Atlanta Technical College Protects Technology Investment with Avaya

By Anuradha Shukla

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

Georgia-based Atlanta Technical College recently replaced its communications system which once lacked the accessibility features needed to help the school's vision-impaired operator determine the status of calls and the functions on her console.

 

Teresa Brown, vice president of administrative services for the college said in a statement to the press that the lack of accessibility features in the new communication system resulted in their losing potential students, especially during registration time when they have especially high call volumes.

 

“Calls could back up, be misdirected or left on hold without her knowledge. We knew we had to assist our employee and continue to serve our students,” said Brown.

 

Avaya (News - Alert) integrated a new operator console and software with robust accessibility features into the school’s existing communications system. The solution enabled Atlanta Technical College to protect an estimated $350,000 investment in its existing infrastructure.

 

Avaya reportedly tested their solution with their existing system to make certain it worked well and met the operator's needs.

 

Atlanta Technical College's operator can access the same critical telephony information available to sighted workers with Avaya Universal Access Phone Status Software. At the touch of a button the status of dozens of phone features can be audibly announced– from caller ID and the number of calls on hold to the length of time a caller has been waiting.

 

The same Avaya software displays status information as an animated PC screen pop for the hearing-impaired. The company provides the Avaya Universal Access Phone Status software free of charge with Avaya communication systems.

 

Thanks to Avaya, the employee of Atlanta Technical College now has the tools to perform her job.

 

“She is very self-sufficient in other areas of her life and now can be equally self-sufficient here at work,” concluded Brown.