[July 13, 2009] New technology helps deaf workers with job search Tweet Jul 13, 2009 (Montgomery Advertiser - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- New video interpreting technology is changing the way hearing-impaired job seekers look for employment at the Career Services Center in Montgomery. The portable VPAD or videophone system, similar to video conferencing equipment, connects a deaf job seeker to a sign language interpreter in one of 10 career centers across the state. The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services installed the technology and also trained their staff of eight interpreters and career center employees on how to use the new systems. Traditionally, if a hearing impaired person came into one of the state's career centers for help, staff would have to reschedule their appointment for when a sign language interpreter could be made available, said Melvin Walker, a staff interpreter for the vocational rehabilitation office in Decatur. In some cases, that could take up to two weeks. But with the help of the touch screen technology, designated career centers statewide can now give people with hearing disabilities equal access to the services available there, and that's "great news," he said. "The way the economy is right now, jobs are coming and going very quickly," Walker said. "If you have to wait two weeks just to apply for a position -- you may miss out on a lot of opportunities." The technology allows a Hearing-impaired person to apply for a job just as quickly as a hearing person. That kind of equal access is important when it comes to seeking employment, Walker said. Even better, it gives someone who is deaf a greater sense of independence, said Mona Ivey, a deaf support specialist for ADRS. "That's really one of the biggest frustrations deaf people have, is that they have not had access in the past," said Ivey, who's hearing is impaired. "They've always had to ask people to help and to write notes and it took up a lot of time," she said as Walker translated. "But with this technology, we have equal access and a deaf person can come in and feel empowered." The videophone system also eliminates the worry of depending on "someone, who may not be knowledgeable about deaf culture or with this technology," Ivey said. "With this, we can do it on our own," she said smiling brightly. For those who use the technology at Montgomery's Career Services Center, the two-way visual display screen allows the interpreter, career counselor and job seeker to communicate throughout the meeting. The career counselor uses the touch screen like a cell phone to call an interpreter. The call automatically connects to one of the on-call ADRS sign language interpreters in Alabama who acts as liaison between the counselor and job seeker. The screen is the size of a small laptop, but can be projected much larger depending on preference, Walker said, and the best part is that it makes life easier for all parties involved. The new systems save time and travel for ADRS staff. But more than that, Walker said, it allows staff to assist hearing-impaired job seekers in completing resumes, looking for a job, participating in a job workshop or applying for unemployment benefits. Through the meeting, residents can also be referred to vocational rehabalitation programs that help experts match their strengths and interests with different careers. In addition to Montgomery, there are 10 other locations housing the video-interpreting network system, including centers in Albertville, Birmingham, Decatur, Gadsden, Huntsville, Mobile, Pike County, Sheffield, Talladega and Tuscaloosa. Funding for the project was provided through grants totaling about $34,000 from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Alabama Council For Developmental Disabilities. Additional Facts FIND OUT MORE Call the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services at 293-7500 or 800-441-7607. To see more of the Montgomery Advertiser, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Montgomery Advertiser, Ala. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]