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Sign
Up for the
Sorenson VRS Messenger
Newsletter |
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Videophone
801-287-9403
Technicians are available 24/7. Please hold until a
technician answers. If you hang up, you will be disconnected
and removed from the queue.
TTY
866-877-9826
FAX
801-287-9495
(ATTN: Tech Support)
E-mail
Click Here to fill out the online form.
Mailing Address
Technical Support
4192 South Riverboat
Road, Suite 100
Salt Lake City, UT 84123 |
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NO VP? Use Sorenson IP Relay
When you don't have access to your Sorenson VP videophone and you need to communicate on the go, use Sorenson IP Relay! Using a personal computer or a mobile device, you can contact anyone anywhere with Sorenson IP Relay.
Sorenson IP Relay (siprelay) is a free service that enables deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to place text-based relay calls from their personal computer (PC) and/or mobile device to any standard telephone user in the US and its territories. A Sorenson Communications Assistant (CA) contacts the standard telephone user and voices the text messages in real-time from the siprelay user. All you need to use Sorenson IP Relay is an Internet connection and a PC or mobile device enabled with AOL® Instant Messenger (AIM®).
Sorenson IP Relay works with any Internet connection when using a personal computer and is quick and easy to use. Simply send an instant message to "siprelay" using AOL Instant Messenger (AIM®) or go to www.siprelay.com to place a call. |
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It is generally estimated that only about 10% of America's signing deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals currently have access to a video relay service. Many deaf individuals are waiting for affordable high speed Internet, live in rural areas, or are not aware of how VRS technology can help them. Whatever the situation may be, everyone deserves the right to communicate. We call on all VRS providers to commit with us to provide VRS to every individual who uses sign language to communicate by the year 2010. 100% access by 2010 is possible! Sorenson Communications offers the LEAP program to make it happen.
The LEAP program is made up of four simple steps with the goal of reaching 100% of signing individuals who could benefit from VRS by the year 2010. Here are the four steps of the LEAP program:
| Step One: |
Locate individuals - Find deaf individuals in rural or underserved areas |
| Step Two: |
Examine needs - Find out what is needed to ensure VRS accessibility |
| Step Three: |
Access via installation - Install videophone to provide communication |
| Step Four: |
Provide Training - Train individuals on how to use VRS technology |
| Goal |
All VRS providers collaborate to reach 100% of deaf individuals by the year 2010! |
For details on the LEAP program go to www.sorenson.com/LEAP. United in this effort we can all make a difference to make sure no one is left behind. As always, send your ideas to me at patrick.nola@sorenson.com.
Let's LEAP to 2010 together and make sure everyone has access to VRS!
Pat Nola
President and CEO
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Did you know that Sorenson Communications developed both the D-Link i2eye and the Sorenson VP videophones? These were the first videophones for the deaf market. You can use Sorenson VRS with either videophone. To place a VRS call using your VP videophone, simply select the "Dial VRS" button on the main screen and follow the prompts to connect you. To place a VRS call from a D-Link i2eye videophone, use the following directions:
- Click on the Dial button (on the main screen)
- Click on Manual Dial (or Add to create a speed dial for future calling)
- Enter 1 as the Country Code
- Enter 866 for the Area Code
- Enter 3278877 as the Phone Number
- Click Dial
Use these steps whenever you want to use Sorenson VRS with your D-Link i2eye videophone.
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Sorenson Communications is proud to support the 16th Winter Deaflympics to be held in Salt Lake City in February of 2007. The company is also the exclusive provider of video relay with Sorenson VRS and IP relay with Sorenson IP Relay for the Deaflympics.
Other Sorenson Communications Deaflympic offerings include:
- 2007 Deaflympics Expo presented by Sorenson Communications held at the Salt Palace. Interested exhibitors may send an e-mail to expo@2007deaflympics.com to add your name to the exhibitor list. More details about the Expo will be available in April 2006.
- Deaflympics Connecting You Trip contest - win a free trip to Salt Lake City to see the Deaflympics first hand. For more information on the Deaflympics Connecting You Contest go to www.sorenson.com/deaflympics/contest
We hope to see you in Salt Lake in 2007 for the 16th Winter Deaflympics!
