The Bell Relay Service is accessed by calling the following special national access
numbers:
TTY 711
Voice 1 800 855- 0511Additional information about terminology, communication and accommodation in relation
to people who are Deaf and have hearing loss can be accessed from “Breaking the
Sound Barriers: Employing People who are Deaf, Deafened or Hard of Hearing” at
http://www.chs.ca/en/documents-and-publications/employment/index.php. While the
manual covers workplace issues, it contains much relevant, general information on the
above topics.
C. Vision Disabilities
For clients with vision disabilities, lawyers must ensure that written communications are
provided in an accessible format. Each client defines accessibility for himself/herself.
Therefore, the lawyer must ask the client which format is best for them.
For clients who have access to and are familiar with computers with specialized software,
documents can be transmitted in electronic text format. The advantage of communicating
electronically is that it permits individuals with different levels of vision to be able to
convert documents into the specific formats that they prefer. For clients who have access
to e-mail, this form of communication may be easiest.
Some clients who are blind may prefer documents (and business cards) in Braille. Braille
is a system that permits people to read by running their fingers over a series of
configurations of raised dots. For offices equipped with Braille printers, documents may
be converted into Braille before being sent to clients who require documents in this
format.