Sorenson VRS *not* Deaf Community Friendly [ASL Version]

September 6, 2007 at 3:26 pm (Deaf Civil Rights, Interpreters, Michigan, Rants)

For the non-signers, see my blog post here. I did a vlog, to make sure everyone understands what I am saying about Sorenson VRS.

26 Comments

  1. abcohende said,

    September 6, 2007 at 5:09 pm

    Yooohooo! So glad to know that I am not the only one who have concerns about how Sorenson VRS run their business!

    So glad you spoke up, and it is so much better for you to vlog about it! You nailed many points and you packed a big wallop!

    Deaf Pundit 1, Sorenson 0

    P.S. There is only one Deaf administrator in Sorenson VRS – Ronald Burnett, Vice President of Community Relations, and there are several “Outreach Coordinators” who are deaf, and many “Trainees”.

    Sorenson used to hire “Installers” but FCC slapped their wrist, and the name had changed to “Trainees” who did installation and spent approximately one hour ‘training’ at their customers’ home by showing how to make relay calls, setting up phone numbers (of hearing people) and supervise how the calls were made out and receiving calls.

    It happened to me, and it does make me feel very uncomfortable. Trainer insisted that it is their job to make sure that the customers know how to use videophone to make VRS calls, not only to use for point-to-point calls.

    Gosh…. that is little bit too paternalistic and arm-wringing for me.

    You have inspired me, and I will think about making a vlog regarding this issue…

    Smiles…

  2. Peachlady said,

    September 6, 2007 at 5:29 pm

    Interesting! Thanks for this Vlog!

  3. DeafSpook said,

    September 6, 2007 at 5:30 pm

    The hiring of Ron Burdette (sp) was an issue of image for Sorenson. Burdette was already retiring to southern Utah from a progressive situation in California where he had an exemplary career retiring as a dean of a community college mainstreaming so many deaf students. He was winding down doing some work for an new branch of an Utah-based human service organization serving deaf people before Sorenson got in his picture and Burdette really bit the Sorenson lure.

  4. Bradley Goodyear said,

    September 6, 2007 at 6:48 pm

    wow, I didn’t know that but I can’t see because I am from Canada. FYI I always support all Deaf community across America and Canada don’t matter what happen in Deaf community.

    I hope you guys can find some solve the problems between Sorenson company and Deaf community.

    Cheers,
    Bradley

  5. fact-checker said,

    September 6, 2007 at 7:11 pm

    I don’t want to ruffle the feathers. I guess you did not get the job. It has to be a lack of your experience and education.

    Be sure to check the fact that Sorenson DOES hire few deaf people for higher positions. Of course, I am not fact-checker but I know there is a deaf regional manager in Northeast. Also there is a “statewide” manager in Pennsylvania.

    What’s more, RID and interpretering services should be aware and ups their provide for the job security. I know for the fact, the interpreters in my area decided to turn to mainstreamed schools and VRS due to the benefits. I am sure you know that interpreting services are hiring the interpreters as the freelancers.

  6. Paul Robertson Jr. said,

    September 6, 2007 at 7:30 pm

    Hat off to you!!!

    That is exact what you did, as I went through in my state of Tennessee.. Speaking of the glass ceiling is NOT my issue, but my real issue is on behalf of Deaf Tennessean people.. Yes we have THREE Sorenson call centers in our beloved state! (and soon may be 4th?)like your home state, we have some suffered to lose good interpreters from our 6 community centers to Sorenson Center in my state.

    I am sad to see that many Deaf people have to use their Sorenson interpreters in order to get the VP-200, but in the fact Several of my good friends got the VP-200 even though they almost NEVER use their Sorenson interpreters.. Really.. you are right that we can use any VRS providers in our preference like myself, I use my mac laptop often with the xmeeting software which is better picture that I have seen it than my good ol’ VP-100 ( Yes I used it a lot with Sorenson until Jan 2007 so I decided to stop and make my choice with different VRS providors like CSDVRS and I use vp-100 for chatting with my friends).

    You can check my blog: http://deaftn.blogspot.com/2007/02/tad-president-concerns-on-slcc-and.html

    Thank you for sharing us from your blog!

