Miss-Delectable
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Video Relay Service Helps Deaf Workers
For deaf workers, it is making a difference at the workplace.
As a deaf worker, Bill Coffee says communication used to be difficult with his supervisor.
"A lot of the times he couldn't understand the notes that I would write him, because a lot of times the words that we would say, he wouldn't understand," said Delena Mills.
Mills is a plant supervisor with Southeastern Kentucky Rehabilitation Industries, a non profit organization which helps provide jobs for those with disabilities. She says thanks to a free video relay service, communication with Coffee is now much smoother.
"Now all I have to do is, I call up the interpreter, she gets him in front of the phone, and she asks him all the questions that I need to ask him," said Mills.
Through his interpreter, Ruth Bentley, Coffee says it is easier to work out issues.
"I can call Ruth on the video phone and we can work on the problem," said Bentley.
Officials at SEKRI worked with the Office of Vocation Rehabilitation to get the service, which is provided from the company Sorenson. It receives a grant from the FCC to provide the service for free. Norm Bradley is the Interim Executive Director of SEKRI. He hopes more businesses get the service.
"Part of our mission is to provide the accommodations that are necessary so people can come to work and have meaningful jobs," said Bentley.
He says he is glad he can do that for people like Coffee.
if you would like more information about getting a video relay system for deaf employees at your workplace you can call the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation at 859-623-8682.
For deaf workers, it is making a difference at the workplace.
As a deaf worker, Bill Coffee says communication used to be difficult with his supervisor.
"A lot of the times he couldn't understand the notes that I would write him, because a lot of times the words that we would say, he wouldn't understand," said Delena Mills.
Mills is a plant supervisor with Southeastern Kentucky Rehabilitation Industries, a non profit organization which helps provide jobs for those with disabilities. She says thanks to a free video relay service, communication with Coffee is now much smoother.
"Now all I have to do is, I call up the interpreter, she gets him in front of the phone, and she asks him all the questions that I need to ask him," said Mills.
Through his interpreter, Ruth Bentley, Coffee says it is easier to work out issues.
"I can call Ruth on the video phone and we can work on the problem," said Bentley.
Officials at SEKRI worked with the Office of Vocation Rehabilitation to get the service, which is provided from the company Sorenson. It receives a grant from the FCC to provide the service for free. Norm Bradley is the Interim Executive Director of SEKRI. He hopes more businesses get the service.
"Part of our mission is to provide the accommodations that are necessary so people can come to work and have meaningful jobs," said Bentley.
He says he is glad he can do that for people like Coffee.
if you would like more information about getting a video relay system for deaf employees at your workplace you can call the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation at 859-623-8682.