The Highway Hotline, operated by the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, provides year-round provincial highway information for Saskatchewan.
Recorded telephone reports for the most current and detailed information:
• 306-787-7623/Regina and area
• 306-933-8333/Saskatoon and area
• 1-888-335-7623/Toll-free across Canada
• SaskTel cell network: *ROAD (*7623)
Direct links to interactive maps, text reports and mobile website for handheld devices for also the most current and detailed information:
• www.hotline.gov.sk.ca
Main detailed website with all access points:
• www.highways.gov.sk.ca/road-conditions
Closures and travel not recommended alerts only via Twitter:
• @SKGovHwyHotline
General tips and trends via Facebook:
• www.facebook.com/SaskatchewanHighwayHotline
Telecommunications
SaskTel offers a number of products and services that can be helpful to customers with special needs, including those with sight, hearing, motion and speech limitations. Some of the products and services available include ring amplifiers, amplified telephones, large button telephones, telewriters, speakerphones, artificial larynx devices, directory
assistance, and speed call.
SaskTel subsidizes some products for customers with a disability that prevents them from using a standard telephone, using the telephone directory or recording a number for future use. To obtain a copy of the SaskTel Special Needs application, or for more information, please
visit www.sasktel.com/accessibility, your nearest SaskTel Retail Store, or call SaskTel Residential Sales & Service toll-free at 1-800-310-7253. Telewriters (TTY) users may call 1-800-552-3595.
SaskTel has an extensive Special Needs program that assists persons with disabilities. SaskTel’s Special Needs program offers a wide variety of telephones and accessories specially suited to customers who have sight, hearing, motion
or speech limitations. Customers can either access this information from SaskTel’s external website (www.sasktel.
com/personal/home-phone-service-more/index.html) or call 1-800-310-7253 from anywhere in Saskatchewan. The following are examples of some of the services:
• SaskTel provides alternate format phone bill and bill inserts using either Braille large print, or diskettes, depending on the request of the end customer.
• Directory Assistance is provided to registered special needs customers at no charge. SaskTel also provides directory assistance call completion at no charge for these customers.
• SaskTel also offers the Jacked Nursing Home Program, which allows residents in participating special-care homes to move their phone from one room to another without paying service connection fees. To find out if a particular special-care home is a participant in the program, please contact the special-care home’s administrator.
• Telewriters (TTY) allow for communication by typed messages over telephone lines. A Telewriter unit is provided to Registered Users (deaf or speech impaired) at no charge. A second Telewriter can be requested for a Principal Contact, also provided at no charge.
• SaskTel Relay Service (SRS) assists TTY users to place and receive telephone calls from other TTY users and non-TTY users 24 hours a day, seven days a week by dialling either a 3-digit number, a 1-800 number, or by dialling 0 for operator assistance.
There is no charge for using this service.
• Artificial Larynx Machines are devices that make speech possible for individuals with speech impairments. SaskTel will provide one Artificial Larynx Machine to customers with a speech disability at no charge.
• Receiver amplifiers and ringer amplifiers are available.
• Stand-alone ringers for single-line sets and amplified sound telephones are available.
• Big button phones and magnifying sheets, which magnify printed material by 2 times, are available.
• Hands-free companion (a unit featuring a loudspeaker and microphone) and cordless telephones are available to customers with disabilities.
The SaskTel Pioneers, a volunteer organization made up of current and former SaskTel employees, offers several
programs designed to help seniors. From memory kits to stimulate memories in Alzheimer’s patients, to computer labs for seniors’ homes, the SaskTel Pioneers are helping to make life easier for Saskatchewan seniors. For more information about the SaskTel Pioneers, please call the Pioneer Director toll-free at 1-866-944-4442.
Broadcasting
SaskTel Max™ Service offers the following features and services to address the needs of persons with disabilities:
• Described Video programming provides a narrative description of a television program’s key visual elements so that blind or visually impaired customers understand what is occurring on the screen.
SaskTel currently passes through described video programming for local, over-the-air signals and nine specialty programming services, and is in compliance with the Commission’s determinations in Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2007-101, Distribution of video description by Class 1 cable broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDU), direct-to-home BDUs and satellite relay distribution undertakings.
• Closed Captioning enables deaf and hearing impaired customers to read what is happening in programming. SaskTel passes through closed captioning provided by programming services and is increasingly offering closed captioning on Max Front Row™ Video on Demand.
• An Interactive Program Guide is incorporated into the digital set top box. It allows customers to search current and future programming, and to develop customized channel line-ups by using the Favorites menu option. With this option, customers can more easily access programming that is tailored to their needs, such as Closed Captioning programming or Described Video channels. In addition, customers can utilize the Reminder or Autotune menu options.
With the Reminder option, a phrase appears on the TV screen reminding customers when specified programming is being broadcast. With the Autotune option, the set top box automatically tunes to the specified programming.
Energy
The Province of Saskatchewan is committed as part of the “Go Green” strategy to assist homeowners in reducing their energy use which saves money and benefits the environment. The components that may be of benefit to seniors are the Equalized Payment Plan, the PST exemption on Energy-Efficient Household Appliances, the Refrigerator Recycling Program, and the Lighting Discount Program.