Numbers
Organisations
There are an estimated nine million deaf, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people in the UK, of whom 450,000 cannot use a standard telephone.
As well as encouraging people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired to use your company’s services or products, you may need to support your employees who have communication difficulties.
Please click here to find a list of Typetalk friendly organisations who have been trained by RNID typetalk.
How do we use Typetalk?How do we use Typetalk?
2. How do we set up a computer to make and receive textphone calls?
3. How do we receive Typetalk calls?
4. How do we make a call through Typetalk?
All you need is a telephone line and a textphone or computer.
A textphone, sometimes called a Minicom, is similar to a standard telephone. It plugs into your telephone socket, and has a keyboard and a display that lets you type and read your conversation.
You can get a textphone from RNID products: Call 01733 361199, or visit www.rnid.org.uk/shop
2. How do we set up a computer to make and receive textphone calls?
You can set up a computer to make and receive textphone calls. Read through our Typetalk/computer set up leaflet.
3. How do we receive Typetalk calls?
You don’t need any special equipment. When you answer a call that has been made through Typetalk, you will hear a recorded message saying:
Please hold for an operator-assisted call from a textphone user and a Typetalk Relay Assistant will be automatically connected into the call.
Simply dial 18002 followed by the full national, international or mobile telephone number of the person with the textphone. For example,
| Prefix | Area Code | Number |
| 18002 | 0151 | 709 9494 |
There is no need to add a space between the numbers. You would dial 1800201517099494.
5. More detailed information on Typetalk calls is available on other sections of our website:
Deaf - hard of hearing
Speech impaired
Hearing people
The Relay Assist service connects you to a Relay Assistant before the call is made to the other person.
To use Relay Assist service:
• dial 0870 2409 598 (if you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired and you use a textphone)
• dial 0870 2405 152 (if you can hear) More information is available via Relay Assist.
Assistance for organisations
If you haven’t already done so, you will need to consider the following adjustments to accommodate people who may be deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, so that they can access the RNID typetalk service.
Adjustments for employees
As explained in the Disability Discrimination Act, it is important for organisations to make reasonable adjustments to enable disabled employees, including those who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, to carry out their day-to-day duties in the workplace.
Switchboard/telephone adjustments
If you would like help with setting up your organisation's telephone systems to make or receive Typetalk calls for employees and/or customers, our Customer Support team would be happy to assist. You may, for example, need to ensure calls can be transferred between your departments to employees who use textphones.
Website adjustments
You may also need to make adjustments to ensure that 18001 and 18002 prefixed calls which provide access to Typetalk, are enabled through online enquiry forms on your website.
Contact details
You should also include the 18001 Typetalk prefix in your organisation’s contact details on leaflets, adverts and your website, to make it easier for deaf or speech impaired people to contact you.
Examples include:
• Deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind and speech impaired people can contactus by using RNID typetalk and a textphone or computer – simply dial 18001 xxxx xxxxxx (your organisation’s full telephone number) (calls are charged at standard telephone rates).
• Telephone xxxx xxxxxx Typetalk 18001 xxxx xxxxxx
• Telephone: xxxx xxxxxx Textphone users: please dial 1800 followed by xxxx xxxxxx to use RNID typetalk
Training and support
We have a team of Outreach Co-ordinators who visit organisations to explain the service in more detail and they can also provide training for employees across your organisation. Please contact our Customer Support team on 0800 7311 888 for further information.
Useful information
• Contact our Customer Support team
• Information on a range of products to support people who are deaf or hard of hearing
• Does your workplace and organisation meet Disability Discrimination Act requirements?
• Sign up to the Louder than Words Charter
• Information for healthcare professionals
1. Contact our Customer Support team
On Textphone 18001 0800 7311 888 Telephone 0800 7311 888 Fax 0151 709 8119 Email helpline@rnid-typetalk.org.uk Or complete the online enquiry form.
2. For information on a range of products to support people who are deaf or hard of hearing,
Visit RNID products www.rnid.org.uk/shop or call 01733 361199.
3. Does your workplace and organisation meet Disability Discrimination Act requirements?
Are you aware of your responsibilities as an employer? RNID’s Employment Training and Skills Service offers a wide range of deaf and disability awareness training, consultancy and introductory sign language courses. For further information visit: advice for employers
4. Sign up to the Louder than Words Charter
For further information, visit Louder than words.
5. Information for healthcare professionals
For more information about RNID research, equipment and information sheets, please visit: www.rnid.org.uk/information_resources/information_for_health_professionals/
