Sorenson Communications and San Antonio College (SAC) Partner to Address Demand for Highly-Skilled, Trilingual Interpreters for the Deaf.SALT LAKE CITY -- Sorenson Communications, the leading provider of Video Relay Services A Video Relay Service (VRS) is a telecommunication service that allows deaf, hard of hearing and speech-disabled individuals to communicate over the phone with hearing people in real-time, using a sign language interpreter. In America, the service is regulated by the FCC. (VRS (Video Relay Service) A communications service for the hearing or speech impaired. A VRS is the video counterpart of a TTY relay service, in which the user types on a terminal, and the relay operator speaks the messages to the recipient (see TDD/TTY). ) for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community who use American Sign Language American Sign Language n. The primary sign language used by deaf and hearing-impaired people in the United States and Canada. American Sign Language (ASL), n. (ASL ASL - Algebraic Specification Language ) to communicate, today announced a partnership with San Antonio San Antonio (săn ăntō`nēō, əntōn`), city (1990 pop. 935,933), seat of Bexar co., S central Tex., at the source of the San Antonio River; inc. 1837. College (SAC). The partnership provides VRS mentor-based training to SAC interpreting students who are interested in a career in the growing VRS field. The unique program, designed to strengthen both the quality and quantity of interpreters available to meet the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, provides two advanced certification programs--Enhanced Interpreting and Trilingual Interpreting. The two certificate programs at SAC will begin fall semester se·mes·ter n. One of two divisions of 15 to 18 weeks each of an academic year. [German, from Latin (cursus) s and may be taken for college credit. Enhanced Interpreting is aimed at working Level 1 interpreters who want to improve their skills and certification level. Trilingual Interpreting, for which there is a growing demand, will prepare students for VRS interpreting for both English and Spanish speaking individuals as well as provide state certification for this specialty. "The advent of VRS for the deaf community has created a world of new opportunity for both deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and the interpreters who serve them," says Lauri Metcalf, department Chair of the ASL Training and Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services at SAC. "Our partnership with Sorenson Communications provides students with accelerated training and focused experience that will prepare them to move more quickly into these highly-skilled, high-value professional positions." A key component of Sorenson Communications' involvement with SAC is through its Video Interpreter-Provisional (VI-P) Mentorship Program. Promising individuals, identified through the SAC Interpreting Program, join the Sorenson team for 60 to 80 hours of intensified training and mentoring in video relay interpreting under the guidance of two or three seasoned Sorenson VRS professionals. VI-P graduates typically move into more highly-skilled positions in a fraction of the time that would normally be required for them to gain comparable skills. In addition, Sorenson Communications also advises SAC on curriculum and providing practical experience for students to better prepare them for careers in ASL interpreting. "San Antonio College is on the forefront in training quality VRS trilingual interpreters," notes Pat Nola, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Sorenson Communications. "The quality of SAC graduates is exceptional. We are fortunate to participate with SAC in developing programs that will ensure future quality interpreting services for a growing number of VRS users." "The real payoff is to see the look of joy on the face of a deaf individual A deaf individual, or deaf person, may mean:
For additional information about the Sorenson Communications-SAC Enhanced Interpreting and Trilingual Interpreting programs, contact Sarah Compton at 866-403-1376 or at scompton@sorenson.com. About Sorenson Communications Sorenson Communications[TM] (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communication offerings including Sorenson Video Relay Service[R] (VRS), the company's line of videophones, Sorenson IP Relay[TM] (SIPRelay), and Sorenson Video Remote Interpreting Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) is a service utilizing video cameras to provide sign language interpreting services without an interpreter present. A typical VRI setup involves a deaf and hearing user at one location with a camera and television screen, and an interpreter at [TM] (VRI VRI Vacation Register International VRI Video Relay Interpreting VRI Vehicle Research Institute (Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington) VRI Venture Research Institute (Lake Forest, California) ). Sorenson VRS (www.sorensonvrs.com) enables deaf callers to conduct video relay conversations with hearing friends, business colleagues, and family members through a qualified American Sign Language interpreter. The company's Sorenson VP-100 is the first consumer-based broadband videophone (1) (VideoPhone) A line of videophones (definition #1 below) from AT&T that were introduced in the early 1990s and later pulled off the market due to poor sales. The first models came with a price tag above $1,000, and a pair were needed. See Picturephone. appliance specifically designed for deaf individuals. Sorenson IP Relay[TM] (www.siprelay.com) allows deaf and hard-of-hearing users to place instant text-based relay calls from a PC or mobile device to any telephone user. Sorenson Video Remote Interpreting[TM] (www.sorensonvri.com) is a fee-based video interpreting service ideal for use in situations where an interpreter cannot be physically present to interpret between hearing and deaf individuals who are at the same location. To apply for free Sorenson Communications VRS equipment, visit http://www.sorensonvrs.com/apply/. About San Antonio College San Antonio College is a public community college which provides for and supports the educational and lifelong learning Lifelong learning is the concept that "It's never too soon or too late for learning", a philosophy that has taken root in a whole host of different organisations. Lifelong learning is attitudinal; that one can and should be open to new ideas, decisions, skills or behaviors. needs of a multicultural community. As a leader in education, San Antonio College is committed to excellence in helping students reach their full potential by developing their academic competencies, critical thinking skills, communication proficiency, civic responsibility and global awareness. |
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