Press Announcement - New CSD Web Site Launched With Focus on Sign Language Access

From: CSD - Feb 1, 2007

PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT
Release Date: Feb. 1, 2007
Contact: Derric Miller
CSD Communications Office
dsmiller@c-s-d.org

New CSD Web Site Launched With Focus on Sign Language Access

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Feb. 1, 2007) — CSD is proud to announce its new, more American Sign Language (ASL) centered Web site. The new site is being launched today.

In order to make the new site accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people of all language skills, CSD duplicated much of the text information on the site with ASL videos. Press releases, news stories and welcoming messages are accompanied with an ASL video, so deaf consumers can choose their preference of reading the information or viewing it in their native language, ASL.

CSD focused on making the site easily accessible to its deafblind consumers as well, keeping moving pictures and flash objects with embedded text to a minimum. The overall goal of making the new site friendly, easy to navigate and product-focused was achieved after months of collaborative work with each CSD division, culminating in a site that goes above and beyond the industry standard.

Another upgrade on the new CSD site was concentrated on the interpreting division. Now, when businesses or consumers schedule an interpreter, they are able to put a name with a face. Each interpreting department in Minnesota, South Dakota and Texas now has a staff page which lists the current interpreters, photos, their interpreting level of expertise and overall professional background.

“Our consumers have asked many times in the past for more ASL videos on our Web site, and we honored their feedback by giving them exactly what they asked for,” said Ben Soukup, CSD chief executive officer. “We invite everyone to visit the new Web site, watch the videos, learn more about our talented employees, and most importantly, see how CSD’s products, services and staff can assist you.”

More ASL videos are going to be added on a monthly basis to the “press release” and “CSD Beam” section, as well as other portions of the site.

The new site also makes it simple to schedule an interpreter; apply for jobs; sign up for new services like Interpreting Online; reserve a cabin at CSD’s Camp Lakodia; or subscribe to CSD’s publication for the deaf and hard of hearing, SIGNews. You can do all of these and more, just by going to the CSD home page and choosing your product or service.

To check out the new CSD Web site, go to www.c-s-d.org.

About CSD — CSD (aka Communication Service for the Deaf, Inc.) was established in 1975, primarily to provide sign language interpreting services to deaf and hard of hearing adults in South Dakota. Today, CSD employs over 3,000 individuals in offices across the nation, providing a broad continuum of social and human services programs, as well as telecommunications relay services. CSD is a private nonprofit agency dedicated to providing quality services; ensuring public accessibility; and increasing awareness of issues affecting the deaf, hard of hearing and individuals with speech disabilities. For more information, please visit www.c-s-d.org.

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* CSD ~ An Official Sponsor of the 2007 Winter Deaflympics