1. An automatic relay system (ARS) for enabling communication between a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) user and a voice telephone user through a public telephone network, the system comprising: an interactive voice response (IVR) system coupled to the public telephone network for enabling network users to interact with the ARS; a TDD resource coupled to the IVR for sending and receiving communications in TDD format; and a converter coupled to the TDD resource for converting messages between TDD format and text format; and a speech processor coupled to the converter.