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 obligated to provide these services. Yet for many deaf or hard of hearing Americans, this remains an ongoing struggle. Many hospitals are well aware of these needs and have systems in place to deliver these services, but most other companies do not.

Finding companies that provide services for deaf people can be a real challenge in some cases. If a hearing person wants to go to car dealerships and search 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 who expresses their voice to them. Then they should begin by explaining your need for an interpreter and your 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 accessing 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 popularity and can be a real game changer for companies using video remote interpretation (VRI) agencies.

This is not the best solution for all performance environments, but as these technologies advance, they are undoubtedly becoming more popular and more widely used across the country. The provision of ASL interpreting services for the deaf is covered by the same laws that require disabled accessibility to business entrances and is equally important. If your business is not making its services accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing community, not only may you be breaking the law, but you may also be losing customers and business that you might otherwise gain.

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