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PRC Profile of Success: Bob Segalman, Ph.D., Sc.D. (Hon.)

If you attended many USSAAC or ISAAC conferences recently, you might remember me as the bald fellow with severe CP in a power wheelchair with "Bob Segalman Ph.D" on the back. For 30 years I worked for the State of California as a researcher and advocate for people with disabilities despite my speech disability. Through my work, I initiated a free national government service designed to help people with speech disabilities, including AAC users, communicate on the telephone.

One year ago, following a long leg struggle, Blue Cross approved my request for a Pathfinder. I have used it daily since then. It dramatically improves my personal life and makes me a much more effective advocate for Speech-to-Speech (STS). Through my use of the Pathfinder, I learned that by combining AAC with STS, I can communicate more effectively than by using STS or AAC alone.

I have had positive experiences calling strangers using my AAC device when they call through the free (government financed) service called Speech-to-Speech.

I dial 711 and ask for Speech-to-Speech with my device. An operator (called a Communications Assistant or CA) answers, and I have my device say "Speech-to-Speech" about four times. I am then connected to a different CA trained to help AAC users and other people with speech disabilities make successful telephone calls. I ask the CA (using preprogrammed messages) to set up the call and negotiate any menus, introduce the call explaining AAC, and then fade into the background. After that, I tell the CA to only speak to: A) stop my caller from interrupting me or B) restate something that I said with my device that my caller didn't understand. This enables me to communicate independently once the other party is on the line.

For me, there is another advantage of using STS in conjunction with AAC (rather than calling a stranger with just my device) in addition to A and B above. That is, that the CA assures my caller from the beginning that this is not a prank call. Thus, few callers hang up on me.

So you ask, "How did STS come about?" Here's what happened. First, I trained many kind people to be my 'interpreters' (called a communications assistant or CA). My CA's and I used a speakerphone to call people who could not understand my speech over the phone. When the deaf community started a statewide TTY Relay Service in the late 1980's that gave us an idea for a telephone service to help people with speech disabilities. By combining the relay service concept with the concept of the CA for people with speech disabilities, we created the free 'Speech to Speech' service.

AAC users may ask the STS CA to set up the call, negotiate the menu, introduce the call explaining AAC and then go into the background (remain silent). This enables AAC users to communicate independently once the other party is on the line. Thus AAC and STS combine to improve telephone access for AAC users. STS works like a three-way call with one of the callers working as a CA. STS can enable over a half million Americans with speech disabilities to apply for jobs, arrange transportation, and talk with friends and family by telephone. STS is available to them 24/7 nationwide. All they need to do is call 711 and ask for STS.

I have given talks on STS at PEC, PRC, ASHA, WSHA, CSHA, CSUN, USSAAC and ISSAAC. Unfortunately, very few people know about STS! To that end, we established a non-profit organization called Speech Communications Assistance by Telephone, Inc. (SCT). SCT's goal is to unite the friends of STS and AAC to inform and train people to use Speech to Speech.

A Call for Volunteers:
Dr. Bob has formed a nonprofit organization called Speech Communication Assistance By Telephone, Inc. (SCT). SCT is looking for one AAC users or family member from each state to advocate for State Public Utilities Commission funding to educate AAC users and other people with speech disabilities on how to use the telephone through Speech-to-Speech, STS prevents people from hanging up when AAC users call them.

To help Dr. Bob, e-mail him: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . He will ask you to send out a few e-mails; he'll give you the text, etc. Advocacy is much most effective when it comes from AAC users and their families within the particular states. Dr. Bob will gladly write your teacher or professor a letter if you want academic credit for your efforts.

For my work to help AAC users and others with speech disabilities using the telephone, the University of Wisconsin at Madison awarded me an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 2006.

Bob Segalman, Ph.D., Sc.D. (Hon.)

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