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Tele-Conferencing Puts Distant Sign Language Interpreters In
Hospital Rooms
February 25, 2004
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA--A
Pittsburgh company is putting American Sign Language interpreters in hospitals
-- one video screen at a time.
Deaf-Talk LLC started four years ago with the idea of helping hospital
staffs communicate better and more quickly with patients that are deaf or hard
of hearing.
Hospitals in the United States are required to provide interpreters
under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
But waiting for one to arrive can cost valuable time when an emergency
room doctor needs to get critical information from a patient.
Deaf-Talk allows hospitals to link up almost immediately to certified
interpreters through video tele-conferencing -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
365 days a year.
"Every family is anxious and concerned when they're in the ER, but it's
especially frustrating when a parent can't communicate with the staff," said
Karen Christman, whose Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh is one of 150
hospitals nation-wide that uses Deaf-Talk's services.
"When you see how the parents' discomfort and anxiety are lifted, you
realize the service is worth it."
Related:
"Hospitals, Deaf Connect With Video Phones" (Associated
Press via Yahoo! News)
http://www.InclusionDaily.com/news/04/red/0225a.htm
Deaf-Talk:
Audio Visual Interpreting Service On Demand
http://www.deaf-talk.com
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Reproduced here under special arrangement
with Inclusion Daily Express
disability rights news service.
© Copyright 2004 Inonit Publishing.
Please do not reprint, publish or distribute without permission.
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