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The latest news releases from Sorenson Communications are below.

2012
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2012 Press Releases

October 30, 2012 Sign Language Interpreters Prepare for Interpreting Traumatic Experiences

Psychological health and resilience can be strengthened through training

SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 30, 2012)-Special training is helping thousands of sign language interpreters cope with interpreting traumatic Video Relay Service (VRS) calls - calls that empower deaf people to communicate with hearing people, including 911, in real time using a videophone, PC or mobile device.

In addition to the ongoing, routine 911 training all Sorenson Communications American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters receive, a new initiative from Sorenson, the largest private employer of interpreters in the United States and the nation's leading provider of VRS, is recommending additional training for every Sorenson interpreter by the end of next year.

"The emotional and physical safety of Sorenson VRS customers and our Sorenson interpreters is our top priority," notes Chris Wakeland, Sorenson Vice President of Interpreting. "Some interpreters witness very traumatic events over the videophone. And, with 911 VRS calls, our interpreters are seeing the emergency even before emergency personnel arrive. Because there's a kind of engagement on the interpreter's part, traumatic events often impact interpreters in a secondary, or vicarious, way. So there's a real need to help interpreters understand the dynamic of trauma so they can prepare themselves before they are exposed to traumatic events. That way, following a traumatic interpreting session, they will be resilient and again be able to engage with callers in providing the best VRS service possible."

Sorenson has enlisted psychologist Ron Lybarger, Ph.D., also a sign language interpreting specialist, to conduct workshops on self care and prepare Sorenson interpreters for traumatic exposure. Lybarger discusses how to prevent stress, improve ability to manage energy and emotion during crises, develop enhanced resiliency, proactively create strategies to be effective and confident and take responsibility for one's own health and wellbeing. The contents of VRS calls, which must remain confidential under federal law, will not be disclosed during the workshops.

Lybarger clarifies the role of professional interpreters as well as provides information about how interpreters can determine if they are affected by trauma -what to do about it and what resources are available. "We want to help interpreters minimize and mitigate symptoms sometimes associated with traumatic exposure, which can include anxiety, sleep problems and depression," he says.

Lybarger notes that preliminary studies suggest that strengthening resilience and psychological health can be accomplished through training and preparation, which includes exercise, meditation, compassion for self, social support, even yoga. All are beneficial in multiple ways, says Lybarger, adding "Post-traumatic growth is not simply a return to baseline from a period of suffering; instead, it is an experience of improvement that for some people is deeply profound."

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications products and services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the new Sorenson ntouch^® VP videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; ntouch^® PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; ntouch^® Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via mobile devices; ntouch^® for Mac^®, an application that provides Mac users with on-the-go VRS; and Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay^®), a text-to-speech relay service.

October 17, 2012 Tennessee Temple University Receives the Sorenson VRS IEP Award of Excellence

(SALT LAKE CITY) Sorenson Communications congratulates Tennessee Temple University (TTU), located in Chattanooga, Tenn., as the recipient of the Sorenson VRS^® (SVRS^®) Interpreter Education Program (IEP) Award of Excellence. As the award recipient, TTU received a cash award that was invested into its IEP program as well as credits for educational materials to be used at Dawn Sign Press and Sign Media.

The SVRS IEP Award of Excellence recognizes outstanding American Sign Language (ASL) IEPs that incorporate Video Relay Service (VRS) instruction into their curriculum. The award also recognizes IEPs that continually recognize and respond to the broadening communication needs of the deaf community. Sorenson Communications is the largest employer of ASL interpreters in the United States.

TTU's IEP coordinator, Lisa Godfrey, says faith-based TTU fills a niche, both academically and spiritually and is one of only approximately 35 four-year degree ASL interpreting programs in the country. Godfrey is proud of the 100 percent placement rate for TTU graduates who want to go into interpreting. "We want to do everything we can to make TTU students ready to enter the workforce at graduation, including giving them the tools to function and succeed in the VRS setting," says Godfrey.

Chris Wakeland, Sorenson Communications Vice President of Interpreting, commends TTU for the close relationships it fosters with Chattanooga's deaf community. "Involving TTU students in the deaf community creates a winning situation for everyone. Interpreting students acquire additional experience and confidence while the deaf community benefits from additional interpreters who accept jobs that otherwise would go unsupported."

Linda Lawson, Program Manager of Chattanooga Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, a non-profit organization, is also grateful for the five-year relationship between her organization and TTU. "We are a community-based interpreting referral agency. Originally, we invited students to observe what we do. Then I began to ask TTU if they had students who could interpret in nonthreatening assignments. It turned out to be a great idea for both of our organizations. I believe it helped students see that they could have a career in community-based interpreting, not just in education."

In addition to the SVRS IEP Award of Excellence, Sorenson Communications seeks to raise the overall quality of ASL interpreting across the U.S. and Canada by sponsoring hundreds of interpreting workshops each year. The workshops provide required Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for professional interpreters who want to stay certified in ASL interpreting. These workshops are open to Sorenson and community interpreters alike. Sorenson Communications also founded and supports the VRS Interpreting Institute, which provides ongoing education for IEP graduates and interpreter and ASL educators. The SVRS IEP Award of Excellence will be presented to TTU in October at the Conference of Interpreter Trainers convention, in Charlotte, N.C.

