Does Lakewood City Hall and/or Lakewood City Schools Have a TTY Phone System?

[Lori Allen _]

With the new fiber-optic communications system that Summers wanted now being almost completely installed, it raises a question: Does this new communications system have TTY capabilities for the deaf and those with hearing disabilities?

Read about TTY devices here: http://www.abouttty.com/

TTY devices are wonderful tools and can help those with hearing disabilities tremendously in regards to communication. Not everyone has access to e-mail. Plus, you cannot e-mail or text 911 as of yet.

I could not find anything on onelakewood.com, lakewoodcityschools.org, or lakewoodpubliclibrary.org regarding TTY telephone services. Can anyone confirm:

1. Whether or not any TTY telephone system exists at City Hall, Lakewood City Schools, or Lakewood Public Library as of yet?
2. Will the new fiber-optic phone system have TTY capabilities? If so, will it be utilized and will staff be trained to use it?

My son is very active in American Sign Language and learning about the deaf community. There is a large deaf community in Lakewood, according to one of his ASL professors.

Any information regarding this would be appreciated.

[Lori Allen _]

Bump.

[Christine Gordillo]

Email and texting has reduced the need for TTY services for schools. While the District's new phone system has the capability to support TTY, we have elected not to purchase it at this time.

Christine Gordillo
Communications & PR Coordinator
Lakewood City Schools