Comments on: The Third Person http://the-rebuttal.com/?p=349&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-third-person "Accountability breeds response-ability." - Stephen R. Covey Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:52:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Dean http://the-rebuttal.com/?p=349&cpage=1#comment-208 Dean Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:23:02 +0000 http://the-rebuttal.com/?p=349#comment-208 Spot on Gary. We have certainly come a long way in terms of telecommunications yet we still have a fair way to go to catch up with the rest of the world. In regards to the story going around the traps is that the Relay Service is encouraging organisations to only publicise the Relay Service Number and do away with their TTYs.... I too have heard of this and it is quite disturbing that such is even being raised! I the rumours is true that the powers to be should be open and transparent on discussing this matter with the community not making a decision and then only discuss it with a small group of people. Could it be that the NRS call rate is declining and that the provider of the Relay Service is under pressure to perform in order to keep operating cost above line? And/or the Government questioning the value of servicing the relay service due to the decline in demands? In any case the Relay Service provider should be open and transparent as to what is happening. Besides, they are to be working closely with the community and its members (like in the past) but many I speak with tells me that this is not happening these days. I dont know about you but have you noticed that we havent received the annual TTY Directory for a while? The suggestion of doing away with the NRS and using the online text base system (via computer) has some merit. There is still the issue in regards to Voice Carry Over (commonly used for the hearing impaired people) and Speech to Speech Relay. It can be done by require some tweaking and additional add ons (at cost). There is also the issue in regards to educating the mainstream community as to how to best utilise this, have a common communication system in place, be able to make themselves accessible via this method etc. Call centres will have a field day with us! Spot on Gary. We have certainly come a long way in terms of telecommunications yet we still have a fair way to go to catch up with the rest of the world.

In regards to the story going around the traps is that the Relay Service is encouraging organisations to only publicise the Relay Service Number and do away with their TTYs…. I too have heard of this and it is quite disturbing that such is even being raised!

I the rumours is true that the powers to be should be open and transparent on discussing this matter with the community not making a decision and then only discuss it with a small group of people.

Could it be that the NRS call rate is declining and that the provider of the Relay Service is under pressure to perform in order to keep operating cost above line? And/or the Government questioning the value of servicing the relay service due to the decline in demands? In any case the Relay Service provider should be open and transparent as to what is happening. Besides, they are to be working closely with the community and its members (like in the past) but many I speak with tells me that this is not happening these days.

I dont know about you but have you noticed that we havent received the annual TTY Directory for a while?

The suggestion of doing away with the NRS and using the online text base system (via computer) has some merit. There is still the issue in regards to Voice Carry Over (commonly used for the hearing impaired people) and Speech to Speech Relay. It can be done by require some tweaking and additional add ons (at cost).

There is also the issue in regards to educating the mainstream community as to how to best utilise this, have a common communication system in place, be able to make themselves accessible via this method etc. Call centres will have a field day with us!

]]> By: Adam http://the-rebuttal.com/?p=349&cpage=1#comment-207 Adam Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:21:46 +0000 http://the-rebuttal.com/?p=349#comment-207 The advent of an online text based telecommunication system is something that I have dreamed of since I was a child mucking around with my family's now antiquated Commodore 64 PC system and having to rely upon other family members to make the most basic of telephone enquiries on my behalf. E.g. Ordering a pizza. In my current employment I work for an agency which assists clients with various disabilities to be as independent as possible and engage with their local communities. Much of my work involves telephoning various clients to conduct reviews of their situations and associated needs over the phone, or to make appointments to visit these clients to conduct the above assessments in person. A significant number of clients have cognitive impairments due to having an Intellectual disability, Acquired Brain Injury, or an Acquired Neurological Disorder etc. Occasionally when contacting these clients via the National Relay Service they become confused and anxious to use this mode of communication and either request to speak to one of my hearing colleagues, or simply hang up quite abruptly. Unfortunately many of these clients do not have access to instant messaging, SMS or e-mail. Whilst my colleagues and management are quite supportive and willing to assist me to make contact with clients in these situations, the introduction of a system to allow me to communicate directly with these clients would be a god-send, Utopia even! The only downside that I can foresee is that my colleagues may have me committed to a mental institution for doing cartwheels naked around the office should the above technology ever become a reality! Adam The advent of an online text based telecommunication system is something that I have dreamed of since I was a child mucking around with my family’s now antiquated Commodore 64 PC system and having to rely upon other family members to make the most basic of telephone enquiries on my behalf. E.g. Ordering a pizza.

In my current employment I work for an agency which assists clients with various disabilities to be as independent as possible and engage with their local communities. Much of my work involves telephoning various clients to conduct reviews of their situations and associated needs over the phone, or to make appointments to visit these clients to conduct the above assessments in person.

A significant number of clients have cognitive impairments due to having an Intellectual disability, Acquired Brain Injury, or an Acquired Neurological Disorder etc. Occasionally when contacting these clients via the National Relay Service they become confused and anxious to use this mode of communication and either request to speak to one of my hearing colleagues, or simply hang up quite abruptly. Unfortunately many of these clients do not have access to instant messaging, SMS or e-mail.

Whilst my colleagues and management are quite supportive and willing to assist me to make contact with clients in these situations, the introduction of a system to allow me to communicate directly with these clients would be a god-send, Utopia even!

The only downside that I can foresee is that my colleagues may have me committed to a mental institution for doing cartwheels naked around the office should the above technology ever become a reality!

Adam

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