Hamilton Relay VRS Press
Release
We are grateful that Hamilton Relay's recent
press release on their VRS service does NOT claim that this service
benefits the Deaf and hard of hearing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hamilton Relay Video Offers VRS 24/7 Operability
Effective Immediately
In compliance with new FCC requirements, Hamilton Relay now
offers 24/7 VRS operability. VRS users nationwide can access
Hamilton Relay Video 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
including holidays! Hamilton Relay has expanded its hours of
operation well in advance of the FCC’s January 1, 2006 deadline.
Hamilton agrees with the FCC that as relay users increasingly
rely on VRS as their preferred means of using the telephone, it
becomes important for individuals to have access to this service at
all times.
Whether you are calling to plan the party or share your news with
family and friends, Hamilton Relay Video is available all day,
everyday!
Come on....Make a call. VP: call.hipvrs.com / hearing users call
866-498-4777.
About Hamilton Relay
Hamilton offers a variety of features and services to further
enhance relay communication including Internet Relay, Video Relay,
Wireless Relay and CapTel
TM. All services are available
at
www.hamiltonrelay.com
. Hamilton also provides traditional relay services to nine states,
the District of Columbia, the Island of Saipan and the Virgin
Islands.
About Birnbaum Interpreting Services
Birnbaum Interpreting Services (BIS) is a Deaf-owned and operated
corporation that provides sign language interpreting services. BIS
provides the highest quality interpreting services to its clients by
maintaining a majority of staff interpreters that are nationally
certified. BIS serves the gamut of settings from private to public
sectors. In addition, BIS provides Video Relay Services (VRS) by
partnering with a leading national relay provider, Hamilton Relay.
For more information, visit the BIS website at www.bisworld.com or
call (800) 471-6441 v/TTY.
Greetings!
We
at Oral Hearing Loss (OHL) Advocacy are advocating for organizations to
label and publicize events, services, awards, etc., in a manner that
accurately describes the population for which they are intended. We are
currently focusing on correct use of the term "Deaf and hard of
hearing", which is often used when "Deaf" is actually the
appropriate term.
An
example of inappropriate use is, "We provide interpreters for the
Deaf and hard of hearing", or "We provide VRS for the Deaf and
hard of hearing." Those statements are inaccurate because less than
2% of people who consider themselves hard of hearing use sign language,
and an interpreter is of no use to them. Such inaccurate statements not
only mislead the general public into believing that everyone with
hearing loss can sign, but they also prevent organizations from
providing appropriate accommodations to the OHL population.
We
have been following your recent campaign to recognize leaders in various
states, and we are excited to note that you are accurately indicating
that these are leaders of the Deaf community, rather than the "Deaf
and hard of hearing" community.
We
are also grateful that your recent press release "Hamilton Relay
Video Offers VRS 24/7 Operability" did not inaccurately claim that
your VRS services are provided for the Deaf and hard of hearing.
We
have established a "Hall of Fame" and a "Hall of
Shame" on our website (http://www.hearinglossweb.com/Issues/Identity/ohl/nat/ohla/ed/ed.htm)
and we are pleased and proud to recognize your efforts in our "Hall
of Fame".
Thank
you for your accurate and appropriate news releases.
Sincerely,
Larry
Sivertson
None to Date.
