Either a TTY (text telephone) user or a person using a standard phone may initiate a call through Maryland Relay. After dialing Maryland Relay, the person initiating the call gives the phone number of the person or business being called to the Maryland Relay Operator, who then dials that number. The Relay Operator types the standard phone user's spoken words to the person using the TTY and voices the TTY user's text.
What is a TTY and how is it used?
It looks much like a typewriter keypad with a text screen. A TTY allows a deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech-disabled person to make a telephone call. The conversation is read on a lighted display screen and/or a paper printout on the TTY. Persons using a TTY may call any standard phone user by placing the call through Maryland Relay, or they may call another TTY user directly. Click here for more information on using the TTY.
Maryland Relay is free to use
Maryland Relay is a public service. Users pay no set-up charges or fees for local calls, and there is no limit on the number or length of calls a user may make. Maryland Relay accepts direct dial, collect, person-to-person, Maryland telephone company calling cards, and any participating long distance company calls. These calls will be billed at the carrier's designated rates. If no preferred carrier is named by the Relay user, long distance and international calls will be billed by Maryland Relay's provider at a discounted rate.
Maryland Relay Operators
Maryland Relay Operators follow a strict code of confidentiality and ethics. Maryland Relay Operators are integral to the success of Maryland Relay. They maintain strict confidentiality regarding the conversations of Maryland Relay users, and none of the conversations are divulged. Operators become a "human telephone wire," and will not participate in conversations for any reason. To ensure equal access, Operators will type everything they hear, including background noises and voice intonations.