Assistive Devices

Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program Association
National association site with links to each state program for distribution of free telecommunications equipment (teletypewriters - TTYs) to people with disabilities

Harris Communications
Keeping you in touch with assistive products designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing people. Extensive catalog with assistive devices, books, videos, novelty items, and more

United TTY Sales & Service
Visit this secure online showroom to buy: TTYs (2-year-warranty and free technical support), alarm clocks, bed vibrators, signalers, caption decoders, fire alarm systems, amplified and VCO phones, etc.

Deafbuy.com
Our goal is to provide a comfortable and secure shopping experience complete with easy order processing and full customer satisfaction. We also feature a large selection of quality products from major manufacturers and publishers including Ultratec, Ameriphone, Sonic Alert, Evergreen Gifts and Jewelry, ARM Computers, Gallaudet University Press, Dawn Sign Press, and many others. We sell books, videos, electronics, toys & games, novelties, apparel, tickets. etc.

Adcohearing.com
From TTYs to closed caption decoders, books, videos, and sign language gifts, we are the largest distributor in the Rocky Mountain region of products for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing; VISA/MasterCard/Discover Accepted ~ Gift Certificates Available ~ TTY Repair Service Quarterly Updates ~ We Ship Anywhere!

Pyram.com
Deaf's Next Generation Emporium

Hearmore.com
Hearmore offers products for deaf, hard of hearing, & deaf-blind. TTY, TDD, alert systems, hearing aids, amplification devices, vco, ASL, vibrators, door sensors, aids, sign language & more

Weitbrecht Communications, Inc.
Assistive technology, including TTYs, amplified phones, signaling devices and much more

Ultratec, Inc.
Manufacturer of text telephones (TTY), amplified phones and alerting devices

HITEC Group International
Hard of Hearing, Deaf, mobility, speech, vision, commercial products, ADA compliance, news, events & info

Sonic Alert
Visual Alerting Systems

A two way pager is a wireless device that can instantly send and receive email messages from any pager or computer. Some pagers are able to send and receive messages directly with TTYs, faxes, and captioning systems. This technology is very attractive to deaf and hard of hearing people, as well as interpreters and other hearing professionals that work closely with the Deaf community.

Agotell
Agotel was formed in May of 2002 with the sole intention of providing quality pager services at a reasonable cost. Agotel is proud to be a deaf owned and operated company. Our approach to our customers is threefold and simple: provide reasonable prices for pagers and services, provide world class customer service, & provide personalized add-on software so that your pager meets your needs.

Wynd Communications
Providing a total communications solution, Wynd offers an array of cutting-edge services known as WyndTell, enabling our customers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing to communicate with anyone, virtually anywhere, at anytime. Featuring national wireless coverage in its services, WyndTell gives customers the power to send and receive e-mail messages to or from any e-mail service, access the Internet, send faxes, send and receive TTY/TDD messages, and access Tripod Captioning Film info.

Garth Mobile
Keep organized with one device. Pledging to keep in better touch with friends? Remember more special events? Cut time spent at the office surfing the Internet? The T-Mobile Sidekick is perfect for you. When combined with a Sidekick plan, it's your wireless everything, with voice capabilities, web browsing, e-mail, personal organizer and lots more.

A TTY (teletypewriter or text telephone) is a device for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired to use the telephone by typing messages back and forth to one another, instead of talking and listening. The TTY rings via flashing light or vibrating wrist band. It consists of a keyboard, which holds 20-30 character keys, and a display screen. The letters that the TTY user types into the machine are turned into electrical signals (a beeping sound) that can travel over regular telephone lines. When the signals reach the other TTY user they are converted back into letters which appear on the second caller's display screen. Some TTYs are equipped with printers and answering machines.

AboutTTY.com
Clear guide to choosing, using, and buying a TTY.

FAQs and General TTY Etiquette Tips for New TTY Users
Useful overview of etiquette, technical information, and extensive abbreviation list

TTY Conversation Abbreviations:
GA = go ahead
SK = stop keying (end of call)
PLS = please
HD = hold
U = you
UR = you are
CU = see you
THX = thanks
Q = question
RD = read
TERP = interpreter

For a complete TTY abreviations dictionary, see the RIT Library.

History of the TTY
The TTY - Still an Essential Communications Tool. They have largely been replaced by email, text pagers, and other modern forms of communication, but the basic TTY is still around.

Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program Association
National association site with links to each state program for distribution of free telecommunications equipment (TTYs) to people with disabilities

Relay is for anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, or speech disabled who uses a TTY to communicate. Each message is relayed (typed/spoken) by a Communications Assistant (CA), word for word, to the hearing person on the other end of the line. Then the CA types what the hearing person has said back to the TTY user. Each conversation is handled with the strictest confidentiality. There is no additional charge to access Relay Services.

The latest development in relay technology is IP Relay - relay services provided through an internet connection rather than a TTY. There are no long distance charges when using IP Relay.

AT&T Relay Services
AT&T IP Relay Services

MCI Relay Access Numbers
MCI IP Relay

Sprint Relay Access Numbers
Sprint Relay Online

Phonic Ear
The vision that drives Phonic Ear’s innovation is one of universal understanding of the spoken word (for everyone from schoolchildren to persons with hearing impairment to holiday travelers) through the creative application of wireless technology. Our mission is to foster a motivated team to develop, build, and distribute high-quality products and services that solve the complete range of everyday speech intelligibility problems for individuals, schools, and public facilities. We want to lead our industry in sales, service, and innovation.

Hearingplanet.com
HearingPlanet is quickly changing the way America buys hearing instruments - by phone, affiliated clinics, and the Internet. Our goal is to make it as easy, convenient, and economical as possible to purchase hearing instruments. In support of that goal, we have on-staff audiologist ready to provide live help 5 days a week and over 900 clinic locations across the country.

Buyer's Haven Hearing Aid Products
Buyer's Haven has several products for the hearing impaired at prices well below the national averages. Buyer's Haven also provides free shipping to help curb the cost of products.

Hear USA
The HEAR USA® Advantage Network is a national network made up of local, regional and national hearing care centers just like yours! The mission of the Advantage Network is to advance timely, convenient and quality hearing services to all Americans by promoting an increase in the availability of hearing services. The Advantage Network is already the Premier resource for hearing care benefits in the country! It provides a link between hearing health care for consumers and physician networks, insurance companies, managed care, and other sponsor groups and organizations.

AudiologistOnline.com
AudiologistOnline.com provides real answers to your questions about hearing. Website includes a variety of resources - "Ask the Audiologist", children & hearing, hearing instruments, questions about hearing instruments, noise & hearing loss, FAQ, & provider directory.

Deafplanet.com
Educational and fun TV program for deaf children. The first web and television series in which American Sign Language is the primary language used.

Cosmic Video Communication
Video conferencing equipment

Cochlear Implants
A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted device that electrically stimulates the hearing nerve in the cochlea (inner ear). This stimulation is designed to allow individuals with severe to profound hearing loss to perceive sound.

Crazy Technologies
One of the deaf-owned business leading web hosting and designing - let us help you and we go crazy for you!

Deafoundation.com
Low-cost webhosting and Internet access services to the deaf and hard of hearing community

Deaf Vision
Website design and hosting

Computer Pro
Buy and upgrade computers, hardware repair, software installation, website design, and more!