1. Telecommunications Relay Service *Before and After Its Beginnings*
XVIII World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf
Telecommunications Relay Service *Before and After Its Beginnings*  
Andrea J. Saks: Chairman
ITU-T Joint Coordination Activity on Accessibility and Human Factors (ITU-T JCA-AHF)
CODA
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

2. Why promote and create accessible ICTs, Assistive Technology and International Relay Services?
It is a human right recognized in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD):Enshrined in Article 9
Article 9 of the UNCRPD defines ICT accessibility as an integral part of accessibility rights on par with transportation and the physical environment.
Article 9 concerns all ICT products and ICT based applications and services, with a far-reaching implication for industry, governments and civil society
All of us who age will have age-related disabilities, We all (100%) can benefit from more accessible devices and services. We will need relay services.
Why is there so much attention given to promoting accessible ICTs for persons with disabilities?
Accessibility is a human right recognized in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which has now been signed by 147 countries and ratified by 95! Chances are good that your country is a signatory.
The Convention puts rights to ICT accessibility on a par with well-recognized rights to accessibility to transportation and the physical environment, such as ramps to buildings for those in wheelchairs.
Provisions on ICT accessibility are enshrined in Article 9 of the CRPD.
It has been shown that all too often, few persons with disabilities in have good access to education. As a result, they remain illiterate and have no viable job skills.
Accessible ICTs can provide a path out of poverty and ensure an inclusive education for persons with disabilities.
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

3. I am of Deaf Parents
I lived during a time when there wasn’t any independent communication for persons who are Deaf over the phone.
I also lived during a time to see the world change for the Deaf community. They took their own destiny into their hands, changed their futures and became independent.
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

4. My Parents
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

5. Phone calls before Text Phones and Relay?
As late as 1960, no independent calls!
There was no
No internet or instant messaging
No mobile phones
No SMS
No direct dial phones in many places - only with a hearing operator
No way without asking a hearing person to help.
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

6. Long Distance Communication
Deaf People wrote letters but this took time for a response
Drove to make appointments in person or asked hearing friends/family to call
Sometimes people were not at home.
Strangers sometimes made the calls, especially in an emergency.
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

7. Robert Weitbrecht Andrew Saks James C Marsters
The Beginning
Three Deaf Men Changed the World
Robert Weitbrecht Andrew Saks James C Marsters
Liberated the telephone and that enabled deaf people to have a political voice that is now heard around the world!
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

8. A Historical View of events
In the 1960’s they and their tiny company, Applied Communications Corporation (APCOM) created the first successful deaf telephone network with a modem and a surplus TTY.
Surplus model 15 Phonetype acoustic coupler
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

9. One of the First Deaf Telephone Relay Services
The hearing children
I was one (me 1948)
1st call at 16 months
Techniques varied
Father spoke directly
I listened (earpiece)
Oral interpreted
Was this 20th century?
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

10. Would you trust this child to run your life and do your banking?
I am the tiny girl with dark hair!
The first Deaf Telephone and Relay Service Me!
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

11. The First Transatlantic Call 1975
The late Lord Jack Ashley was at the time a British MP
USA Ambassador to UK, the late Elliot Richardson
The late Michael Kingbeer Engineer
To Dr Boise Williams HEW
London US Trade Center Building, to the US HEW in Washington, D.C.
Broke the docket at the FCC!
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

12. Father of V.18, Dick Brandt He wrote most of ITU.T V.18
Saved Baudot protocol from
being deleted from V.18
1st rapporteur for the
Disability question in ITU-T
Recipient of the TDI Robert
Weitbrecht award
Invited AJS to ITU to help in 1991
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

13. The beginning at ITU: 1991 Gary Fereno, US State Department & AJS
No personal computers just lots of paper!
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

14. Gunnar Hellstrom F.703 Total Conversation author
What is Total Conversation?
Real Time Text, Video and Voice
Disability Rapporteur after Dick Brandt
Improved V.18
Author of the Accessibility
Checklist
Relay Services
Implemented Total Conversation in relays and
in Emergency Services in the EU Reach 112 project.
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

15. The Beginning of Relay Services
The first idea with a normal answering service using two telephones and two textphones (TTY).
My father, Andrew Saks ordering room service in a Hotel via TTY in the 1960’s for the first time using a relay service. Breakfast is served in New York ordered by “answering service” in California!
In the USA, Paul Taylor starts the First Relay Service, enabling many deaf people to subscribe and “talk” to hearing people in the early 70’s.
Relay services have human beings as the interface called CA’s, Communication Assistants
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

