TTY’s (a small typewriter-style device) have been installed in several campus offices to assist individuals who are hearing impaired. See the directory of services for those who are hearing impaired below.
Illinois Relay Service (Dual Party Relay) is a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week service maintained by the Illinois Telecommunications Access Corp. (ITAC). The service facilitates communication between a TTY user and someone using a standard telephone.
Callers can contact the Illinois Relay Center, located in Chicago, by simply dialing 711. This 3-digit dialing code may be used for the Relay Service nationwide. It is a toll-free call.
Specially trained operators relay conversations between TTY users and hearing people on a standard voice telephone. The relay operator types the hearing caller’s spoken words to the TTY caller. The operator then speaks the typed words received from the TTY caller to the hearing person. The operator acts as a go-between throughout the entire conversation.
Calls made through the relay center are confidential. Employees may not disclose any communication they have seen or heard, and no record of the call is kept other than for billing purposes.
A special feature known as “voice pass through,” makes it possible for a deaf caller who has speech skills to talk directly to the hearing caller. With this feature, the relay operator types only the hearing caller’s voice response back to the TTY caller.
Calls completed through the relay center are billed at regular telephone company rates. There are no extra charges. For example, a person in Springfield calls a friend in Carbondale using the relay center. The person will not be billed for the call from Springfield to the relay center in Chicago, or for the call from the relay center to Carbondale. The caller is billed only for a direct call between Springfield and Carbondale. Billing options include collect calls, calling card calls, and calls billed to a third number other than an NIU number.
In the regular white pages of the telephone directory, listings of people who use TTY devices can be marked with a TTY indicator. If you are a TTY user and would like to have a TTY indicator next to your name and number, contact your TTY service representative.
TTY users should dial their local TTY emergency numbers directly.
Illinois Telecommunications Access Corp. (ITAC) distributes TTYs or Telebraille Devices at no charge to qualified Illinois residents. For more information on the TTY Distribution Program or the Dual Party Service, call (800) 841-6167 (TTY and voice) or write:
ITAC
3001 Montvale Drive, Suite D
Springfield, Illinois 62704
NexTalk is a text telephony system that makes it possible to directly make and receive calls between persons with TTYs and those without, BYPASSING THE RELAY CENTER. For example, a student can use his or her TTY to call an office on campus and “chat” although that office does not have a TTY machine. That same office can call the student directly on the TTY using NexTalk. NexTalk is also a great way for users to communicate between computers in a “chat” mode (client-to-client).
NexTalk is available on at least one computer in every ITS-supported computing lab. The client is free for NIU students and employees who are deaf or hard of hearing. For anyone else who wants to communicate with TTY or other NexTalk users, it is available for a nominal monthly fee. The computers must be attached to NIU’s network.
TTY users from outside NIU can contact members of the NIU NexTalk community by calling (815) 753-2000. Calls are answered by the NIU Operators, who transfer the caller to the appropriate person or department from the NexTalk directory. Check the directory of services for the hearing impaired below.
For more information contact NIUTEL@niu.edu or using a TTY, call (815) 753-2000 and ask for NIUTEL.
This Video Phone Service is a solution for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. It is a stand-alone video appliance that does not require a PC. With the Video Phone, students, as well as faculty and staff who qualify, may carry on a conversation with others via sign language.
To order
For more information on using the video phone device, please contact the CAAR office.
These numbers are available to all members of the lpublic. When dialing from off campus you must dial 1+815+7-digit number.
| Affirmative Action and Diversity Resources | 753-2000 |
| Campus Recreation | 753-2000 |
| Center For Access-Ability Resources | 753-3000 |
| Coordinator of Interpreting Services | 753-3700 |
| Department of Communicative Disorders | 753-2000 |
| Institute on Deafness | 753-9125 |
| Health Services Acute Care/Urgent Care and appointments |
753-2000 |
| Health Services Acute Care/Urgent Care and appointments |
753-2000 |
| Human Resource Services | 753-0870 |
| ITS Helpdesk | 753-2000 |
| NIU Hoffman Estates | 753-8833 |
| NIUTEL Telecommunications | 753-2000 |
| Operator Services - NIU Information | 753-2000 |
| Outreach | 753-2000 |
| Program for Hearing Impaired | 753-6503 |
| Registration and Records | 753-2000 |
| Speech and Hearing Clinic | 753-1481 |
| University Police - Reporting/Assistance | 753-9770 |
| University Police - Emergency | 911 |
| University Libraries | 753-2000 |
| Weather Status Hotline | 753-9703 |
New students with disabilities or users of AT are encouraged to make an appointment with a representative of the Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR) when they first arrive on campus. At that meeting they will be directed to appropriate resources. To make an appointment, please call 753-1303.
Most computer labs offer technology for students who are blind or have low vision. Screen reading software called JAWS and screen enlargement software called ZoomText are available in all ITS and ResTech labs. OpenBook, OCR scanning software, is available in all ITS labs. ABBYY Finereader (ABBYY) is available in the AT Chambers in the library, as well as the Center for Access-Ability Resources.
Most ITS and ResTech labs are equipped with optical character recognition (OCR) scanners with document feeders. The Computer Science Lab in the Psych/CompSci building, room PM056, has an Alva Refreshable Braille Display.
It is important to keep noise to a minimum in the labs in an effort to provide an environment conducive to study. Therefore, when using JAWS, please wear headphones. Students must provide their own headphones for use in the labs.
Variable height adjustable tables are available in most lab locations. Lab attendants will assist students with locating the AT, adjust tables as needed, and instruct students in the basic functionality of adaptive software. Because of the complexity of many specialized applications, attendants are only prepared to teach students how to open, close, save, and print files.
Assistive Technology Chambers (AT) are quiet places, free from distractions where students with learning difficulties can focus on their work while interacting with specialized technology. The name “AT-Chamber” does not label or indicate that the technology is expressly for students with disabilities. This is helpful for students who struggle with disability identity. The resources are in discreet and quiet locations on campus apart from the general access labs, but within close proximity to technical assistance if needed.
This selection of adaptive technologies has been recommended by experts to assist students with learning disabilities (LD). By choice, not all students with disabilities at NIU identify and seek services. The AT Chambers represent an independent resource that any student can use separate and apart from the offerings that have been identified for students with disabilities. Although students who are recommended by the NIU Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR) will be given priority for using the facilities, everyone is welcome and encouraged to use them.
There are two AT Chambers on the DeKalb campus. The Center for Access-Ability Resources on the fourth floor of the Health Services Building is home to an AT Chamber. The system is available by reservation through the CAAR office. The second AT Chamber is available to the general public in Founders Library 233. Although headsets are available at these locations, it is a good idea for students to provide their own headsets with microphones if they plan to use this technology frequently.
AT Chambers feature Dragon Naturally Speaking™ dictation software, NextUp TextAloud™ text-to-speech software, WordQ™ word prediction, Inspiration™ concept mapping software, ABBYY Finereader OCR software, and the same general applications found in the ITS computing labs. The text-to-speech software utilizes AT&T Natural Voices™. The Chambers have seven voices from which to choose.
TextAloud text-to-speech software is also available in all student computing labs. Text-to-speech allows students to create audible MP3 or WAV files from text. Natural human-sounding voices are easy to listen to.
If our public facilities don’t have what is needed, students are encouraged to contact the Center for Access-Ability Resources. They will work with ITS to provide reasonable accommodations for our students with special needs.