CSDVRS Opens 14th Video Relay Center

From: CSD, Inc. - Jul 26, 2005

PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT

Release Date: July 25, 2005
Contact: David Rosenbaum
CSD Marketing and Public Relations
CommMediaRel@c-s-d.org

CSDVRS Opens 14th Video Relay Center

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (18 July 2005) – CSD, Inc. announced the opening of its newest video relay service (VRS) center in Lee's Summit, Mo. The contract with Sign Language Specialists, Inc. (SLS) will provide additional interpreting support to the greater Kansas City area as the 14th CSDVRS facility. The center is necessitated by the growing demand for sign language interpreters to facilitate telephone conversations involving deaf and hard of hearing consumers.

When using VRS to place telephone calls to hearing individuals, deaf consumers use a D-Link videophone or web cam to connect with a video interpreter via the Internet. The video interpreter then places the call to the hearing person, voicing to the hearing person and signing the telephone conversation to the deaf consumer.

To utilize CSDVRS, hearing callers dial (800) 538-9881 toll free. D-Link users connect via www.csdvrs.tv, while web cam customers use www.csdvrs.com. There is no charge to use this service, which is funded through the National Exchange Carriers Association (NECA).

CSD and Sprint have been partners in telecommunications relay services since 1994 and are pioneers in the video relay service field.

"CSD has made and will continue to make a concerted effort to minimize significant drain on the interpreting resources in any one city," said Benjamin Soukup, CSD chief executive officer. "CSDVRS utilizes local sign language interpreting agencies throughout the country to staff its VRS centers. This practice allows for a balance between VRS and community interpreting needs. We are pleased to have SLS join our network of VRS centers and look forward to working with such a high caliber agency."

The Lee's Summit facility joins other CSDVRS centers in Austin, Houston and San Antonio, Texas; Chicago, Ill.; Denver, Colo.; Omaha, Neb.; Portland, Ore.; Richmond, Va.; Rochester, N.Y.; Seattle, Wash.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; St. Paul, Minn.; and Washington, D.C.

"Our goal has been to provide the highest quality interpreters while maintaining excellent ethical practices," says Lisa Bolding, President of Sign Language Specialists. "In addition to maintaining and growing our current community interpreting services, we are expanding to provide video interpreters for CSDVRS. SLS is thrilled to partner with CSD to provide career opportunities for interpreters to serve the national Deaf population as well as their local customers."

Sign Language Specialists, Inc. (SLS), launched in January 2003, is a full service interpreter referral agency serving the greater Kansas City metro area. The company "strives to provide the highest quality sign language interpreters by recruiting, retaining and compensating a professional, talented and motivated workforce. Our goal is to be the leader in raising the standards of our profession and giving back to our community."

CSDVRS is operated by CSD, Inc., a private nonprofit telecommunications and human services organization based in Sioux Falls, S.D. More information on CSDVRS is available at www.csdvrs.com.

CSD, Inc. (also known as Communication Service for the Deaf) is a private, non-profit telecommunications and human services organization. In its 30-year history, CSD has expanded its communication service offerings and currently manages over 20 call centers in the U.S. CSD offers telecommunications relay services (TRS), video relay services (VRS), equipment distribution programs (TEDP) and sign language interpreting services. CSD National Programs provides human services in 15 locations in eight states. Visit their website at www.c-s-d.org.

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