Speakers:  Alyson Picus, COO, SignOn: Sign Language Services  Karen Kozlowski Graham, CEO, SignOn: Sign Language Services Communication is critical during emergency situations. Those responsible for disseminating information around crisis need to consider ways to contact residents who don‟t have access to the standard means of receiving messages. Deaf people who rely on sign language are such a group. English is not a native language for most deaf Americans. While some deaf individuals can read captioned emergency messages, many do not understand the sometimes complex wording in the standard printed emergency messages. The only way they can fully comprehend this messaging is through their native tongue, American Sign Language. Videoconferencing technology has promising implications for sending emergency messaging to reach deaf individuals in sign language assuring that they will fully comprehend warnings critical to all citizens. This workshop will explore and demonstrate videoconferencing technologies and how they might be used to reach deaf people in emergency situations.

1. Video Technologies
A New Way to Reach
Deaf People in Emergencies
Karen Graham & Alyson Picus
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

2. About Si O
Ab t SignOn
 Located in Seattle Washington
Seattle,
 Founded in 1997
 Staff of 20
Nationally Certified
Interpreters
 7 Administrative
Support Staff
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

3. What W D
Wh t We Do
 On-Site
On Site Interpreting
 Video Interpreting
 Emergency Sign Language Interpreting
Program (ESLIP) for King County
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

4. Evolution of VRI
E l ti f
 Development of Technology
 Video Relay Services
 Phone use only
Ph l
 Federal Government pays and regulates
 Video Remote I
Vid R Interpreting
i
 Requestor pays
 Unregulated
 Satisfies ADA requirement
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

5. Co
Communication Access o Video
u cat o ccess on deo
 Video technology is increasingly common
 Deaf people use video regularly for phone
 Internet connectivity is generally improving
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

6. What i
Wh t is VRI?
 Video Remote Interpreting is a substitute for
p g
an on-site interpreter
 Deaf/Hearing Participant in same room,
Interpreter is remote
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

7. Equipment
E i t
 Screen
S
 Computer
 Mobile device
M bil d i
 Television
 Videoconference device
 Webcam
 Built in
B ilt i or separate
t
 Mic
 Built in or separate
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

8. Internet
I t t
Hard-Wired
Hard Wired
 T-1 or Business DSL
 2 Mb preferred
Mbps f d
WiFi
 Widely available, can be challenging
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

9. Connectivity
C ti it
 Internet vs Satellite
vs.
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

10. Benefits of VRI
B fit f
 Inclusion via communication access
 Interpreter present when physically
impossible
i ibl
 Ability to spread message to a wide audience
who might not b able t read
h i ht t be bl to d
 Includes rural as well as city areas
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

11. Why t
Wh not captioning?
ti i ?
 500,000 2,000,000
500 000 – 2 000 000 deaf people use sign
language as their “home tongue”
 deaf di level – 4th grade
Average d f reading l
A l d
 Easier to understand native language when
under stress
d t
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

12. Deaf People and Video
D fP l d Vid
Most have it:
 You Tube
 Video Phones
 Mobile devices
 Television
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

13. Applications of Emergency VRI
A li ti fE
 Disaster preparedness video library
 Brief, critical announcements
 Information is needed immediately
 Unsafe for interpreter to go to disaster site
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

14. Pre-made Emergency VRI
P d E
 Disaster preparedness
 PSA
 Watches and Warnings
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

15. Live E
Li Emergency VRI
Live Information
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

16. VRI in Emergencies
i E i
VRI or VRS?
When to use VRS in a live emergency
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

17. VRI In Emergencies
I E i
CHALLENGES
 Use in power outages
 Connectivity in a crisis
 Devices working properly
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

18. Using L
U i Local VRI
l
 Interpreter is familiar with region
 Local Sign Language Dialect
 Community Names
 Local agency can send on-site interpreter if
needed
 Out-of-State VRI Agency can be helpful if
local agency is affected by disaster
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

19. Possibilities - P
P ibiliti Prepare
 Pre-made
Pre made videos in central location
 Social Media
 Website
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

20. Possibilities - Li
P ibiliti Live
 “Hot spot” – location where power is
Hot spot
guaranteed
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

21. Possibilities – Q i k Video
P ibiliti Quick Vid
 Emergency service has off site video made
quickly
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

22. Possibilities - M bil
P ibiliti Mobile
 Mobile devices in strategic locations
 Police departments
 Hospital Emergency rooms
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

23. What b t
Wh t about you?
?
 Your situation?
 Your ability to provide communication access
in i language?
i sign l ?
 Feeling creative?
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.

24. Contact Si O VRI
C t t SignOnVRI
Karen Graham CEO
Graham,
847-387-
847-387-9000
Karen.Graham@signonasl.com
Karen Graham@signonasl com
Alyson Picus, Operations Manager
Picus,
206-838-
206-838-0413
Alyson Picus@signonasl com
Alyson.Picus@signonasl.com
www.SignOnASL.com
g
SignOn: A Sign Language Interpreting Resource, Inc.