Most of the time, I don’t mind being deaf. I really don’t. But there are times that I am frustrated with my deafness. Like right now. Both of my babies are sick- Snicklebritches has a tummy bug and has been vomiting all over, but Wigglebutt has a very high fever which of course makes his seizures much worse than usual. During the last seizure, my little boy bit his tongue and he’s being brave about it.
*sniff* I’ve been trying all day to use the relay service to call their doctor and Wigglebutt’s neurologist, but relay service being what it is, once you navigate the whole press one if you want this, press two if you want that system, once I get to where I am, they hang up on me because they think I am a salesperson! Come on!!! What kind of salesperson would go to the trouble of navigating that system?! My best luck is to call them after hours, there is an answering service that answers. But then they ask for me to give them my phone number.
Er… I am deaf.
Yes, I’m aware of that, what’s your number?
NO, you don’t understand- I can’t hear. Does the doctor have an instant messenger or email?
No, Ma’am, but I can have the doctor call you back.
*sigh* Here’s my sister-in-law’s number, she’ll try to relay it back and forth.
(hangs up)
See what we deaf have to contend with when navigating the relay system while making phone calls. And it’s even more stressful when I have two sick babies I am worried sick about!
There was a time I had to call 9-1-1. My goodness, what a disaster that was! They said they could not take my call because I should use my landline. So I use my landline and click my spacebar over and over. Nobody picked up. So I hang up and call through relay again and said listen now, I have a son who has epilepsy, send an ambulance to this address immediately. Also, you need to train your staff better with answering TTY 9-1-1 calls if you are going to refuse relay calls.
Have you had similar experiences? I’d like to hear about it.