September 4, 2012 Sorenson Communications' Deaf Awareness Month Highlights Contributions of Deaf Visionaries

SALT LAKE CITY (Sept. 4, 2012)- During the month of September, Sorenson Communications will present "Deaf Awareness Month," a special online commemoration that offers information about deaf community, leaders and history. The celebration, which began online today, at www.sorensonvrs.com/aware, coincides with the World Federation of the Deaf's "International Week of the Deaf," held during the last full week of September. Content will be added to the Deaf Awareness Month site throughout September.

Sorenson's 2012 celebration of Deaf Awareness Month will include:

Profiles about people and organizations that have had an impact on deaf and hearing communities
Information about sign language and the deaf tradition of storytelling
Spotlights of accomplished deaf athletes
Information on people who are today's deaf changemakers

In 2010, Sorenson launched its first online celebration of Deaf Awareness Month by presenting various videos that featured deaf leaders who promoted causes and whose contributions were significant in the arts, athletics and communication. Sorenson also celebrated deaf historian Jack Gannon and sponsored, along with the VRS Interpreting Institute (VRSII), a special Young Artists Contest to encourage deaf children in artistic endeavors. The 2010 Sorenson Communications Deaf Awareness Month celebration can be viewed by visiting www.sorensonvrs.com/aware2010.

"Sorenson Communications is pleased to provide information that focuses on the unique contributions of deaf people to America and to the world," notes Ron Burdett, Sorenson Communications Vice President of Community Relations. "Sorenson is intent on preserving deaf history as well as documenting current deaf culture. We hope today's and future generations of deaf and hearing people will enjoy stories from inside and close to the deaf community."

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications products and services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the new Sorenson ntouch^® VP videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; ntouch^® PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; ntouch^® Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via mobile devices; and Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay^®), a text-to-speech relay service.

August 16, 2012 Sorenson Communications Announces its Newest Technology: ntouch for Mac

Users Enjoy Familiar Experience, Convenient SVRS Access

SALT LAKE CITY (Aug. 16, 2012) - Today, Sorenson Communications announced ntouch^® for Mac^®, which now empowers Mac and Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^® ) users who are deaf to enjoy relayed calls from anywhere there is an internet connection. ntouch for Mac provides SVRS users who have a Mac with a built-in camera or added web cam, with convenient, on-the-go SVRS.

Like all Sorenson products, ntouch for Mac is available to Sorenson customers at no cost. Customers can download the free application from the App Store. Sorenson is the first and only VRS provider with a VRS application available on the App Store.

"Deaf users of Apple^® products will enjoy the easy and familiar experience of accessing SVRS on their Mac desktop and laptop computers. We know schools and educational institutions have been looking forward to enjoying SVRS on Mac computers," notes Pat Nola, President and CEO of Sorenson Communications, the leading provider of Video Relay Service. "ntouch for Mac joins the ntouch suite of products, which include ntouch VP^® videophone, ntouch PC^® and ntouch Mobile^® for iOS^® and Android^® phones. In an ongoing effort to provide the most up-to-date, functionally-equivalent technology for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, Sorenson is pleased to offer this newest ntouch technology."

The most popular features of the ntouch VP videophone are also available with ntouch for Mac. They include:

The ability to import Sorenson VP contacts
Sorenson Video Center
Deaf SignMail^®
Call Waiting
Sorenson HD
Multiple phone numbers per contact
Home and business network friendly
Fast Search from the Home screen
Phonebook with search function
Call history with search function
Block List
Emergency 911 service

For more information about ntouch for Mac, visit www.svrs.com/ntouch.

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications products and services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the new Sorenson ntouch^® VP videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; ntouch^® PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; ntouch^® Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via mobile devices; and Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay^®), a text-to-speech relay service.

July 26, 2012 Sorenson Communications Presents Newest Technology and Video Center Celebrities at DeafNation World Expo

SALT LAKE CITY (July 26, 2012) - Sorenson Communications will offer hands-on demonstrations of Sorenson ntouch^® technology at DeafNation World Expo, July 31 through Aug. 1, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, 3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South, in Las Vegas, Nev. Expo hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is free, but requires advance registration at www.deafnation.com.

Expo attendees who stop by the Sorenson Communications booth will also enjoy games, the chance to enter a daily iPad^® giveaway and presentations by the celebrities who appear on Sorenson Video Center programs. The newly-enhanced Sorenson Video Center offers information and entertainment produced especially for deaf audiences. The Video Center is available to customers who use Sorenson products for home, mobile and PCs.

Video Center celebrities will appear in the Sorenson booth at the following times.

July 30, 2 p.m.: Sean Forbes, co-founder of Deaf Performing Arts Network (D-PAN), will share how he translates lyrics into American Sign Language music videos for the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.

Forbes will also perform at 3:30 p.m. on the DeafNation stage.

July 31, 2 p.m.: Meet "Deaf Perspective" host and actress Deanne Bray and co-hosts Melvin Patterson and Julia Velasquez. Deaf Perspective addresses current events and deaf-related topics. The cast of Deaf Perspective will sign autographs at the Sorenson Booth at 2:30 p.m.

Aug. 1, 2 p.m.: Matthew Baker, founder of San Diego-based "Feast on This" catering, hosts the Video Center's "Cooking Simply." He will share cooking tips and tricks he has learned in the food service and restaurant businesses.

