Fed: Phone relay service for deaf people to be expanded

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2007
Fed: Phone relay service for deaf people to be expanded

SYDNEY, April 16 AAP - A national communication service for the hearing impaired will
be expanded to provide assistance to more Australians, including the elderly.

The National Relay Service, which receives 55,000 calls a day, will target older Australians
who are experiencing the late onset of hearing loss.

Users of the relay service can type a message and have it relayed by the voice of a
telephone operator and vice versa.

Launching the expanded program in Sydney today, federal Communications Minister Helen
Coonan said the service would spread to new user groups and improve the lives of older
Australians.

"It will encourage them to not be embarrassed about not being able to hear or having
a disability, but feeling that this is something that's available," Ms Coonan said.

"It's something that is going to make a big difference to their life.

"It will allow them to keep in touch with their loved ones, let them make calls to
their doctor ... so we'll be spreading the word around so that anyone with a disability
who can benefit from this will know about it."

She said the service would now be extended to the internet.

AAP krc/wjf/cjh/mn

KEYWORD: RELAY

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