This feature is for people who can speak clearly, yet have hearing loss significant enough to keep them from understanding what is being said over a standard telephone. Using a specially designed telephone that also has a text screen, the VCO user speaks directly to the person being called. In response, the words of the person being called are typed by the Virginia Relay Communications Assistant (CA), and the VCO user reads those words on their phone’s text screen. No typing by the VCO user is required.
Two-Line VCO: This feature allows Virginia Relay VCO users with two telephone lines to use one line for speaking directly to the person they are calling and the other line to receive the text of that person’s conversation.
To use VCO (a Relay Choice Profile is highly recommended for VCO users and will streamline the following steps):
- Dial 7-1-1 to reach Virginia Relay.
- Tell the CA, “I am a VCO user, go ahead.”
- Wait for “Virginia Relay CA XXXX (F) VCO ON GA” to appear on the text screen of your phone.
- Using your voice, give the CA the number you want to call.
- When other person answers, speak directly to him or her. When you are finished your part of the conversation, remember to say “Go Ahead.” This alerts the CA to begin typing the other person’s response.
- The call will continue in this manner until your conversation is finished.