SALT LAKE CITY, UT — (Marketwired) — 01/07/15 — Today, Sorenson Communications®, the largest employer of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters in the U.S., announced that in 2014, the company sponsored 400 interpreting workshops for hundreds of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters that work for Sorenson as video interpreters. The workshops and trainings provided an opportunity for Sorenson employees to earn Continuing Education Credits (CEUs), which are needed to maintain professional certification status. CEUs are also needed to continue to work as professional ASL interpreters, either through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or a state certifying entity, such as the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters.
Sorenson–s professional development and training department, which is responsible for providing workshops, training and educational opportunities for interpreters employed by the company, also provided training through a learning management system, empowering the company to offer training online through e-learning initiatives. Using self-paced and instructor-led training offers ASL interpreters who work for Sorenson more flexibility as well as the opportunity to hone their skills and stay abreast of the latest training delivery methodology.
Sorenson, the leading Video Relay Service (VRS) provider for people who are deaf and who use sign language to communicate, helps advance national interpreting standards by dedicating resources to the ongoing professional development of Sorenson interpreters as well as interpreters throughout the country.
“Our goal is to always serve our customers with the best technology and skilled interpreters. That–s why Sorenson invests heavily in the professional development and enhancement of all ASL interpreters– skills,” explains Chris Wakeland, Sorenson Communications vice president of interpreting. “By offering training and support through a variety of methods, we are not only supporting the interpreters and their professional growth and development, but the communication needs of our deaf VRS customers.”
Last year, through Sorenson-sponsored workshops, roughly 100,000 CEUs were awarded to eligible interpreters. In addition, there were more than 120,000 hits to various online and e-learning opportunities provided by Sorenson.
Amy Kalmus, Sorenson Communications director of professional development and training, says, “Interpreters, by and large, are dedicated to lifelong learning and continuous professional development as it is crucial for us to stay on top of our game. By providing training opportunities for video interpreters through a variety of means, Sorenson better supports customers who use VRS as well as the deaf community at large, given most interpreters work in both VRS and community settings.”
Hundreds of Sorenson-sponsored workshops and training sessions are planned for 2015 for video interpreters who work in Sorenson VRS interpreting centers. Other professional development opportunities for Sorenson interpreters will continue to include e-learning and distance-based educational opportunities. “We look forward to providing a variety of training resources that will benefit interpreters across the company and empower them to meet the needs of any given interpreting situation,” Kalmus says.
Sorenson Communications® () is a provider of industry-leading communications products and services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company–s offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service® (SVRS®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the Sorenson ntouch® VP videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; ntouch® PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; ntouch® for Mac®, software that connects users to SVRS by using an Apple® computer; ntouch® Tablet, which turns the Apple iPad® with a front-facing camera into a larger-screen mobile VP; and ntouch® Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via mobile devices.
If you choose Sorenson as your default provider, you can port your existing 10-digit number to Sorenson from another provider or Sorenson can provide you with one for the geographic area where you live or work. If you later change your default provider, you can port your number to that provider. When selecting Sorenson, you must provide to Sorenson the physical address (i.e., the Registered Location) from which you are placing the call, so that Sorenson can properly route any 911 calls you may make. If you move or change your location, you must notify Sorenson immediately. You can update your Registered Location from your Sorenson videophone by calling 800-659-4810 or by visiting . Sorenson will confirm receipt of your Registered Location information. Emergency calls made via internet-based TRS may not function the same as traditional E911 service. For example, you may not be able to dial 911 if there is an internet-service failure or if you lose electrical power, and your 911 call may not be routed correctly if you have not updated your Registered Location. For more information on the process of obtaining 10-digit numbers and the limitations and risks associated with using Sorenson–s VRS to place a 911 call, please visit Sorenson–s website: . For information on toll-free numbering, please visit .
You must be logged in to post a comment Login