Historical October 1987 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Volunteers are needed to help deaf people for CONTACT’s Telecommunications Service for the Deaf.
A deaf person cannot use the telephone without special equipment and/or special help from someone who can hear. CONTACT-St. Louis has been helping deaf people make telephone calls since 1974, and calls are averaging more than 6,000 per month.
In 1988, CONTACT helped make over 63,000 calls for deaf people.
A deaf person can communicate via teletype equipment with people who have similar equipment, but most of the hearing world is not telephoneaccessible for deaf people. CONTACT volunteers serve as intermediaries, reading to a hearing person what the deaf person is typing in to CONTACT, and typing back to the deaf person what the hearing person replies by voice. CONTACT helps deaf people be more independent and to enjoy more privacy and security. Being able to type is a plus, but the hunt-and-peck method is acceptable!
After training, CONTACT volunteers are asked to serve 8 hours a month and may schedule times that are personally convenient. Training begins October 15.
For more information and an application, please call (314) 771-8181, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, October 1987.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Source prints 1988 for past annual call count although issue is October 1987. Year retained, not changed by inference.
Original source: SD_Times1987_10.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
