If you have a hearing or speech impairment and use a TTY (Teletypewriter) device, the Ohio Department of Health offers TTY services through the Ohio Relay Service.
About Ohio Relay Service
Ohio Relay is a free service that provides full telephone accessibility to people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, and speech-disabled. This service allows text-telephone (TTY) users to communicate with standard telephone users through specially trained relay operators.
Calls can be made to anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no restrictions on the number, length, or type of calls. All calls are strictly confidential, and no records of any conversations are maintained.
Anyone who wishes to use Ohio Relay simply dials the toll-free relay number to connect with a relay operator. The relay operator will dial the requested number and relay the conversation between the two callers.
Ohio Relay service, provided by Ohio telephone companies through a contract with Sprint, is used to assist communications between people who use text telephones (TTYs) and people who use voice telephones. Specially trained operators facilitate communications between the two callers, and each call is handled in strict confidence.
How to place an Ohio Relay Service call
Dial 1-800-750-0750, then:
- Please have the telephone number that you wish to call ready in advance.
- If you would like a Communications Assistant (CA) of the same gender, make that request when the CA answers your call.
- Then give the phone number you are calling to the CA.
- Voice users should speak clearly and at a moderate speed.
- Direct your conversation to the party you are calling, as if the CA were not present.
Please note: The CA is required to relay everything that you type or speak, and will also relay all background noises. For example, a dog barking or people speaking in the background will be relayed.