General Perceptions and Concerns
Members of the Deaf community may have perceptions you are unaware of concerning ASL-VRI and compliance with federal regulations (the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act).
The following questions reflect concerns Deaf people may have when seeking medical care:
- Will I be treated unfairly because I require interpreting services?
- Will I receive the services I deserve, or will others ignore my communication access needs?
- Will my health outcomes be negatively affected because of my communication differences?
The best way to meet the needs of Deaf patients is to communicate with them as much as possible, accommodate them, and involve them in decisions communication decisions: live interpreter, video, or otherwise.
Views of Video Interpretation
Concerning video interpreting in general, video relay is a popular, federally-funded means of facilitating telephone communication between Deaf and hearing people; as a result, most Deaf individuals are familiar with and accepting of video interpretation. ASL-VRI in medical settings has clear advantages to a Deaf patient:
- Faster service
- Effective communication
- Greater guarantee that interpretation will be provided
Once Deaf patients have experienced ASL-VRI, they usually respond to it positively.
ASL-VRI is compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
For more information, see the ASL-VRI FAQ.
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