an opportunity to continue or end the call.
Top Of Page

Receiving Calls Through Illinois Relay

Standard Telephone Users: When you answer your telephone, you will hear a Communications Assistant (CA) say, "Hello. A person is calling you through Illinois Relay. I am CA####, have you received a relay call before?"

  1. If you answer "No", the operator will explain how Illinois Relay works.
  2. If you answer "Yes", the call will continue with the CA voicing everything the TTY user types, and typing everything the standard telephone user says.

TTY Users: When you answer the telephone using a TTY you will see "IRC CA#### (F/M) with a call" and the CA continues typing the standard telephone user's greeting to you.

  1. The call will continue as explained in the Making Relay Calls section above.
Top Of Page

Frequently Asked Questions and Tips about Illinois Relay

  • Q.  What other features does Illinois Relay offer?
  • A.  Illinois Relay offers additional relay numbers for people who want to use their voice or hearing with their TTY, for Spanish speaking people who use a TTY, and for people who are deaf-blind and use a telebraille. Standard telephone and TTY users also have a choice to use Illinois Relay's traditional 10 digit numbers or the convenient three-digit number 711.

  • Illinois Relay Numbers:

    		 
    TTY Users800-526-0844
    (TTY Users - Program this number into your TTY
    for the quickest answer and one touch dialing)
    Voice Users800-526-0857
    TTY Users (Spanish)800-501-0864
    VCO (Voice Carryover)877-826-1130
    Speech to Speech877-526-6690
    ASCII877-526-6680
    Telebraille877-526-6670

    For information about any of Relay's features, please call Sprint Relay Customer Service at 800-676-3777 v/tty or call or write the ITAC office at 800-841-6167 v/tty.

  • Q.  Are relay conversations confidential?
  • A.  Yes. Federal law mandates that all relay conversations are kept confidential and that no records be kept.
  •  
  • Q.  How much does it cost to use Illinois Relay?
  • A.  There is no extra charge to use Illinois Relay. Long distance relay calls are billed at the regular rate that is charged between the point from which you are making the call and the point where the call terminates. Long distance calls can be billed to your preferred long distance provider. Give the Relay Operator your long distance information when placing the call. If you do not provide a specific company, the call will be billed through Illinois' Relay provider, Sprint.
  •  
  • Q.  How do I access relay service in another state when I am traveling?
  • A.  All states must have "711" relay access by October 1, 2001. Until then, try 711. If that doesn't work, directory assistance should have each state's number.
Top Of Page