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http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/701/public/news629032.html
— The Deaf & Hearing Services of Lake and Sumter Counties assists the deaf and hearing impaired in many different ways. The latest way is with the Sorenson System, a video relay system used by the deaf, or hearing impaired, to view the person with whom they are talking.
The new system works much like a webcam. Two people who have the system are able to call one another and see each other through the television. The Sorenson System is attached by a high-speed Internet connection and is free of charge to those who are deaf or hearing impaired and have high-speed Internet.
Jeanne Hobson, outreach/development director of DHS, said a representative will hook the system up in a person’s home. She said the center just received the new system this week and staffers are excited about the possibilities that come with it.
“With Sorenson you can see the person smiling, their facial expressions,” Hobson said. “This can be lost when dealing with telephone operators.”
She said deaf people, like the hearing, have shortcuts in their language and it is hard to relay these messages through an operator. This system allows those communicating to see one another and speak in an easier manner.
Hobson said the system is available on a local and international level, as long as both parties are English speaking. She said DHS will have a system in the office so anyone who cannot get high-speed Internet at home can use the system at the center.
“It is as easy as dialing a telephone,” she said. “All you need is the person’s IP address.”
Hobson said English is a second language for deaf people; sign language is their main form of communication, and this system helps them utilize it. Hobson said the hearing can buy the system, but it is only free to those who are deaf or hearing impaired.
She said about 10 percent of Florida are hearing impaired and it would be a solution to many issues, such as those in the workplace. Sorenson has a voluntary directory so people can look through it and find services available to them.
Hobson said DHS would also like to see Channel 22, the new government access channel, have closed captions. She said it would be a great help, especially during hurricane season. Hobson said most of the deaf community is familiar with closed captioning and uses it regularly.
DHS also offers other methods of communication to the deaf for free. She said DHS has amplified hearing phones, amplified speech phones, TTY or Captel and other Florida Telecommunication Relay, Inc. phone equipment. She said the phones are free because every month anyone who has a land line telephone in Florida pays 15 cents to a state fund. This money is used to help fund and distribute the phones. Hobson said the hearing impaired can get a free phone if they wear a hearing aid or have a health care slip stating they have issues with their hearing.
She said DHS will also be offering sign language classes, open to the public, as well as case management, advocacy and interpretation services. Hobson said DHS will service people 3 years and older. Hobson said they even have staff on hand who can go to businesses and help interpret for the deaf and hearing.
Linda Jones, who has been working at DHS for six years, said this is going to be a much more efficient way to serve the community. She said the new center is much more secure and will help out in privacy and confidentiality issues.
“I think it is the most practical, most beneficial center we have opened,” Jones said.
Co-worker Tammy Cross agreed with Jones.
“I think it really does a lot of good,” she said. “I am still learning, there is a lot to learn, but I like the fact that I am helping people.”
— The Deaf & Hearing Services of Lake and Sumter Counties assists the deaf and hearing impaired in many different ways. The latest way is with the Sorenson System, a video relay system used by the deaf, or hearing impaired, to view the person with whom they are talking.
The new system works much like a webcam. Two people who have the system are able to call one another and see each other through the television. The Sorenson System is attached by a high-speed Internet connection and is free of charge to those who are deaf or hearing impaired and have high-speed Internet.
Jeanne Hobson, outreach/development director of DHS, said a representative will hook the system up in a person’s home. She said the center just received the new system this week and staffers are excited about the possibilities that come with it.
“With Sorenson you can see the person smiling, their facial expressions,” Hobson said. “This can be lost when dealing with telephone operators.”
She said deaf people, like the hearing, have shortcuts in their language and it is hard to relay these messages through an operator. This system allows those communicating to see one another and speak in an easier manner.
Hobson said the system is available on a local and international level, as long as both parties are English speaking. She said DHS will have a system in the office so anyone who cannot get high-speed Internet at home can use the system at the center.
“It is as easy as dialing a telephone,” she said. “All you need is the person’s IP address.”
Hobson said English is a second language for deaf people; sign language is their main form of communication, and this system helps them utilize it. Hobson said the hearing can buy the system, but it is only free to those who are deaf or hearing impaired.
She said about 10 percent of Florida are hearing impaired and it would be a solution to many issues, such as those in the workplace. Sorenson has a voluntary directory so people can look through it and find services available to them.
Hobson said DHS would also like to see Channel 22, the new government access channel, have closed captions. She said it would be a great help, especially during hurricane season. Hobson said most of the deaf community is familiar with closed captioning and uses it regularly.
DHS also offers other methods of communication to the deaf for free. She said DHS has amplified hearing phones, amplified speech phones, TTY or Captel and other Florida Telecommunication Relay, Inc. phone equipment. She said the phones are free because every month anyone who has a land line telephone in Florida pays 15 cents to a state fund. This money is used to help fund and distribute the phones. Hobson said the hearing impaired can get a free phone if they wear a hearing aid or have a health care slip stating they have issues with their hearing.
She said DHS will also be offering sign language classes, open to the public, as well as case management, advocacy and interpretation services. Hobson said DHS will service people 3 years and older. Hobson said they even have staff on hand who can go to businesses and help interpret for the deaf and hearing.
Linda Jones, who has been working at DHS for six years, said this is going to be a much more efficient way to serve the community. She said the new center is much more secure and will help out in privacy and confidentiality issues.
“I think it is the most practical, most beneficial center we have opened,” Jones said.
Co-worker Tammy Cross agreed with Jones.
“I think it really does a lot of good,” she said. “I am still learning, there is a lot to learn, but I like the fact that I am helping people.”