16. USA: The first Deaf Telephone Network
The Deaf created and made their system work themselves long before relay services started
Photo: Sally A. Taylor wife of Paul Taylor founder of relay services pictured below
Reconditioning teleprinters/telex machines donated to TDI Inc.
It was by the Deaf for the Deaf working together with Western Union Volunteers and the Telephone Pioneers of America
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

17. Why do we now need relay? Computers with video Video phones
When we have:
Computers with video
Video phones
, Mobile phones
iPads/Tablets
WhatsApp and SMS
Instant Messaging
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

18. Why People need relay Services
Relay Services connect people to the hearing world in real time.
Establishing independence & not having to rely on children-family-friends-strangers.
A personal private phone calls with a doctor, lawyer or their child’s teacher via a relay.
People answer voice calls in real time.
, instant messaging and SMS not real time and not reliable for real time tasks.
Jobs and Education with Relay Services!
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

19. Types of Relay Services
Text Relay Service using a typing device, with or without VCO (voice carry over) and often called “TRS” as the T stood for TEXT.
Video Relay Service for sign language users and some lip reading.
CapTel/Web CapTel Relay: the user with his own voice, speaking directly (VCO) to whom he is calling but receiving reply in text so no need to type.
Speech to Speech Relay for those who may have hearing but speak with difficulty.
Describe the types and why they are separate..
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

20. Who needs Relay Services?
Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing autistic and those speech difficulties
People who use sign language with or without speech and there are as many sign languages as countries on the planet if not more.
Persons who do not sign but are either deaf or have hearing difficulties and older persons who are deafened later life.
Persons who have autism
Persons with speech difficulties
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

21. For those wish to use their Voice
Captel Relay device for speaking and receiving text for people who wish to speak for themselves It is a hidden process
This is often used by older persons who become deaf later in life.
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

22. The Deaf Community Created their own Deaf Telephone Network
Wants International Access that is transparent
Must be directly involved and their needs listened to. ITU includes!
Participation and creativity in the past to be regarded with respect.
Experience must be respected.
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

23. Real Time text conversation
User A
User B
Why do you need character by character transmission?
Because then you get a live conversation suitable for a real time call. Yes, I see, I can read your thoughts at the
moment you express them. No waiting. Good!

24. Embracing total conversation
A deaf-blind woman uses multimedia communication (ITU-T F.703 service description):
She uses sign-language
She receives text
Also for emergency services (Outreach 112 trial)
Voice, video, text relay
refreshable Braille device
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

25. Why People need Relay on the Go
In the USA some Relay providers use apps for Mobile phones.
Some use Android platforms others use Apple based apps for relay on the move.
Portability for Relay Services in real time for real time situations.
One major category of importance is real time emergency serivces
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

26. What is next to Discuss ? Future Global Access
Standards: Every relay service should be international like the telephone.
International numbering for global access.
Who should pay and equivalent service under article 9 of the UNCRPD.
Only 26 countries to date have relays
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

27. Standardizing Relay Services
ITU-T F.930 (03/2018) - Multimedia telecommunication relay services
Q26/16 leading the work in Relay Services and Guidelines for PWDs
Relay Service Providers and PWDs participated in the work
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

28. The list of countries with some form of Relay services.
Europe: (Europe) 16:Belgium, Czech, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands. Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Middle East 1: Egypt
The Americas 4:Canada, Colombia, Paraguay
USA many: access in all 52 States
Asia 3: Republic of Korea, Thailand, Japan 
Oceania 2: Australia, New Zealand 
Spain
Sweden
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

29. Map of existing Relays
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

30. Final Message
People need relays to have full lives for work, family, friends, education and to contribute back to society and in real time
ITU continues to work on Accessibility for ALL
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

31. ACCESSIBLE EUROPE 2019
The second edition of the Regional Forum for Europe on Accessibility, organized in partnership with the European Commission, seeks to gather all stakeholders from the Private and Public sectors, NGOs, Civil society groups and Academia to discuss ICT accessibility.
When?: 4-6 December 2019
Where?: Malta
Among 12 sessions addressing a variety of topics in the broad field of ICT accessibility, (including, among other, audiovisual and media services, the use of AI and the role of standards) there will be a dedicated session on relay services.
More information about the event will be displayed on the event’s webpage (see link) in the coming days. Registrations for the event will open on 1 September 2019.
More information available at:
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019

32. Contact
Andrea J. Saks
Chairman, ITU-T Joint Coordination Activity on Accessibility and Human Factors, (JCA-AHF)
Coordinator, Internet Governance Forum, Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and Disability (IGF DCAD)
TDI Representative to ITU (website) G3ict Representative to ITU
Accessibility Advisor to USA delegations attending ITU-T and ITU-D Study Groups. s:
XVIII World Congress, WFD, Paris, July 2019