"We are looking forward to meeting old and new friends from all over the world at this year's DeafNation World Expo," notes Ron Burdett, Sorenson Vice President of Community Relations. "Trainers in the Sorenson booth will show Expo participants the latest in Sorenson ntouch technology."

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications products and services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the new Sorenson ntouch^® VP videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; ntouch^® PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; ntouch^® Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via mobile devices; and Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay^®), a text-to-speech relay service.

June 7, 2012 Newly-Enhanced Sorenson Video Center Offers Exclusive Programming

SALT LAKE CITY (June7, 2012) - Today, Sorenson Communications announced its newly-enhanced Video Center, which now offers expanded programming produced specifically for deaf audiences. The informational and entertaining Video Center content is available to all users of Sorenson's videophones and ntouch^® products for home, mobile and PCs.

"The enhanced Video Center ushers in a new era of videophone functionality coupled with innovative programming. Video Center content provides Sorenson customers a greater choice in viewing programming in what, for many, is their native language, American Sign Language (ASL). This supports Sorenson's commitment to giving back to the deaf community," says Pat Nola, President and CEO of Sorenson Communications, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing people who use sign language to communicate.

Enhanced Video Center programming now includes "Deaf Kids Network (DKN™)" which continues to offer the popular children's show "Storytime" as well as "Hangout." The new "Hangout" program is targeted to preteens and teenagers and focuses on ASL, deaf history and topics related to growing up deaf in today's world. "SIGNetwork™ (SN)" introduces "Cooking Simply" and episodes of "Deaf Perspective," which addresses current events and deaf-related subjects.

In addition to informational and entertaining content, the Video Center also offers deaf SVRS^® customers:

Videos produced in American Sign Language (ASL)
A wide variety of rich programming available at no cost
Multiple channels, programs and episodes
Programming options similar to video-on-demand systems
Technology and regulatory announcements
Educational, entertainment and technical support videos

The Video Center is a first-of-its-kind offering, giving Sorenson customers a central location to access communication, information and entertainment. For more information on the newly enhanced Video Center, visit www.svrs.com/ntouch.

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications products and services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the new Sorenson ntouch^® VP videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; ntouch^® PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; ntouch^® Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via mobile devices; and Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay^®), a text-to-speech relay service.

May 30, 2012 Sorenson Communications Unveils New Videophone Booth at Lexington School for the Deaf

JACKSON HEIGHTS, N.Y. (May 30, 2012) - Today, Sorenson Communications unveiled a new student-designed videophone booth containing a Sorenson ntouch^® VP, a videophone that empowers deaf and hard-of-hearing people to communicate with hearing people. The unveiling took place at Lexington School for the Deaf, part of the largest organization serving the deaf community in the State of New York.

Earlier this year, Sorenson sponsored a contest that invited Lexington students, grades nine through 12, to submit designs for a new videophone booth for their school. Students voted to determine winning booth designs from each grade. The five winning designs were reviewed and judges determined an overall winner: Stephanie, a graduating senior. Her design, among other ideas, incorporated images of a red apple, the New York City skyline, the school, its logo and the American Sign Language sign for "I love you." Sorenson Communications presented Stephanie with the grand prize, an iPad^®2, and the five runners-up each with a Kindle Fire^®.

As part of the unveiling ceremony, Stephanie placed the first two calls, using the Sorenson ntouch VP, to Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and to the award-winning Off Broadway star Russell Harvard from the hit show "Tribes."

"Sorenson is pleased to present this creative videophone booth - and the empowering technology it contains, to the students of Lexington School for the Deaf," notes Dave Johnson, Sorenson Communications Vice President of Outreach. "Over the last decade, video relay technology has revolutionized communication for the deaf. Today's students use it daily as part of their communication routine. We are pleased to provide this technology to Lexington."

Sorenson Communications' ntouch^® suite of products also includes ntouch^® Mobile and ntouch^® PC, mobile and portable SVRS options that empower users to conduct VRS calls while on the go and away from their videophones.

The trademarks used herein are property of their respective owners.

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications products and services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the new Sorenson ntouch^® VP videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; ntouch^® PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; ntouch^® Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via mobile devices; and Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay^®), a text-to-speech relay service.

May 7, 2012 Sorenson Communications Applauds Confirmation of Two New Commissioners to Federal Communications Commission

SALT LAKE CITY (May 7, 2012)-Sorenson Communications^®, the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Services (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, applauded today's Senate confirmation of Ajit Pai and Jessica Rosenworcel to serve on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Congress has directed the FCC to ensure that the telecommunications services available to the deaf and hearing-impaired are functionally equivalent to services available to the hearing. As Americans enjoy the benefits of broadband services and other technological developments, this statutory mandate has become more important than ever to the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

Mike Maddix, Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Sorenson Communications, commented: "Sorenson is pleased that the FCC is now fully staffed with commissioners. We congratulate the two new commissioners, Ajit Pai and Jessica Rosenworcel, and look forward to working with them on important issues related to relay services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing."

Sorenson Communications' mission is to break down communication barriers by offering the highest-quality communication products and services to all deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. The Sorenson videophones, ntouch^® suite of products and Sorenson Video Relay Service^® have revolutionized communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing people who use sign language to communicate and ushered in a new era of communications for them.

