Disability Needs

Relay SD - Be Part of the Conversation

Golden West cares about all their customers. That’s why we want to make sure you receive the highest possible quality in telephone services. The Telecommunication Equipment Distribution Program (TEDP) is for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or speech-impaired with difficulty communicating on the telephone.

Eligibility Requirements:

• South Dakota resident
• Difficulty communicating on the phone due to hearing or speech impairment
• Existing phone service in your home

Telecommunication Relay Services: 

Telecommunication relay services (TRS) are designed to provide full telephone access to people who have difficulty hearing or speaking on the telephone and who use a text telephone. Special orders of specialized equipment, such as Braille TTY photographic speed dial features and voice-activated phone features are available for eligible consumers. Amplifiers are not available for cell phones.

TRS: 800-642-6410 or 800-304-2311: 

With TRS calls, the TTY user types their conversation, which the relay service operator (CA) then reads to the other party. The CA then quickly converts that person’s spoken works to text, which is displayed on the  first person’s TTY.

Voice Carry Over (VCO): 888-540-6543: 

Through VCO feature, the VCO user speaks directly to the other person, as in a standard call. Everything, the other says is typed back to the VCO user by a relay service operator (CA) and appears on the text display of the VCO user’s phone or TTY. No typing is necessary for the VCO user. VCO Customer Service: (800) 642-6410. Contact VCO Customer Service to learn more about relay services.

Application Process: 

Contact the nearest office to receive an application form. Applicants will be contacted to confirm eligibility status and to schedule an equipment distribution and training date.

To speak with Golden West directly, please contact Jody Bielmaier at 1-855-888-7777 or by email.

For information on Wyoming Relay or Nebraska Relay, visit the links below. 

Wyoming Relay  |  Nebraska Relay