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