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications products and services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the new Sorenson ntouch^® VP videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; ntouch^® PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; ntouch^® Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via mobile devices; and Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay^®), a text-to-speech relay service.

February 23, 2012 Sorenson ntouch Mobile Adds Support for Additional Android Devices

SALT LAKE CITY (Feb. 23, 2012) - Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing people who use sign language to communicate, today announced it has added five new mobile devices to its list of those currently supported by ntouch^® Mobile, Sorenson Communications' mobile VRS solution. The ntouch Mobile app can be downloaded from the Android™ Market at no cost. Using ntouch Mobile on any of these devices empowers deaf people to access VRS to communicate with hearing people through a video relay interpreter - anytime, anywhere.

The five new mobile devices now supported by ntouch Mobile are:
HTC EVO™ 3D from Sprint^®
HTC EVO Design 4G™ from Sprint
Samsung^® Galaxy™ Nexus™ from Verizon^®
Samsung Galaxy S™ II from AT&T^® and T-Mobile^®
Samsung EPIC™ 4G Touch from Sprint

Sorenson Communications' ntouch Mobile now supports a total of 16 Android and iPhone^® devices. The complete list of supported devices can be viewed by visiting www.svrs.com/ntouchmobile.

"Sorenson Communications is pleased to provide functionally-equivalent technologies that offer added convenience and safety for our customers. We strive to provide products that will best fit our customers' lives and choices for communication," says Sorenson Communications Product Manager Ricky Simmons.

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications products and services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the new Sorenson ntouch^® VP videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; ntouch^® PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; ntouch^® Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via mobile devices; and Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay^®), a text-to-speech relay service.

January 6, 2012 Sorenson-Sponsored Interpreting Workshops Provide Needed CEUs, Benefit Local Deaf Communities

SALT LAKE CITY – (Jan. 6, 2012) Today, Sorenson Communications®, the largest employer of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters in the U.S., announced that in 2011, the company sponsored 550 interpreting workshops for ASL interpreters, providing an opportunity for interpreters to earn Continuing Education Credits (CEUs). The CEUs are needed to maintain professional certification status and continue to work as professional ASL interpreters. Sorenson provides these workshops for employees as well as for community interpreters who are not employed by Sorenson Communications.

In an effort to advance national interpreting standards, Sorenson, the leading Video Relay Service (VRS) provider for those who use sign language to communicate, dedicates resources to the ongoing professional development of Sorenson interpreters as well as interpreters throughout the country.

Chris Wakeland, Sorenson Communications Vice President of Interpreting, notes, “Sorenson is committed to the success and professional development of all ASL interpreters. For this reason, we continually look for ways to enhance interpreters’ skills so we can better serve our customers and the greater deaf community.”

Last year, through Sorenson-sponsored workshops, about 150,000 CEUs were awarded to interpreters who qualified. As in past years, the workshops also provided a channel for interpreters to donate to local communities and deaf groups, including schools, youth camps, sports and senior clubs and interpreter organizations. More than $10,000 was donated to local groups by interpreters attending 2011 CEU workshops.

Amy Kalmus, Sorenson Communications Director of Professional Development, explains that Sorenson encourages all interpreters to pursue and maintain the highest standards of excellence. “Due to the nature of the work in the VRS setting, continued professional development and growth is essential to providing top-quality customer service. Providing training opportunities for employee and non-employee interpreters allows Sorenson to support the customers that use VRS. Most Sorenson interpreters work part-time schedules, which allow them to also perform community interpreting work and apply the training they receive through Sorenson to their work within their local communities.”

Kalmus explains ongoing professional development for ASL interpreters is critical in order to keep pace with the rigorous demands placed on them. Hundreds of Sorenson-sponsored workshops are planned for 2012 for VIs working in Sorenson VRS centers. Sorenson will continue to offer workshops for non-Sorenson employees as well. “We look forward to providing a variety of workshops that will benefit interpreters across the country – and empower them to meets the needs of any given interpreting situation,” Kalmus says.

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications products and services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the new Sorenson ntouch^® VP videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; ntouch^® PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; ntouch^® Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via mobile devices; and Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay^®), a text-to-speech relay service.

2011 Press Releases

November 14, 2011 Local Company Sponsors Internet ASL- Music Video Sensation

SALT LAKE CITY - (Nov. 14, 2011) - An internet video, sponsored by Salt Lake City-based Sorenson Communications, is making headlines by combining music and American Sign Language (ASL). The video, produced by the Deaf Professional Arts Network (D-PAN), features deaf children signing the lyrics to the hit song "We're Going to Be Friends," by the White Stripes. Since being posted on YouTube just two weeks ago, the video has received 300,000 views and nearly 500 comments.

The ASL "White Stripes" video features deaf or hard-of-hearing children, mostly from the Detroit area, who sign heartwarming lyrics about meeting a new friend at the beginning of the school year.

Fall is here, hear the yell
Back to school, ring the bell
Brand new shoes, walking blues
Climb the fence, books and pens
I can tell that we are going to be friends.

Ron Burdett, Sorenson Communications Vice President of Community Relations, said, "Sorenson is pleased to sponsor this beautiful video that brings signs and sounds together to bridge the deaf and hearing worlds. Sorenson seeks to do this every day through high-quality products and services."

