Leading Deaf Organizations Step Up to Provide Live ASL Interpretation, Closed Captioning of White House Coronavirus Briefings
NEW YORK, March 31, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) announced today that is has joined forces with three leading deaf organizations - DPAN.TV, Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and CONVO -- to help provide live American Sign Language interpretation and closed captioning of the White House Coronavirus Task Force briefings.
CSD is the world's largest deaf-led social impact organization.
"Nothing is more critical for our community to combat this global pandemic than breaking down all communications barriers and ensuring deaf individuals get equal access to important and reliable information in their own language," said Chris Soukup, CEO of CSD. "We could wait no longer for others who are responsible to implement these rightful accommodations as we face this life-threatening crisis."
Each of the four participating organizations is providing a key element of the live ASL interpretation of the White House briefings. CSD is providing Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) services, known as real-time captioning; DPAN is providing the live streaming capabilities; and RID and CONVO are providing the ASL interpreters.
"CSD has long been committed to ensuring that critical public information be accessible to our community. We are very proud to join our fellow partners and help make this a reality for the protection and safety of our community," said Rosa Lee Timm, Chief Marketing Officer of CSD. "Who, though, is responsible for providing equal access to major public announcements like this? The White House and our federal government are. This is exactly why we have the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is more than time our government stepped up."
CSD, DPAN, RID and CONVO first started providing ASL livestreams of the White House Coronavirus Task Force briefings on March 22. To access future Facebook Livestreams of White House Coronavirus Task Force briefings please visit DPANTV.
Since 2006 D-PAN, The Deaf Professional Arts Network, has been making media, entertainment, and news accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing community by producing content that is accessible with American Sign Language, voiceovers and captions. RID strives to advocate for best practices in interpreting, professional development for practitioners and for the higher standards in the provisions of interpreting services for diverse users of languages that are signed or spoken. CONVO, a deaf-owned company, provides video relay service and other communication solutions for deaf and hard of hearing people.
About CSD
Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) is the largest deaf-led social impact organization in the world. For more than four decades, CSD has been a leader in creating and providing accessible and innovative solutions for the deaf community. Today, CSD continues its work to create opportunities for personal and economic growth within the deaf community, specifically addressing leadership and employment. CSD's Social Venture Fund is one of the first angel funds and incubators in the world supporting deaf entrepreneurs and deaf-owned and operated businesses. For more information please visit CSD.
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SOURCE Communication Service for the Deaf
