| f and hard-of-hearing individuals skilled in American Sign | | | | services - not by the government. Depending on the |
| Language (ASL), Video Relay Services (VRS) and | | | | situation, a qualified interpreter may be required as a |
| Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) both provide valuable | | | | reasonable accommodation under the Americans with |
| resources to remove obstacles when communicating | | | | Disabilities Act (ADA), especially in hospital and |
| with the hearing world. | | | | courthouse situations. |
| Video Relay Services is a form of | | | | VRI is not limited by geography. You can take |
| Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) which: | | | | advantage of VRI from any place in the world with a |
| 1. allows those with hearing disabilities access to the | | | | webcam and high speed Internet connection. VRI is |
| telephone system | | | | now the first choice for courtrooms where the need |
| 2. allows the deaf to use American Sign Language | | | | for an ASL interpreter cannot always be scheduled in |
| instead of a text telephone (TTY) to call a hearing | | | | advance. |
| party over normal telephone lines | | | | In-person sign language interpreters usually: |
| 3. permits the use of a high speed Internet connection | | | | * require booking in advance (24 hours) |
| plus a web cam or video conferencing equipment to | | | | * require a two-hour minimum fee, no matter how |
| access a Communications Assistant (CA) in a call | | | | short the actual interpreting needs |
| center | | | | * charge a 2 hour minimum fee if the job is not |
| 4. the CA signs to the deaf person and speaks to the | | | | canceled 24 hours in advance |
| hearing one | | | | *charge the minimum if the deaf client is absent |
| 5. also allows a hearing person to initiate a call to the | | | | VRI can: |
| deaf individual | | | | 1. substitute for in-person interpreters when not |
| Costs for VRS calls are covered by the Interstate | | | | available |
| TRS Fund which is managed by the FCC. Calls are | | | | 2. reduce the cost to private medical offices and |
| free to both parties and are relayed by the CA, | | | | universities who are required to provide sign language |
| who is a skilled, qualified ASL interpreter. | | | | interpreters but who are not reimbursed by the |
| The FCC mandates that VRS is only to be used in a | | | | government |
| situation where the deaf individual would have made a | | | | 3. provide interpreting in hazardous situations such as |
| typical voice call through the telephone system were it | | | | prisons and medical facilities |
| not for the disability. VRS may not be used as a | | | | 4. available 24/7 when needed |
| replacement for a live interpreter. | | | | 5. no additional charges for last minute booking or |
| VRI serves a different need. With VRI, both the deaf | | | | cancellations |
| and hearing individuals are situated in the same place, | | | | 6. get rid of in-person interpreter charges for |
| such as a hospital, school, college classroom, | | | | travel and parking |
| courtroom, police station, prison, or any other location | | | | Improper use of VRS to substitute illegally for VRI is an |
| where an in-person sign language interpreter is not | | | | ongoing concern of the FCC. While VRS service |
| available. | | | | providers have software in place to identify abusive |
| Fees are paid for by the party requesting VRI | | | | calls, no system is perfect. |