My voice suddenly lost its fluency when I was a pre-teen around 1960. When I was finally diagnosed in 1999 and began getting treatments to help me learn how to speak fluently again, I clearly remember meeting with my speech therapist. We had a serious talk and I’ll never forget that he said, “Iris, make sure you have a job where you don’t need to rely on your voice.”
Due to my speech problem I struggled with this all of my life. Using the telephone was extremely difficult, so when computers and email became popular, I was very grateful. Not only did email help me to communicate more in my personal life, but it became my main means of contact at work too. In the 1980s I got a decent job in the publishing industry where I stayed for almost twenty years. During that time I felt very fortunate to be paid to use my brain, do some interesting editing work and, most importantly, rely on email and not use my voice that much.
In 2008, after learning American Sign Language (ASL), I was thrilled to begin a new job where I work with Deaf and hard-of-hearing children. I use ASL to help give preschoolers a language and a means of communication. Recently I have had the good fortune to also use ASL with children who are speech delayed or, like myself, have a hard time using their voice.
For the more than fifty years that I have lived with a speech problem, the hardest things for me were finding good work and being able to fully communicate. Since my diagnosis I have learned about things that could have helped me in the past. These include the law that protects the speech disabled, services available for them, and speech aids to make their work and personal lives easier. Some of these things weren’t around until recently, but they are today. For anyone who is speech disabled, I hope the following information will help to improve their lives, both work and private.
THE LAW
ADA, The Americans with Disabilities Act (See: http://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm#anchor63109)
As recently as 2009, the ADA has been amended to ensure that all American citizens who are speech disabled have access to telephone usage. Here is an excerpt from Title IV.
“Title IV … requires common carriers (telephone companies) to establish interstate and intrastate telecommunications relay services (TRS) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TRS enables callers with hearing and speech disabilities who use TTYs (also known as TDDs), and callers who use voice telephones to communicate with each other through a third party communications assistant. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has set minimum standards for TRS services. For more information about TRS, contact the FCC.”
Additionally, The Telecommunications Act states:
“Section 255 and Section 251(a)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, require manufacturers of telecommunications equipment and providers of telecommunications services to ensure that such equipment and services are accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, if readily achievable. These amendments ensure that people with disabilities will have access to a broad range of products and services such as telephones, cell phones, pagers, call-waiting, and operator services, that were often inaccessible to many users with disabilities. For more information, contact:
Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 (www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro)
(888) 225-5322 (Voice) (888) 835-5322 (TTY)”
SERVICES
Disability.gov at https://www.disability.gov/employment is a federal government website. The information is nationwide, linked to more than 14,000 programs and services from federal, state and local government agencies, schools, and nonprofit organizations. It is my favorite discovery because it can help the speech-disabled where we often need it the most: finding work. However, it is a great resource for housing and social security disability benefits too. This is an incredible site for anyone who is disabled.
The California Telephone Access Program (CTAP) and The Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP) are both part of the California Public Utilities Commission. They are examples of state programs that offer specialized telephone equipment and network services at no cost to qualified state residents who have difficulty using a standard telephone. See: http://ddtp.cpuc.ca.gov/default.aspx and
http://ddtp.cpuc.ca.gov/Equipment_by_Certification.aspx##Speech%20Disabled)
SPEECH AIDS
If you are interested in getting a device, I strongly suggest that you first consult with your speech doctor and/or therapist. As specialists, they are often familiar with these products. They may be able to help you get the speech aid you want or a similar one for little or no cost. More importantly, they will help you greatly because they understand which device will best serve you.
The links at http://ddtp.cpuc.ca.gov/ will lead you to a list of many speech aids. Some are used to amplify one’s speech, take messages, or provide a response to messages without using one’s voice. Below are descriptions of some of the devices they offer.
TTY/TDDs
TTY is short for telephone typewriter or text phone, and the TDD is a telecommunications device for the Deaf. Both devices are usually categorized under TTY/TDD. Each device uses a phone line to communicate with another TTY/TDD or a regular telephone. The majority of TTY/TDDs are the size of a laptop computer and include a keyboard, display screen, and accompanying printer.
In some cases the TTY/TDD connects to a live relay operator who will relay the message. This is often referred to as Voice Carry Over, and it is available in many countries around the world. However, newer models skip the relay operator and the message is sent from a personal computer equipped with a special modem and software. Additionally, if one doesn’t want or have a regular landline, they now have the option of using a portable TTY/TDD.
Amplified Phones
With my doctor’s assistance, I received a free telephone from CTAP that amplifies my voice. It is a 2001 model that picked up nearby sounds. The newer models, however, are greatly improved. They can block out static, interferences and/or other nearby noises.
My amplified phone connects to my landline, is clunky, amplifies my voice, but has no other features for someone who is speech disabled. Today one can get a portable amplified phone with caller ID and emergency connection features, as well as a keyboard. Hopefully, you can get the device you need through your doctor for free. However, if you buy one, most of these phones currently range from approximately $100 to $150.
Electronic Larynx
These are amazing aids that are often operated manually. The typical artificial larynx can be set to control voice pitch and volume, and some can even add intonation to create the sound of more natural speech.
Telephone Fluency System (See: http://www.assistech.com/products/Speech-Devices.htm)
This item costs $1500, but Assistech claims that “When used with traditional stuttering therapy, this device can almost eliminate stuttering.” It plugs directly into a telephone.
Remember: The laws and services are the result of many struggles for basic civil rights. Along with the speech aids, they are in place to help those who are speechless participate as much as possible, make their lives easier, and make sure that their voices are heard.
Electronic Larynx
These are amazing aids that are often operated manually. The typical artificial larynx can be set to control voice pitch and volume, and some can even add intonation to create the sound of more natural speech.
Telephone Fluency System (See: http://www.assistech.com/products/Speech-Devices.htm)
This item costs $1500, but Assistech claims that “When used with traditional stuttering therapy, this device can almost eliminate stuttering.” It plugs directly into a telephone.
Remember: The laws and services are the result of many struggles for basic civil rights. Along with the speech aids, they are in place to help those who are speechless participate as much as possible, make their lives easier, and make sure that their voices are heard.
