ILLINOIS RELAY SERVICE - DIAL 711

What is it?
Illinois Relay Service is a 24 hour, seven day a week service provided by Mid Century Telephone Co-operative in cooperation with the Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation (ITAC). The service is a communications link between those who use a Text Telephone (TTY) and those who use a standard voice telephone. TTY’s are special typewriter-style devices used by persons who are hard of hearing, deaf or voice-impaired to communicate over the telephone.

How does it work?
Specially trained operators relay conversations between TTY users and hearing people who use a standard voice telephone. The relay operator types the hearing caller’s spoken words to the TTY caller. The operator then speaks the typed words received from the TTY caller to the hearing person. The operator acts as a go-between throughout the entire conversation.
All Calls made through the Relay Center are kept strictly confidential, no record is kept, other than for billing purposes.
A special feature, known as “voice carry over” makes it possible for a deaf or hard of hearing caller with good speech skills to talk directly to the hearing caller. With this feature, the relay operator types only the hearing caller’s voice response back to the TTY caller.

How do you use the service?
Callers can contact the Illinois Relay Center, located in Chicago, by dialing a toll free number or 711:

Who do I call in an Emergency?
Relay operators DO NOT have access to 911 emergency centers. TTY users should dial their local TTY emergency numbers directly. If during an emergency the TTY caller provides a phone number that can be directly dialed, the relay operator will attempt to complete this call.

How are calls billed?
Calls completed through the Relay Center are billed at regular telephone company rates. There are NO extra charges. Billing options include direct, collect, calling card, third number and person to person calls. For example, a person in Springfield calls a friend in Carbondale using the Relay Center. The person will not be billed for the call from Springfield to the Relay Center in Chicago, or for the call from the Relay Center to Carbondale. The caller will only be billed for a direct call from Springfield to Carbondale.

Are other services available?
ITAC also distributes TTYs at no charge to qualified Illinois residents. For more information on the TTY Loan Distribution Program, or the Telecommunications Relay Service, write to:

ITAC, 3001 Montvale Drive, Suite D, Springfield, IL 62704

Phone: Voice or TTY - 1-800-841-6167: 
Fax: 1-217-698-0942
Website: www.itactty.org