    PMRjr, Past TAD President

  7. A Deaf Pundit said,

    September 6, 2007 at 7:41 pm

    Fact-Checker, I did not apply for that job.

    Check YOUR facts!

  8. KyDeafie said,

    September 6, 2007 at 8:09 pm

    Well, I just switch to Ojo. I hope I will be happy with them. Haven’t dump Sorenson yet.

    KyDeafie..

  9. Lisa Marie said,

    September 6, 2007 at 9:50 pm

    Thanks for the discussion and I read some comments…hmmmm, I have a question. I am wondering how much they pay for an interpretor? If they pay well, probably that’s the main reason that they applied for a job at the VRS. So, they could have a full-time job without commuting to many places they interprete..What do you think? I do support VRS 100 percent and maybe there will be more people who will be interetested in taking Sign Language classes and get certificated after a long run of experiences and practice interpreting.

  10. C said,

    September 6, 2007 at 10:22 pm

    You made very good points. If it’s bad in your area, it’s just as bad elsewhere. I’m not sure how many calling center there is in WI, but I know there is at least one and many terps prefer to work at the calling center due to better pay and benefits. I have had conversation with several terps who said there is a shortage of qualified terps for appointments and out in field because of calling center.

    Sorenson is not the only VRS available. In USA alone, there are 16. Out of 16 some are local. Major ones are CSDVRS, Sprint, 711, hovrs, IP relay, etc. Use them. Don’t patronize Sorenson.

    Also, FYI, CSDVRS will ask if you currently have a video phone and if you do, you can’t get D-link. So, my suggestion is to give up Sorenson vp and ask for D-link or talk with a customer service to see what you can do.

    Just because you have Sorenson VP does not mean you MUST use Sorenson VRS!!! You are free to use any VRS service.

  11. A Deaf Pundit said,

    September 6, 2007 at 11:25 pm

    C, thanks for your info.

    I did use other VRS providers, but they’re always blurry for some reason. It definitely makes me suspicious.

  12. MdDeafDc said,

    September 7, 2007 at 12:39 am

    interesting comments, but they seem very inconclusive. i wish you had done a little more research regarding Sorenson’s business model–and other VRS providers–before encouraging others to abandon their VP’s.

    In my opinion, Sorenson is a privately owned company that operates without any glass ceilings. What company hires more deaf individuals than Sorenson? Deaf persons work at all levels within the company–deaf manage call centers, deaf manage day to day operations of call centers, deaf manage tech support centers, deaf manage mentoring and language programs, deaf work and manage projects in Sorenson’s HQ, and of course there is a deaf executive in the company. There are soooooooo many deaf working at Sorenson–on all levels–that even the CEO has acquired a decent signing skill.

    regarding the lack of interpreters–there has always been a lack of interpreters. In the history of deafness, there has never been enough interpreters. VRS providers may add to the issue, but mainstreaming K-12, colleges and universities use just as many or more interpreters than VRS providers. here in the MD/DC/Northern VA area, there are 30 colleges and universites (not counting Gallaudet) that suck interpreters from the community. Why does the deaf community pick on VRS providers and not equally pressure mainstreaming Audists(sorry if the word is too harsh)? if you want to flood your city with available interpreters, educate the deaf in traditional DEAF SCHOOLS (k-12 and post high school), not mainstream.

    as for the future of interpreting, the deaf community needs to play a bigger part in training interpreters. Why do most children raised by deaf adults not know sign language? Every deaf person i see complaing about interpreters that i have met dont even use sign language in their own home with their own children…sigh. quite hypocritical, eh?

    Can we as a community begin to help solve the issues rather than just bitch about them in vlogs? three or four years ago, many deaf lined up excitedly for a VP100, d-link, or other device. Then they complained that their VRS calls were’nt being answered fast enough. In response, VRS providers grew, hired more interpreters and met the demand placed on them by the deaf community. Now, the community is bitching about the problem they helped to create.

