Created 10/10; updated 3/17

The Oregon Relay Telephone Service (7-1-1) http://www.oregonrelay.com/ provides text to speech interpreters and ASL to speech interpreters. These interpreters allow our patrons who are Deaf and hard of hearing to communicate over the phone with reference staff.  Some tips for working with the patron and the interpreter.  Please remember that the patron is the person who is asking the question, not the interpreter.  The interpreter is an intermediary who needs time to type the questions and responses.  Please give the interpreter at least a minute to type the questions and responses to the patron; the interpreter will probably let you know when it is okay to continue speaking.  If you are engaging the patron in a reference interview, the time lag might be longer.  

Online relay services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing are also available. 

Also check Jamie Berke's Deafness.About.com relay service.