Why I too say NO to Sorenson's.

The VRS Campaign at the Angel Hotel Cardiff

After arriving at Cardiff Hotel, I was shown into an ante-room where SOS (Sign on Screen), were holding a small but interesting display of technology, all was sign accessible. A number of people were there from Swansea, Cardiff, Bridgend, and 1 from Newport, a few Americans (Sorenson ?)

Later we were ushered into the main hall to listen to Paul make the introduction for the VRS campaign team, currently traversing the UK to get support for an national VRS (Video Relay Service) set up in the United Kingdom, and from a campaign apparently developed from Europe. I got to ask a few questions after the initial campaign speech, but was put on the spot by Carolyn Nabarro, and front of house ! to do BSL which isn't my thing at all and was left unsupported.

Curiously there was an lip-speaker/audio dialogue going on at front of house. For hearing aid using deaf ? or just the video they were making ? I rather expected some interpreter back up, but no-one offered, so I did the best I could sign-wise. I asked about interpreter staffing levels, and regional interpreting via VRS, was not really satisfied they gave a lucid or any answer to this question, and Ms Nabarro, was having difficulty following me I think. Very much an VRS campaign gig, but if they expect people like myself to take up VRS it is a non-starter, because I would see huge issues of lack of real information. Very vague on if the proposed system can accommodate various regional signs. Important given Wales has an reputed 43% variance.

The VRS campaign was deliberately targeting cities and ignored mid and north Wales. Most talk was about what 'London people' thought of european support for VRS and side-stepped questions about Sorenson involvement with Remark and others.

If the VRS campaign is to be narrowed down to the type of signers I saw today, then take up is going to be very poor, even if they succeed with a national campaign. How many will take the info BACK to their peers ? we will have to wait and see.... I was rather surprised the BDA rep said nothing at all, despite advertising on their website and sending their trustee there. Probing questions really needed to be put so deaf would know options, as usual it was the hard sell, and pleas of too short a time to have many questions !

There was a video or two, I am sure the Woolfe Family were in one of them, then again they are in everything aren't they. The vids very much staged, and you had to ask if in an emergency everyone would be as coherent as we saw. The VRS now! video wasn't in BSL but clearly sign english. There seemed a lack of understanding with some speakers, although I had asked about costs and stated the American/Canadian experience of losing street terps to VRS work, and the UK was still struggling 3 or 4 terps per 300 deaf, it was repeated again about 10 minutes later, and again not answered.... They needed text access as an extra, but I suppose the whole point was the assumption the system is solely for BSL using deaf only.

Which raised the issue how many exactly are there in Wales ? Surely not enough for an national set up ? The attack on 'English' was very much to the fore, so why all the publicity material was in it format, was a conundrum, I felt this was a sop to some deaf activism and not really useful to draw lines between deaf or 'Deaf' people, but accept this is sadly a norm now. The VRS accept deaf DO know English, but want to run a campaign on deaf NOT wanting it, or even unable to follow it.

I felt this shows some lack of deaf awareness at source of the VRS campaign, as most will have little issue with English. We had that 'preference' thing raised as an issue again, when the campaign is about NEED. Most deaf are freely bi-lingual and not really struggling as texting is a deaf norm now. Indeed was being used to twitter the proceeds of the meeting although twittering about the questions we raised was left out !

What sign would be used ? was another question I tried to put, would it be BSL /SE ?SSE? would we be able to insist on regional terps ? How ? there are less than 30 here in Wales as it is. Again VRS appeared vague on specifics, talked 'nationally' and in ignorance basically of the Welsh differences.... we were told only some 'central' area of interpreting, did not want to answer questions on who was supplying the system, but we all knew Sorenson's was behind it. I was left with the same questions I went with. Also it was evident the VRS campaign knows it doesn't need welsh support, as most meetings are in English highly populated areas.

E.G On the issue of medical interpreting, would deaf get a download of the diagnosis proceedings, as back up, and as a refer point if something went wrong or misunderstood ? Not the question anyone would really answer except, patient confidentiality and Hippocratic oaths, so NO basically. I'd prefer something to refer to in case (A) I Missed something or (B) wanted to raise issues, or even (C) not altogether following what the terp was stating, especially medical terminology. There would seem no back up if you misunderstood.

They needed to mirror speech to text access which offers a print out, I suppose the sign version would require a video output given, but how this was to be done.... VRS without these questions being asked or even answered, is going to be a non-starter I felt. Deaf in Wales also need to understand those who manufactures the VRS technology are using sales pitch and offering financing support to the VRS campaign, (TAG and UKCoD to name but 2 groups), we might ask is there a vested interested at work here ?

You bet there is,,,