A real relay route, with a separate website contact
The New York State Smokers’ Quitline directs people who are Deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired to the NY Relay Service: call 7-1-1 and give the operator the Quitline number, 1-866-697-8487. Its website separately gives a contact for website accessibility concerns. Those are different routes for different problems; the website contact is not a promise of counselling by email.
For this New York route, check how the relay conversation and any later callback will work for you. Elsewhere, use your own service’s instructions rather than assuming the New York number or arrangement applies. A text channel can be useful without being usable with every assistive technology.
Make the request specific enough to answer
A useful request pairs a blocked task with an alternative: ‘The booking form does not work with my screen reader. Is there another way to arrange this appointment?’ For a clinic visit, ‘Which entrance gives step-free access to the consultation room?’ is more informative than asking whether the hospital is generally accessible.
If long explanations are difficult to follow, ask for one question at a time and a short written summary. If noise is a barrier, ask about a quieter place or an appropriate remote option. These are requests to discuss, not a list of features every quit service has. Prioritise the part that would otherwise stop you using the appointment.
Confirm what happens after the booking
An appointment made by text may still be followed by a voice-only call. Before treating the booking as settled, confirm the consultation channel, how you will receive the time or link, and who can resolve a missing arrangement. A response such as ‘we have a ramp’ still leaves a communication request unanswered.
If you want someone with you, say what their role is: helping with the booking, taking notes or being present. Ask whether that is possible, and keep the choice to speak for yourself or discuss something privately. If the proposed arrangement does not work, identify the remaining barrier and ask for another contact or service rather than repeating your diagnosis.
What to keep in mind
Sources
The central claims on this page were checked against the sources below.
- New York State Smokers’ Quitline / Roswell Park: NY SmokeFree
Sources checked: 2026-10-02
General access-request examples, not an assessment of disability rights, clinical suitability or a provider’s compliance. Relevant health information belongs in the professional consultation.