This week I am working in Los Angeles, and my client put me up at a hotel. I can use my laptop and an internet connection to make phone calls through a Relay service, but if there is an emergency, one cannot call 911 through the Relay – 911 only accepts calls that are direct voice calls or through a TTY/TDD. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, by law hotels are required to provide me with amnieties such as flashing smoke alarms, TTY teletype phones, and closed captioning on the TV. I called the front desk via Relay to request one.
The resulting conversation with the front desk was very frustrating and is sadly very common of conversations I have when I stay in hotels. This is is how it went:
Front desk via Relay: thk u for choosing [hotel name], this is edgar how can i help u? (sounds pleasant)
Me: hello, this is [my name] in [room number.] do you have tty teletype phones for the deaf?
Desk: do we have what i’m sorry?? sir i am asking u what is the question??
Me: a teletype phone for the deaf?
Desk: is that what the guest asked? (talking in bkgd)
Me: yes
Desk: (new Male picks up phone) how can i help u? (sounds confused)
Me: i need a teletype tty phone for the deaf in my room please
Desk: I don’t have time for this ok just have them come to the front desk (sounds angry) bye (HUNG UP ANOTHER CALL?)
I went over to the front desk and after much confusion on their end, they spent 20 minutes running around the office looking for a TTY and did not find one, so they ordered one. It arrived at my room three days later.
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