Cbbeatty

While I am not deaf, I have spent many years around my local deaf community, as well as in school to better understand Deaf culture. I think everyone should read mercymoms post as I feel it is relatable to the deaf also in my community. I heard a story about a man stuck in the hospital with a glitchy Virtual Relay Interpreter who has no clue what was going on. He asked multiple times for an in person interpreter, and the hospital said none were available. When he phoned a local interpreter and a friend in the area, the interpreter reported she had received no calls to come in. This group is repeatedly advocating for their needs and consistently being told they cant have the access they need in the medical field. I also have learned that VRI is cheaper and often easier for hospitals, and that it is the nurses and doctors that choose when to turn it off. It is charged by the minute, so typically it is not on as long as the deaf need or want it to be. I personally think VRI solves the problem of a FAST fix. This is a great option to insert while the live interpreter is on their way, but overall it is not something that can be a standard choice of access for the deaf.