Persons who are deaf, deaf-blind, or have a hearing or speech disability have several options for how to communicate with hearing people over regular telephone lines. MIT does not provide these services, but they are available from other sources through MIT telephones or via the MIT network.
Telephone/Telecommunications relay services are available through many service carriers. With all, a Relay Operator will initiate and complete your call, dialing the party you wish to contact and then staying on the line to relay messages verbally to people who can hear or electronically via a TTY (Text Telephone) or computer. Relay services include the following (not an inclusive list).
TTY relay service
- TTY: 800-439-2370
- Voice: 800-439-0183
- Contact MIT via a TTY: 617-258-9344
Campus Police, ATIC Lab, Medical Department, and Human Resources Disabilities Services offices all have TTY units. To find the one nearest you, contact telephone-help@mit.edu, call 617-253-4357 (3-HELP), or dial the TTY above.
Note: Direct TTY to TTY communication does not require the use of a relay service.
Internet Relay Service (IRS)
IRS requires, at one end, a computer with an active Internet connection and a web browser running Java; most computers on the MIT campus meet these requirements. You can access an Internet relay service via your web browser at one of the links below:
IS&T telephone services
We can help MIT students, staff and faculty with locating assistive telephone products, including:
- Headsets for hands-free telephone use
- Noise cancellation headpieces
- Signal control units
- Voiced caller ID
Contact us via email or phone: 617-253-4357 (3-HELP).