D-PAN co-founder Sean Forbes, a deaf musician and artist, said, "We are proud to have the support of artists who want their music to be heard by everyone, and we thank the White Stripes for allowing us to use their song."

The "We're Going to Be Friends" video can be accessed at www.d-pan.org or on the Sorenson Video Center.

About D-PAN
D-PAN is 501c(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting professional development and access to the entertainment, visual and media arts fields for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. D-PAN began by creating a series of groundbreaking ASL-centric music videos which received accolades from both hearing and non-hearing audiences around the world. With millions of views collectively on YouTube, D-PAN videos have set the standard for artistic ASL interpretations of popular songs.

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications services and products for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the new Sorenson ntouch^® VP videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay), a text-to-speech relay service; ntouch^® PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; and ntouch^® Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via a mobile device.

October 7, 2011 Sorenson Communications Announces Eagerly-Anticipated Deaf SignMail

FREMONT, Calif. (Oct. 7, 2011) - Sorenson Communications, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing people who use sign language to communicate, today announced important updates to its ntouch^® PC product. Included in the new ntouch PC 2.0 features is Deaf SignMail^®, which empowers ntouch PC users to record and send as well as receive video messages.

"For the first time, Sorenson customers can now leave each other messages in their native language - sign language," notes Dale Pederson, Sorenson Communications Product Manager. "This long-awaited innovation empowers deaf callers to send and receive video messages to deaf family, friends and business associates."

New ntouch PC 2.0 features and options for Sorenson^® VRS (SVRS^®) customers include:

Deaf SignMail - Video messages can be sent from ntouch PC and received by all Sorenson users.
Block List - Unwanted calls and SignMails from specific numbers can be blocked.
Spanish VRS - Contacts can be designated as Spanish-speaking for direct routing through a Sorenson Spanish-speaking interpreter.
Fast Search - A number or contact name entered on the ntouch PC home screen brings up all matching entries from the ntouch PC Phonebook.
Multiple phone numbers for Contacts
Audio Ringer
USB Flasher Compatibility
The ability to minimize ntouch PC to the Windows^® system tray
The ability to automatically start ntouch PC when starting Windows

Earlier this week, Sorenson Communications announced the new ntouch^® VP videophone, which also provides new features and options for SVRS callers.

For more information on ntouch VP or any of Sorenson's ntouch suite of products, visit www.svrs.com/ntouch.

October 5, 2011 Sorenson Communications Introduces ntouch VP Videophone for Deaf Callers

Deaf SignMail Offers Functionally-Equivalent Option

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 5, 2011) - Sorenson Communications, the leading provider of Video Relay Services (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing people who use sign language to communicate, today announced its new ntouch® VP videophone. The announcement was made at Gallaudet University, one of the premiere educational institutions for deaf students in the world.

Using an ntouch VP videophone, a television and a high-speed internet connection, deaf individuals connect to a nationwide network of American Sign Language video interpreters who contact hearing individuals and then relay conversations between the two parties.

The new ntouch VP combines the best elements of Sorenson's award-winning VP-200® videophone with new features, including Deaf SignMail®, which empowers ntouch VP users to record, send and receive video messages.

"Sorenson was the first to create a videophone designed specifically for deaf users. Since then, our customers requested the option to leave a signed video message," notes Sorenson Communications President and CEO Pat Nola. "Deaf SignMail is Sorenson's response to that request. We've fully integrated Deaf SignMail into ntouch VP so it's easy to send and receive video messages to deaf family and friends."

Other new or enhanced features of the ntouch VP videophone include:

A new deaf-friendly user interface
State-of-the art video quality with Sorenson HD
Searchable contacts in Phonebook
Camera unit that mounts on any TV
LightRing® visual caller ID
Improved remote control
Sorenson Video Center
Voice Carry Over (VCO)

For more information on ntouch VP or any of Sorenson's ntouch suite of products, visit www.svrs.com/ntouch.

September 29, 2011 ntouch Mobile Adds Support for Three Mobile Devices

SALT LAKE CITY - (Sept. 29, 2011) - Sorenson Communications today announced that ntouch^® Mobile, Sorenson's mobile VRS solution, now supports the Samsung^® Sidekick^® 4G, Samsung Epic™ 4G with a data plan through Sprint^® and the Samsung Galaxy S™ 4G with a data plan through T-Mobile^®. The addition of these three devices brings to 10 the number of devices now supported by ntouch Mobile. The ntouch Mobile app is available at no cost to Sorenson users.

Sorenson Communications created ntouch Mobile as a communication solution for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who wish to place and receive Sorenson VRS^® (SVRS^®) and point-to-point calls while on the go. With the forward-facing technology of Android^® and iPhone^® devices, it is now possible for deaf people to communicate in their native language - sign language - on a mobile device while away from their home videophones.

"Sorenson continues to be a leader in deaf communication," says Ricky Simmons, Sorenson product manager. "We continually strive to provide the most practical and reliable communication options to our customers. These include high-resolution video technology, user-friendly software interface and Video Relay Service."

