A number of people were getting the word out on Courthouse Square in Scranton. Using a colorful brochure and refrigerator magnets with 7-1-1.

It's all to improve communication between the hearing and those who may not hear well.

Tori, is a PA Relay educator, "What sometimes happens with hard of hearing is they will try to call using a TTY and people will hang up. They'll think it is a solicitation call, or it a funny message. So they may disconnect and think it is some sort of other call."

Getting the word out about PA Relay not only allows someone deaf or hearing impaired to contact you. You can more easily contact them. "That's the number 7-1-1. We are actually encouraging people to use and get a message threw, video assistance, you can text message or you can have your message repeated to someone. And if they are hard of hearing of can type in and it can be orally transferred to your friend or loved one,"she says.

The Public Utility Commission oversees the service. All conversations are relayed by a professional communications assistant who follows a strict code of ethics and confidentiality.

By Jill Garrett