Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
For deaf workers it's making a difference at the workplace.
WYMT's Matt Barber has more on how a video relay service
is helping break down communication barriers.
As a deaf worker, Bill Copy says communication use to be difficult with his supervisor.
A lot of times he couldn't understand the notes that I would write him.
You know, because a lot of times the words we would say, he didn't understand.
Delena Mills is the plant supervisor with South Eastern 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 Copy 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.
Through his interpreter, Ruth Bentley, Copy says it's easier to work out issues.
I can call Ruth on the video phone and then we can work on the problem.
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 accomodations that are necessary
so people can come to work and have meaningful jobs.
And he says he's glad he can do that for people like Copy.
In Knox County, Matt Barber, WYMT Mountain News.
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 the number you see there on your screen.