To date, the ntouch Mobile app supports the following Android and iOS^® mobile devices:

Samsung Epic 4G with a Sprint data plan
Samsung Galaxy S 4G with a T-Mobile data plan
Samsung Sidekick 4G with a T-Mobile data plan
iPhone^® 4 with a data plan through AT&T^® or Verizon^®
iPod touch^® 4th generation using WiFi^®
HTC^® EVO™ 4G with a data plan through Sprint
HTC myTouch^® 4G with a data plan through T-Mobile
HTC Thunderbolt™ with a data plan through Verizon
Samsung Nexus S™ from Google^® with a data plan through T-Mobile
Samsung Nexus S 4G from Google with a data plan through Sprint

For more information about the ntouch suite of products, visit www.svrs.com/ntouch.

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications services and products for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the Sorenson VP-200^® videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay), a text-to-speech relay service; ntouch™ PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; and ntouch™ Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via a mobile device.

September 15, 2011 All Welcome at the 2011 Deaf & Hard of Hearing Festival

SALT LAKE CITY - Sept. 15, 2011 The 2011 Deaf & Hard of Hearing Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, located at 5709 S. 1500 West, in Taylorsville. The general public is invited to participate in the festival, which is sponsored by Sorenson Communications, the largest provider of Video Relay Service for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. There is no charge to attend the festival.

An increasing number of people are interested in the services provided by the Sanderson Center. Approximately 8.8 percent of Utahans have hearing loss severe enough to interfere with communication, and 10 percent have enough hearing loss to justify wearing a hearing aid. And, for a variety of reasons, the numbers are growing. An article in the August 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that one in every five teens now has at least slight hearing loss which can affect learning. Military.com reports that hearing damage is the number-one injury that affects returning military. Age-related hearing loss is becoming more prevalent as America's largest demographic, the baby boomers, enter their senior years.

More than 1,200 people attended the first biannual Deaf & Hard of Hearing Festival, held in 2009. The Sanderson Center is expecting more than 1,500 participants this year. Festival attendees at this year's event will enjoy various food booths, informative assistive hearing technology demonstrations and arts and crafts products to view and purchase. The festival will also feature games and activities for children and families and an evening film screening of the Mark Wood comedy "Versa Effect," presented in American Sign Language and hosted by the Utah Association for the Deaf.

"The Deaf & Hard of Hearing Festival offers a window into the rich culture of deaf and hard-of-hearing people," says Marilyn Call, Director of the Sanderson Center. "Everyone - hearing, deaf and hard-of-hearing are encouraged to attend."

For more information about the Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Festival, send an email to emccowan@utah.gov or call 801-657-5216 (videophone).

About the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The Sanderson Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is a one-stop center for a variety of programs and services for Deaf and hard of hearing adults and their families. Services are provided with barrier-free communication. All staff know American Sign Language (ASL). Classes and meetings are presented in ASL and captioning so all are included in the communication loop. Services include counseling, Hard of Hearing adjustment training, case management, Vocational Rehabilitation counseling, life-long learning education, interpreter training/certification and a senior citizens program. An Assistive Technology demonstration room with a loan program is a highlight as well as a high school size gymnasium for deaf sports and large activities.

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications services and products for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the Sorenson VP-200^® videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay), a text-to-speech relay service; ntouch™ PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; and ntouch™ Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via a mobile device.

August 30, 2011 New Salt Lake City Service to Support Millions of Americans with Hearing Loss

SALT LAKE CITY (Aug. 30, 2011) - Currently, 36 million Americans, about 17 percent of the U.S. population, have some degree of hearing loss. With the baby boomers entering their senior years, that number is expected to double by the year 2030.

At a press conference today, Salt Lake City-based Sorenson Communications^® announced CaptionCall^®, a new service that will benefit millions of Americans with hearing loss. The service is for anyone who has difficulty hearing on the telephone.

Similar to captioned television, CaptionCall uses innovative voice recognition technology and a transcription service to quickly display written captions of what callers say on a large, easy-to-read screen. The free, Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-funded service is delivered through the state-of-the-art CaptionCall telephone, which works like a regular phone. Customers make and receive calls as they always have. All that is required to use CaptionCall is a high-speed internet connection, a standard home phone line and an ordinary home electrical outlet.

"Virtually anyone with hearing loss faces the challenge of communicating by phone," notes Sorenson Communications President and CEO Pat Nola. "The ability to communicate by phone empowers people to stay connected, remain independent and call with confidence. CaptionCall helps keep personal and business relationships alive and vibrant."

CaptionCall facts:

Callers can keep their current phone number and their phone service carrier with no increase or fees added to their monthly bill.
CaptionCall conversations are secure through an FCC-regulated, encrypted transcription process.
CaptionCall offers customized audio with an adjustable ringer and handset volume, similar to an amplified phone. CaptionCall also offers customizable frequency amplification.
Text size is adjustable so that every word of every call is clearly displayed and can be read (even by those with poor eyesight) on a large display screen.
CaptionCall offers location flexibility. The CaptionCall phone can be set up using a wired or wireless internet connection.
CaptionCall is a free service with ongoing customer support.
CaptionCall is compatible with most hearing aids.

More information about CaptionCall can be found by visiting www.captioncall.com.