    As a suggestion, work with providers, not against them. Each VRS provider is hiring more and more deaf, providing amazing technology and pouring money into the community.

    i am looking forward to what’s next. I’m sure the interpreter issue will be resolved–in due time.

    i use a sorenson VP200. i love it. i hope that the we as a community will bitchy less and enable VRS providers to work with us. who knows? maybe we will see a VP300, an Ojo that works in our car, or something better?

    to all VRS providers: keep up the good work. there is a huge majority that appreciates our communication access. the system is not perfect, but im NEVER GONNA USE MY TTY AGAIN!!!!!! :)

  13. ASL Risen said,

    September 7, 2007 at 7:44 am

    Good mawning Deaf Pundit!

    Thank you so much for bringing up your points! I agreed with you that Sorenson should have get feed backs from your local Deaf community! Seems like they do not care about what Deaf community needs for equal employees (jobs) opportunity with more promotion level! Hire hearing manager to watch Sorenson seems lack of equal communication access. Thanks for your warning about Sorenson. If I use Sorenson, I will request the Sorenson VRS for showing me their certification first before dialing other person’s phone number. Your town is small with limit of certified qualified interpreters seem not enuff? Your state has 3 VRS companies??? That’s very interesting points!

  14. A Deaf Pundit said,

    September 7, 2007 at 9:25 am

    MdDeafDc, I beg to differ with you regarding Sorenson. What is the percentage of employees working at Sorenson that are deaf and/or minorities?

    CSD is deaf owned and the majority of their employees are deaf. Can Sorenson say that? I don’t think so.

    Secondly, Sorenson admitted that they are aware of the adverse impact their call centers had, in one of their newsletters a while ago. They said they would address it by having fast-track ITPs.

    I don’t see how fast-track ITPs are a good thing. You can’t learn ASL in 2 years, and interpreters need a broad educational background to be truly competent ones. That requires 4 years of college, minimum.

    I’m working on improving the interpreting situation here.. I’m trying as hell to convince the local colleges to establish an ITP and so forth.. but Sorenson is NOT helping with this situation. Period.

  15. WAD said,

    September 7, 2007 at 10:36 am

    Think thoroughly… If you got hurt badly and went to the hospital, then where are the interpeters? If you got arrested by the police and ________. (you fill in the blank as I think you know what I am trying to imply…)

    Is VRS harming us more? Does VRS show their commitment to social responsibility like DP said?

  16. Anonymous said,

    September 7, 2007 at 12:47 pm

    Thought you’d like to know that Sorenson has 80% of the VRS market. Everybody else has the other 20%, meaning probably 1% each.

  17. drmzz said,

    September 7, 2007 at 1:38 pm

    Good vlog, point’s taken, but blaming Sorenson is easy. Blame your hearing colleagues in your community. They SOLD you out by joining forces with them. Same dilemma here with a deaf agency in employment dept, they left. Makes u wonder if they were sincere to begin with, to truly help deaf community. Their standard response is that they have to make a living and obtain health benefits too. Money over morals, I guess. But, the policy of not allowing them outside freelance or part-time work or whatever, that is monopolistic and selfish.

  18. IamMine said,

    September 7, 2007 at 2:27 pm

    “I don’t see how fast-track ITPs are a good thing. You can’t learn ASL in 2 years, and interpreters need a broad educational background to be truly competent ones. That requires 4 years of college, minimum.”

    I am seeing similar thing with some of the interpreting agencies. :S

    And making ‘quick’ profits with lousy terps sent out to do the assignments.

    What MikeS said about “Money over morals” is true, unfortunately. Not to mention power-trip and entitlement attitudes that many interpreters possess.

    But, we CAN control this by forcing them to change – and that is only if we complain loud enough for them to listen to us. We are the CONSUMERS and if they are not going to be socially responsible for the Deaf Community – then we’ll just leave and encourage others to use other VRS services that ARE really helping the Deaf Community.

    It’s funny that the Sorenson interpreters are “servicing” the Deaf Community when they know that the deaf people are getting screwed by not having the opportunities to advance within Sorenson.

    I bought this up to one interpreter who worked for Sorenson and she just shrugged it off as if it “ain’t my problem, it pays the bills”.

    Pfft.

