ASL VRI – Deaf people have the right to effective communication

Deaf people often find it difficult to get the services they deserve to communicate in public places or in business offices. ADA Laws dictate that any business or medical facility is legally required to provide these services. Yet for many Americans who are deaf or hard of hearing, this remains an ongoing struggle. Many hospitals are well aware of these needs and have systems in place to provide these services, but most other companies do not.

Finding businesses that provide services for the deaf can be a real challenge in some cases. If a hearing person wants to go to car dealerships and look for a new car, it’s easy. This is not the case for deaf and hard of hearing people. They have to use a video phone to call ahead using an interpreter to give them voice. They should then begin by explaining their need for an interpreter and their rights. This means that in order for the dealership to provide an interpreter, you have to schedule the appointment in advance and this is far from convenient.

Today there are some new technologies that make access to qualified American Sign Language interpreters faster and easier than ever. These services are called video remote interpreting sessions. These services use laptops or tablets to bring an interpreter on screen from anywhere there is internet access. This accessibility option has been gaining in popularity and can be a real game changer for businesses using Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) agencies.

This is not the best solution for every interpretation environment, but as these technologies advance, they are certainly becoming more popular and more widely used across the country. Providing ASL interpretation services for people who are deaf is covered by the same laws that require handicapped accessibility at business entrances and is just as important. If your company does not currently make its services accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing community, you may not only be breaking the law, but you may also be losing customers and business that you could otherwise gain.

In-person interpreters are often the preference, so it is always important to discuss the type of services the person you are communicating with needs before setting them up. People with low vision certainly don’t prefer to see an interpreter on a small screen. There are a variety of other reasons that can make using VRI difficult, but it can offer a very convenient experience when used properly.