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Ronald C. Burdett recently accepted the position of Vice President of Community Relations at Sorenson Communications. Ron oversees the company's collaborative efforts with deaf leaders and organizations. Working extensively with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other government agencies, he will drive corporate initiatives to ensure the best interests of the deaf community are always represented. Ron is also responsible for establishing relationships with deaf communities outside of the US.
"The newest member of our executive team, Ron shows great enthusiasm for our business and concern for our customers needs," said J.R. Goff, National Installer Manager. "Ron brings a balance and perspective that everyone respects. He has helped all of us at Sorenson Communications to focus on the initiatives that will make a difference to the deaf community."
To contact Ron with your questions or ideas, send an e-mail to ron.burdett@sorenson.com.
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January 30, 2006
Dear Sorenson Customer Service,
This is to express my sincere appreciation for the service rendered by an excellent Sorenson interpreter on Thursday, January 26th. Before the call, I had not been quite familiar with the conference call as I was requested to participate in the discussion at short notice. I would have not been comfortable in the process but I was pleased with the procedure and how it was handled with ease. During the call, the interpreter conveyed the information efficiently from the committee of about six people. She amazed me and provided the information of many subjects from people with different accents who were involved. Also, I believe that there was not much important information that she would miss while interpreting the discussion.
Thank you very much,
Tom Dowling
Washington DC Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Elderly & Disabled Transportation Advisory Committee
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Dear Sorenson VRS,
I am a deaf real estate agent. When I used a traditional relay service [TTY], I was sometimes frustrated because buyers, sellers, and other real estate agents hung up on me. They did not have the patience to use the [TTY] relay service. Now that I am using VP-100 with VRS, I see a big change. People talk to me, and some of them do not even know that I am deaf. I want to thank you for allowing me to use this kind of service.
Elijah Gold
RE/MAX Realty Group
Serving DC, MD, and NVA
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March 8, 2006
Dear Mark Call of Sorenson Communications,
Thank you so much for volunteering your time as one of our fabulous V.I.P. waiters at DeafHope's Third Annual Glimmer of Hope event at the Oakland Zoo's Snow Building on February 25, 2006. Your hard work and enthusiasm to collect tips truly paid off because we fundraised around $30,000.00 during the weekend with both GOH and V-Day performance! The tips alone brought in $2,700.00!! Your contribution has already helped DeafHope to continue its advocacy services with Deaf survivors of domestic and sexual violence throughout the year 2006!
DeafHope's "Glimmer of Hope" supporters
We could not have been this successful without your dedication and support! Thank you for being such an important ally of Deaf survivors in the Bay Area! We look forward to working with you again in many years to come to ensure that the Deaf survivors get the support they need and that we continue our efforts to eradicate domestic and sexual violence.
With warm appreciation,
DeafHope Board of Directors, Staff and Volunteers
As the Northwest Outreach Manager for Sorenson Communications, Mark Call attends over 80 community events per year. He, like the other outreach managers for the company, is committed to making a difference in the deaf community.
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January, 2006
Dear Sorenson Communications,
I want to thank you so much for selecting my two junior high school student's pieces as winning entries for the Sorenson VRS art contest. They were very excited about the prizes. I am so thrilled to receive nice amount of money for my art program. The students in our program will benefit from your kind contribution. It was a wonderful experience for my classes.
Jeannie Jones
JR. High School Teacher
Illinois School for the Deaf
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Erin is a self-proclaimed "proud army brat" with many interests in languages and cultures. She mentions her interests may stem from "the travel that is part and parcel of military family life." A RID CI/CT certified interpreter, Erin is involved in RID nationally and in her local area.
Q: What do you like about where you live and work?
The area I live in offers such a variety of interpreting experiences and opportunities. I participated in a short training program at Gallaudet at the beginning of my career. Friends later recommended VRS as the place to be if you wanted to keep busy and continually challenge your interpreting skills. I figured it was time to renew my acquaintance. I appreciate GIS for upholding interpreting industry standards in this specialized setting and feel confident that they will keep the health and welfare of the interpreters they work with foremost on the agenda in this still fledgling field of VRS.
Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I am a voracious reader with a penchant for Karaoke Revolution all-nighters. I try western style horseback riding whenever I have the opportunity, and I am attempting to avoid maiming anyone while I try my hand at my newest interest - target archery.
Q: Do you remember you first Sign Language or Deaf culture experience?
I wanted to learn sign language from childhood, based on nothing more than occasionally seeing ASL in use on this or that television program. It was not until I was half way through my Nuclear Medicine Technology degree that my father set me on the course to interpreting as a full-time career. I would not have taken my first ASL class, where I met my first deaf person, whose enthusiasm for using and sharing the language was contagious. And today, I would not be sitting so many hours at a time with a head-set sprouting from one ear enjoying the opportunity to interact using ASL to many deaf individuals across America.
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Sorenson VRS holds dozens of interpreter workshops across the country offering CEU credits while providing education on everything from vicarious trauma to honing finger spelling techniques. All proceeds of the workshops go to regional charities and organizations. Interpreters attending the 2006 workshops sponsored by Sorenson VRS have already raised thousands of dollars for the following causes:
- RID of San Diego County's testing scholarship fund
- Knoxville School for the Deaf in Knoxville, TN
- DAWCAS (Deaf Abused Women and Children Advocacy Services) in Austin, TX
- JR CAD (Connecticut Association of the Deaf)
- DOVE, Advocacy Services for Abused Deaf Women and Children of Denver, CO
- Deaf Cultural Center of Olathe, KS
- Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf Space Camp program
- Chestnut Lane, an assisted living facility for the Deaf in Centralia, WA
One attending interpreter mentioned, "The material presented at the Sorenson VRS workshop was excellent. There was something there for every level. Interpreters working in the field for years found they possess production errors that need to be fixed." She added, "For the VRS interpreters, the presenter often pointed out ways to fingerspell or produce numbers that are more visible to videophone users."
Kathi Hesser of the Deaf Cultural Center of Olathe Kansas commented, "It was a lovely and unexpected surprise to be the recipient of a kind donation to the Deaf Cultural Center, collected during the Sorenson VRS interpreter workshop. We are grateful for the contribution."
For more information on Sorenson VRS workshops - send an e-mail to workshops@sorenson.com.
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Sorenson Communications has added a new team of deaf employees to the company who are working as Area Specialists. Jeff Emmons, Sorenson VRS Outreach Manager, leads this newly formed team of Area Specialists. The group recently installed a record number of videophones for customers across the country. Breaking company records, this team remains committed to making sure every deaf or hard-of-hearing individual who benefits from having a videophone will get one! If you are wondering where your VP is, please go to www.sorensonvrs.com/apply for more information. Want to work for Sorenson Communications as a videophone trainer and installer? Go to www.sorensonvrs.com/jobs or contact us at jobs@sorenson.com.
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Gallaudet Deaflympics Kick-off Party hosted by Sorenson Communications
Local community members and Gallaudet students enjoyed free pizza, t-shirts and prizes as they viewed presentations on the 16th Winter Deaflympics
To inquire about events and sponsorships in your area, please e-mail events@sorenson.com.
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April 6
April 21 - 23
April 29
May 13
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Utah Valley State College Deaf Studies Conference
Colorado RID Conference
DeafNation Expo
Valley Deaf Festival
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Orem, UT
Denver, CO
Pomona, CA
Fresno, CA
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April 5 - 8
April 6 - 9
April 8
April 20 - 23
April 22
June 8 - 10
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USA Deaf Basketball Tournament
Texas Society of Interpreters for the Deaf (TSID) Conference
DeafNation Expo
GLBDA Bowling Tournament
DeafNation Expo
Texas School for the Deaf 150th Celebration
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St. Louis, MO
El Paso, TX
Austin, TX
Chicago, IL
St. Louis, MO
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April 1
April 22 - 25
May 5 - 7
May 13
June 21 - 25
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DeafNation Expo
National Academic Bowl Championship
Pennsylvania RID Conference
DeafNation Expo
NAOBI Conference
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Greensboro, NC
Washington, D.C.
Furlong, PA
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, GA
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