Teletypewriters (TTYs)

TTYs allow you to send and receive text messages over the telephone network. People with little or no effective speech or hearing can conduct text-to-text conversations with other TTY users, or they can use the National Relay Service to conduct text to voice calls with other users. Telstra supplies a number of models through the Disability Equipment Program:

Uniphone 1150

The voice, text and amplified telephone that is suitable for both standard phone and TTY users.

Features:

• Combines TTY and telephone features
• The telephone handset includes a hearing aid coupler and has volume control
• Built-in flashing ring indicator
• Auto Answer
• Built-in memory allows you to review your TTY conversation
• Turbo Code automatically sends and receives as fast as you can type
• ASCII code capability enables the Uniphone to communicate directly to a computer modem
• Takes TTY messages when you are unavailable
• VCO/HCO possible when used with in-built telephone handset

Miniprint 425

An easy-to-use reliable TTY with a built-in printer.

Features:

• Turbo Code with interrupt facility allows 'real time' conversation, you can send or receive as fast as you can type
• Auto Answer
• Acoustically coupled to your telephone handset or direct connect to your telephone line
• AutoID alerts hearing people to your TTY calls
• Built-in ring flasher for incoming calls
• Printing function provides a printed version of conversations
• Takes TTY messages when you are unavailable

Superprint 4425

Loaded with features to make communication easy.

Features:

• Turbo Code with interrupt facility allows 'real time' conversation - send or receive as fast as you can type
• Voice announcer tells the caller to use a TTY or dial a relay service and gives the relay number
• Auto Answer, remote message retrieval
• Acoustically coupled to your telephone handset or direct connect to your telephone line
• AutoID alerts hearing people to your TTY calls
• Built-in ring flasher for incoming calls
• User programmable relay voice announcer
• Built-in 32K memory allows you to store phone numbers and conversations
• Memory dialling

Large Visual Display TTY

Includes the same features as the Superprint 4425, and has a large visual display for Deafblind customers with some residual vision.

Features:

• As with the Superprint 4425 above
• Large Visual Display shows bright, bold, magnified characters 15mm high
• Conversation is shown on both the TTY display and on the Large Visual Display

Note:

The US manufacturer of Large Visual Display units (LVDs) for Teletypewriters (TTYs) has advised that these devices are no longer being manufactured. The Australian supplier has been unable to source additional LVD units from the manufacturer for some time.
Telstra is investigating options for a suitable replacement for LVDs. In the meantime, stocks are in very short supply.
Telstra encourages Deafblind customers who believe they may eligible for LVD TTYs through our Disability Equipment Program to contact our Disability Enquiry Hotline for advice. If there are no LVD units available at the time of their enquiry, customers can leave their contact details and will be contacted when an LVD or a suitable replacement device becomes available.

Telstra Disability Enquiry Hotline

Phone:

1800 068 424 (Voice)
1800 808 981 (TTY only)
1800 814 777 (Fax)

Email:  

Disability@online.telstra.com.au

Braille TTY

For Deafblind customers, this TTY outputs conversations in Braille as well as on a standard TTY fluorescent display.

Features:

• Automatic answering, remote message retrieval
• Direct connect to your telephone line or acoustically coupled to your telephone handset
• Memory dialling
• Wireless vibrating alert for incoming calls
• 4 memory buffers for pre-recording messages
• Dual keyboard allows conversations to be output both in Braille and on the TTY display
• Large memory function allows conversations to be saved

Computer modems can be used as an alternative to a TTY. Modems send data messages over the telephone network via your personal computer (PC), allowing you to communicate with other PC users using email or online chat via the internet.

With the right software on your computer, modems can enable you to communicate by text with TTYs or send written messages to faxes. And, you can communicate with users of standard telephones by using the National Relay Service.

What does it offer?

• 56kbps data/fax voice modem for use with voice or data.
• Fax capability with speed up to 14kbps.
• Can be used with MacIntosh or most IBM compatible PCs (note - a serial port is required).

