09/02/2026
Cindy always enjoyed talking, joking, and having conversations over the phone. After surgery and radiation treatment affected her voice, phone calls became harder. Her voice became quieter and people often asked her to repeat herself again and again. “It’s like this is a talking world and I steadily became someone who wasn’t able to communicate on the phone,” she shared.
Then she began using the Speech-to-Speech service. With Speech-to-Speech from Relay Texas, users speak for themselves in their own voices. A trained operator repeats the user’s words clearly so the other person can understand.
For Cindy, that support made phone calls less exhausting. “Speech-to-Speech helps me relax, because I don’t have to scream to make a sound, so I can be more myself and more natural and more easy going. Just me.” She described it this way: “I have to have something that acts as a bridge between me and the speaking, hearing world. Speech-to-Speech does that for me and I’m really grateful for it.”
For many people with speech disabilities, whether temporary or permanent, connection begins with something as simple as being heard. The thoughts, questions, needs, humor, and stories are still there. Sometimes the challenge is making sure the person on the other end understands.
Speech-to-Speech does not change what someone says. It helps ensure that the user’s own words are understood clearly.
Speech-to-Speech is available at no cost. To learn more visit Relaytexas.com
ID: [Cindy, a woman with white hair and a streak of pink talks on the phone. She has a trach and is wearing a light blue shirt. “Speech-to-Speech helps me relax, because I don’t have to scream to make a sound, so I can be more myself and more natural and more easy going. Just me.” - Cindy a STS User”]
