Hearing Impaired Options

HEARING IMPAIRED OPTIONS

There are two options available that are offered by third-party companies to assist UTSA Faculty and Staff who are hearing or speech impaired: Captioned Telephone Service and Video Relay Services.

 

CAPTIONED TELEPHONE SERVICE (CTS)

• CTS utilizes a captioned telephone which has a built-in screen that displays real-time text captions to the user. The device is provided at no cost to the user or UTSA and is funded via the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Once installed, the device belongs to the user and is not property of UTSA. If the user transfers to another department or separates from the University, the device will follow the user.

 

VIDEO RELAY SERVICES (VRS)

• VRS is a form of Telecommunications Relay Service that allows users of American Sign Language to utilize video equipment to communicate with voice telephone users. The VRS device is provided at no cost to the user or to UTSA. The device is assigned to UTSA and UTSA is responsible for notifying the vendor of any changes to the person responsible for the videophone or the location of the videophone.

 

Hearing or speech impaired users are able to take advantage of either or both devices. In some cases, users may even qualify for a second device that can be used at their home. Authorized department/unit heads or their administrative designees must submit a request via the UTS Self-Service Portal on behalf of the user as a UTSA telephone extension is required for the user to be able to receive UTSA calls on these devices.