Features:

• 56kbps (minimum v.90) Data/Fax Voice Modem
• Fax capability – fax speed up to 14 kbps
• Can be used with either Macintosh or most IBM compatibles
• A serial port is required

Telstra Standard Rental Phone - T1000S

The T1000S has a number of features that make it easy to use for people with vision impairment and with impaired dexterity. Improved adjustable ring volume and adjustable volume control features for incoming calls also make this phone accessible for people with hearing impairment.

Features:

• Improved keypad button spacing
• Tactile marker on the '5' key
• In-built hearing aid coupler
• 10 programmable one-touch memory-storage buttons for easy dialling
• Six simple one-touch and easy to use network feature buttons
• Telstra Voice Assistant button (1#) that allows you to control some phone features using your voice
• Adjustable ringer volume with the pitch set to maximise the sound level
• Adjustable volume control to amplify incoming speech
• Light weight easy to hold handset, with comfortable earpiece
• A 1.5m extendable handset cord reduces drag on the handset
• Additional line socket to enable connection of external ringer
• Quality design and tested to ensure long and maintenance-free use.

Big Button/Multi-Purpose phone

If you have difficulty holding a telephone handset, reading or dialling the numbers on your telephone, or making yourself heard on the phone this may be the phone for you.

This multi-purpose phone has been especially designed to suit people with vision or dexterity impairment. The buttons are double the size of those on a standard phone, and can activate the handsfree function and dial programmed numbers with a single push of a button.

Features:

• Large print and large button keypad
• Handsfree microphone and speaker that activate by touching any button on the keypad
• Three one-touch and ten two-touch memory buttons for frequently called numbers
• Adjustable ringer volume and pitch
• Adjustable voice aid to amplify outgoing speech
• Adjustable volume control to amplify incoming speech
• In-built hearing aid coupler
• Flashing light for incoming calls
• Additional port so that you can add a single, external switch if you have difficulty dialling on the phone

* A supplementary battery/power pack is available, if single, external switch operation is required.

Cordless phone

If you have difficulty getting to the phone in time, this phone may suit you.

Features:

• Adjustable ring volume and adjustable hearing volume control with volume boost
• In-built hearing aid coupler
• Large backlit key-pad buttons
• Handsfree ability
• Backlit Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) shows dialled numbers and numbers stored in memory, also displays call timer
• 100 name and number phonebook
• SMS capable
• Calling Number Display with 20 number call list

Visual Alert

The visual signal alert allows people who have a hearing impairment or who are deaf to see that the telephone is ringing. It switches an incandescent lamp on and off in time with the telephone ring to show when you have an incoming call. The lamp is not provided by Telstra.

Features:

• Flashes a lamp in sequence with incoming telephone ring
• Can be easily connected to a standard telephone socket and a standard power socket
• Lamp can be set to normally on or normally off for day or night use

Cochlear Implant Telephone Adaptor

The Telephone Adaptor provides a direct connection between the telephone and a Cochlear Implant speech processor for clearer telephone reception.

Features:

• Handset selector switch provides compatibility with a wide range of telephones
• Adjustable volume control
• Available in two models - suitable for most body-worn processors (SPrint™, Spectra and MSP processors) or the ESPrit™ behind-the-ear speech processor
• Cuts out background noise and interference
  

EasyRead Stickers

These stickers have large numerals, which can be stuck on to the keys on your telephone keypad.

Features:

• Large print numerals on high contrast background
• Easy-peel
• Can be applied to T1000s telephone keypads

EasyRead Memory Store Sheet

This A4 size card allows you to record the numbers stored in your telephone's memory in a large format - making it easier to read.

Extension Ringer/General Purpose Alarm

An auxiliary telephone ringer that can be installed in conjunction with your standard telephone to provide additional ring volume for people with a hearing impairment.

Features:

• Adjustable ring pitch and volume
• Plugs into any socket, no batteries or mains power required on the current model
• Much louder than a standard telephone ring
• On/off switch