  19. Billy said,

    September 7, 2007 at 5:04 pm

    True – but think about this – CSD is a fully deaf owned business but look what has been happening to them? Sorenson invested in the technology which is why it put them on the map. Texas has three, maybe four call centers. One in Houston, Austin, Dallas/Ft. Worth (For sure) not sure if they ahve one in San Antonio – and heard one in Lubbock I think. So, its all about making money for them. And keep in mind – many flock to Sorenson because Sorenson can provide Health Insurance, good pay (less traveling), and etc. So therefore it becomes more reasonable for those interpreters to run to Sorenson instead of being an interpreter out on the field.

  20. A Deaf Pundit said,

    September 7, 2007 at 5:14 pm

    I understand it’s very lucrative for the interpreters. However, like I said in my vlog, Sorenson needs to be socially responsible.

    The fact is, we need community interpreters, and if those disappear, lawsuits will start being filed. Simple as that.

  21. Jean Boutcher said,

    September 7, 2007 at 8:07 pm

    DP,

    In your opinion, which is the best provider
    with best interpreters — aside from Sorenson (I have Sorenson VRS-200)?

  22. A Deaf Pundit said,

    September 7, 2007 at 9:01 pm

    Sprint VRS seems to be okay. Try that and CSD VRS.

  23. Curious Eyes said,

    September 8, 2007 at 12:43 pm

    Hey DP: not to distract from your central message which is that Sorenson VRS created a shortage of interpreters by monopolizing them in call centers instead of serving community needs (educational, medical, legal, etc.)…

    a couple of points. Sorenson contracts with free-lance interpreters just like an interpreter referral agency does. That means they don’t pay benefits unless the person is a staff interpreter. Sorenson doesn’t have too many of those, to my knowledge. So the money is about the same, it’s just that the working conditions are less taxing. Not having to hop in one’s car and drive long distances to unfamiliar places many times a day, or work all day at a school or conference is a big plus. I think that’s the main reason why free-lance interpreters are signing up with Sorenson in droves. Most of the calls are short, there’s just an endless stream of them. Someone told me recently that Sorenson gets 72,000 calls a DAY, and that’s just one VRS company.

    About the fast-track ITP: this isn’t about starting someone with zero knowledge of ASL and making them a qualified interpreter in 2 years. I know someone who is a fluent ASL signer with good receptive skills, just not a trained interpreter. Sorenson is sponsoring her RID certification by setting up study groups, mentoring, and training. It’s a good thing for her and them both.

    Sorenson VRS: like many things in life, both a blessing and a curse, eh? But I think more of a blessing, really.

  24. MI interpreter said,

    September 19, 2007 at 11:52 am

    I am a QAIII Michigan interpreter living near Grand Rapids. I RARELY get calls to work in the Grand Rapids area. I do get calls to work for Sorenson. How am I to support myself if community interpreting jobs are so light? Also- is only a center in Ann Arbor and one to soon open in Grand Rapids. There is not a Detroit center. Sorenson does well to provide interpreters with the support and the training to make them BETTER community interpreters for you. I urge you to become part of the solution- not to complain about how bad it is. Be the change you wish to see in the world. I hope peace for you, JJ

  25. A Deaf Pundit said,

    September 19, 2007 at 12:01 pm

    You act like you know me, but you’re not willing to name yourself. I find that interesting. If you really did know me, you would know that I DO work toward solutions. They might not be solutions that everyone likes, because I do hold people accountable for their actions. DHHS will tell you that, and contrary to the persistent rumors, I don’t run that agency. :P

    I don’t know for sure why you don’t get calls to work in the Grand Rapids area but I can think of a couple of reasons. The first possible reason that comes to my mind is that you might be working for LnL, and the Deaf Community in Grand Rapids abhors LnL for their questionable ethical conduct.

    Another reason is, for some reason the Deaf Community itself doesn’t like you. Without knowing your name, I can’t tell you why exactly you’re not working very much in the Grand Rapids area. So I can’t help you out there, sorry.

    Lastly, I am at peace, thank you very much.

  26. A Deaf Pundit said,

    September 19, 2007 at 12:16 pm

    And I must add, MI Interpreter, that it was incredibly stupid of you to post this comment during your work hours at Sorenson. Tsk, tsk.

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