About CaptionCall
CaptionCall (www.captioncall.com) is a revolutionary new telephone service for anyone who has trouble hearing on the phone. Similar to captioned television, CaptionCall uses voice recognition technology and a transcription service to quickly provide written captions of what callers say on a large, easy-to-read screen. The CaptionCall phone, combined with the free, FCC-funded service and friendly customer support, helps people everywhere communicate by phone with confidence. CaptionCall is another innovative solution from Sorenson Communications, the worldwide leader in telecommunication relay services.

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications services and products for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the Sorenson VP-200^® videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay), a text-to-speech relay service; ntouch™ PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; and ntouch™ Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via a mobile device.

August 23, 2011 Sorenson ntouch Mobile Now Supports iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4th Generation

SALT LAKE CITY (Aug. 23, 2011) - Sorenson Communications® today announced that ntouch® Mobile, Sorenson's mobile VRS solution, now supports the iPhone® 4 and iPod touch® 4th Generation. Sorenson customers must have a data plan from AT&T® or Verizon® to download ntouch Mobile to their iPhone 4. To download ntouch Mobile to their iPod touch, customers must have access to a Wi-Fi connection.

Sorenson Communications is the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing people who use sign language to communicate.

In addition to the many mobile services Sorenson has offered in the past, such as Video Center with Sign Mail®, Contacts List, Call History and E911, the new app offers two new features: Sorenson Directory, which provides GPS-based number searches based on the caller's location and one-touch dialing to frequently-used phone numbers; and Share Location, which empowers mobile callers to share their current location via video with the call recipient. Share Location is especially valuable for deaf or hard-of-hearing callers when contacting services that need the caller's location, such as calling for a taxi, placing an order or scheduling a delivery.

As in the past, the ntouch Mobile app provides deaf-communication access for SVRS or point-to-point calling using a mobile device with a forward-facing camera. The ntouch Mobile app for Apple's iOS touch is free and offers full SVRS capabilities as well as access to the industry's highest-quality American Sign Language interpreters. To use ntouch Mobile for iOS, users must download the ntouch Mobile for iOS app from the Apple App Store and request a Sorenson ntouch Mobile account by visiting www.svrs.com/ntouch.

"Sorenson is pleased to offer another outstanding mobile product to our VRS customers. At Sorenson, we take pride in creating products that are reliable, convenient and functionally-equivalent," says Ricky Simmons, Sorenson Communications Product Manager.

To learn more about ntouch Mobile, visit www.svrs.com/ntouch.

* Trademarks used herein are property of their respective owners.

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications services and products for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the Sorenson VP-200^® videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay), a text-to-speech relay service; ntouch™ PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; and ntouch™ Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via a mobile device.

August 2, 2011 Sorenson ntouch Mobile Adds Support for New Android Devices

SALT LAKE CITY (Aug. 3, 2011) - Sorenson Communications®, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing people who use sign language to communicate, today announced support for the HTC myTouch™ 4G and the HTC Thunderbolt™ Android™ devices.

The ntouch Mobile app turns an Android device with a forward-facing camera, such as the myTouch 4G and Thunderbolt, into portable videophones, providing mobile deaf-communication capability for VRS or point-to-point calling. With ntouch Mobile, deaf and hard-of-hearing people have communication access every day, everywhere. More information can be found at www.svrs.com/ntouchmobile.

In the past six months, Sorenson has announced support for four Android devices, including the HTC Evo®, the Nexus S™, the HTC myTouch 4G and HTC Thunderbolt.

"We continue to add support for new devices to provide mobile communication for as many deaf and hard-of-hearing people as possible," says Ricky Simmons, Sorenson Product Manager. "Sorenson will continue to add many more communication options for our customers in the coming months."

Like all Sorenson products, ntouch Mobile includes the Sorenson Video Center with SignMail®, Call History and E911.

For more information about Sorenson's full line of deaf and hard-of-hearing communication products and services, visit www.svrs.com.

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications services and products for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the Sorenson VP-200^® videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay), a text-to-speech relay service; ntouch™ PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; and ntouch™ Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via a mobile device.

June 15, 2011 New Services and Android Device Available for Sorenson ntouch Mobile

SALT LAKE CITY (June 15, 2011) - Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing people who use sign language to communicate, today announced it has added support for the Nexus S™ with a data plan from T-Mobile^®, to its mobile VRS application, ntouch™ Mobile.

The ntouch Mobile app provides mobile deaf-communication access for VRS or point-to-point calling, using certain Android mobile devices that contain a forward-facing camera. Now, people who communicate using sign language can use VRS outside of the traditional venues of home and office. The ntouch Mobile app empowers them to communicate anytime, anywhere.

Sorenson has also added several enhanced features that make ntouch Mobile more convenient for users, including:

Call length shown in Call History
Missed Call notification recorded when the mobile device is off-line or turned off
On-screen display of the number of rings
On-screen display of the SVRS Video Interpreter's ID number
Improved call-connection performance

"Sorenson continues to provide new and innovative communication options for our customers as part of our product suite," says Ricky Simmons, Sorenson Product Manager. "Sorenson employees constantly focus on developing the most functionally-equivalent communication tools for our deaf and hard-of-hearing customers. These additional services are just the beginning."

To learn more about the new ntouch Mobile for Android features, visit www.svrs.com/ntouchmobile.

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications services and products for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the Sorenson VP-200^® videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay), a text-to-speech relay service; ntouch™ PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; and ntouch™ Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via a mobile device.

