| For members of the deaf community conversant in | | | | them. Depending on the situation, a qualified interpreter |
| American Sign Language (ASL), Video Relay Services | | | | may be mandatory as a reasonable accommodation |
| (VRS) and Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) both | | | | under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), |
| provide valuable tools for communicating with the | | | | especially in medical and legal situations. |
| hearing world. | | | | VRI is not limited by geography. You can take |
| VRS is a form of Telecommunications Relay Services | | | | advantage of VRI from any place in the world with a |
| (TRS) which: | | | | webcam and high speed Internet connection. VRI is |
| 1. allows those with hearing disabilities access to the | | | | now the first choice for hospitals where the need for |
| telephone system | | | | an ASL interpreter cannot always be scheduled in |
| 2. allows the deaf to use American Sign Language | | | | advance. |
| instead of a text telephone (TTY) to call a hearing | | | | In-person sign language interpreters usually: |
| individual over normal telephone lines | | | | * must be booked 24 hours in advance to avoid higher |
| 3. permits the use of a high speed Internet connection | | | | charges |
| 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. relies on the CA to relay information to and from a | | | | canceled 24 hours in advance |
| hearing person on their telephone | | | | * charge if the client is a no-show, such as a deaf |
| 5. also permits a hearing person to initiate a call to the | | | | student skipping a class |
| deaf individual | | | | VRI can: |
| The FCC covers the costs of all VRS calls through | | | | 1. substitute for live interpreters when not available |
| the Interstate TRS Fund. Calls are free to both parties | | | | 2. cut the cost to private medical offices and schools |
| and are "relayed" by the CA, who is a skilled, qualified | | | | who are required to provide sign language interpreters |
| ASL interpreter. | | | | but who are not reimbursed by the TRS Fund |
| The FCC mandates that VRS is only to be used in a | | | | 3. make sign language available in secure environments |
| situation where the deaf individual would have made a | | | | such as prisions, interrogation rooms, and hazardous |
| typical voice call through the telephone system were it | | | | medical environments |
| not for the disability. VRS may not be used as a | | | | 4. available on demand at no extra charge |
| replacement for a live interpreter. | | | | 5. no additional charges for last second assignments or |
| VRI serves a different purpose. With VRI, both the | | | | cancellations |
| deaf and hearing persons are situated in the same | | | | 6. get rid of "in-person" interpreter fees for travel and |
| place, such as a hospital, school, college classroom, | | | | parking |
| courtroom, police station, prison, or any other location | | | | FCC concerns over illegal use of VRS instead of VRI |
| where a live sign language interpreter is unavailable. | | | | continue. While VRS providers have systems in place |
| Fees for VRI are paid for by the party requesting | | | | to detect improper calls, no system is perfect. |