May 7, 2011 Sorenson Communications Announces Winners of Second Annual "Express Yourself" Video Contest

SALT LAKE CITY (May 7, 2011) - Friday evening, Sorenson Communications announced the winners of its second annual "Express Yourself" Video Contest at an awards party, held at the California School for the Deaf. The announcement party, sponsored by Sorenson Communications, was held in connection with the DeafNation Expo Riverside, a two-day event that brought together hundreds of local deaf people.

The "Express Yourself" winner of the "Youth" category is Daniella, from Chicago. The winner in the "General" category is Melissa Malzkuhn, from Washington, D.C. Melissa was assisted in the creation of her video by Megan Erasmus and Amanda Sortwell, also from Washington, D.C. The winner in the "Sorenson Employee" category is Robert Giuntoli, from Austin, Texas. The winner in the "Youth" category received a check for $1,000, and the winners in the "General" and "Sorenson Employee" categories received checks for $1,500. All will have their videos shown through the Sorenson Communications Video Center.

Winning entries were selected from dozens submitted and were judged on:

The incorporation of the contest theme, "Express Yourself"
Originality
Creativity
Use of sign language and/or representations of deaf culture
Cinematography and editing

"Sorenson Communications was very pleased with the response to this year's Video Contest and with the quality of the submissions," notes Ron Burdett, Sorenson Communications Vice President of Community Relations. "As the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS), Sorenson also recognizes the importance of preserving the deaf cultural tradition of storytelling. Sorenson recognizes the power and beauty inherent in sign language. We are committed to preserving this magnificent language and documenting current deaf culture through video."

Those interested in participating in Sorenson events, including the "Express Yourself" Video Contest, can stay informed by visiting www.svrs.com often.

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications services and products for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the Sorenson VP-200^® videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay), a text-to-speech relay service; ntouch™ PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; and ntouch™ Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via a mobile device.

April 8, 2011 Sorenson Communications Applauds FCC Fraud Order and FNPRM

SALT LAKE CITY (April 8, 2011) - Sorenson Communications, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing people who use sign language to communicate, today praised the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Video Relay Service (VRS) Fraud Order. The order, which further defines specific VRS rules and practices for VRS providers, was issued April 6, 2011.

"Sorenson recognizes the efforts of the FCC to secure and protect the integrity of the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund," says Paul Kershisnik, Sorenson Communications Chief Marketing Officer. "VRS providers, including Sorenson Communications, are charged to provide access to functionally-equivalent communication services for deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans in an efficient and ethical manner. FCC guidelines like those included in this latest Fraud Order, which define appropriate VRS practices, are imperative for the health of the VRS industry and are important efforts to secure and protect the integrity of the Fund."

The order can be accessed by visiting http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-11-54A1.pdf.

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications services and products for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the Sorenson VP-200^® videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay), a text-to-speech relay service; ntouch™ PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; and ntouch™ Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via a mobile device.

February 1, 2011 Sorenson Communications Announces New Software and Mobile Solutions for Sign Language Users

Rochester, N.Y. (Feb. 1, 2011) - Today, Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing people who use sign language to communicate, announced two new products that will make VRS accessible to deaf individuals wherever they are: ntouch™ PC and ntouch™ Mobile. Combined with the Sorenson videophone, these products enhance Video Relay Service (VRS) and point-to-point calling options.

"Sorenson is pleased to continue the tradition of providing innovative communication technologies for deaf sign language users," says Sorenson Communications President and CEO Pat Nola, "These empowering products are called 'ntouch' because they keep you in touch with everyone in your life."

With ntouch PC, deaf VRS users can turn their PCs into VPs. This empowers them to use SVRS at home, at work or on the go, whether they are in airports, libraries or hotels. ntouch PC works anywhere there is a high-speed internet or Wi-Fi connection and is business and home network-friendly. ntouch PC includes popular features of the Sorenson videophone, such as the Sorenson Video Center with SignMail^®, Call History and E911. ntouch PC also introduces new features that allow users to search Contacts and import their VP-200 Contacts list. ntouch PC is free to all Sorenson customers.

"ntouch Mobile is Sorenson's solution for true mobility in Video Relay Service (VRS). It's a VP that fits in your pocket," explains Nola. Using a mobile phone with a front-facing camera, like the EVO, gives users the freedom to make VRS and point-to-point calls anywhere. Like all Sorenson products, ntouch Mobile includes the Sorenson Video Center with SignMail, Call History and E911. And, like ntouch PC, users can search Contacts list and import their VP-200 Contacts. The ntouch Mobile application is free.

"ntouch PC and ntouch Mobile bring deaf individuals closer to communication technologies that are functionally-equivalent to those the hearing community has enjoyed for years," says Nola.

More information on ntouch PC and ntouch Mobile can be found at www.sorensonvrs.com/ntouch.

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications services and products for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the Sorenson VP-200^® videophone, designed especially for use by deaf individuals; Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay), a text-to-speech relay service; ntouch™ PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; and ntouch™ Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via a mobile device.

January 13, 2011 Sorenson Communications Announces Second Annual Video Contest

Salt Lake City (Jan. 13, 2011) - Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced sponsorship of its second annual "Express Yourself" Video Contest.

"Sorenson recognizes the power of visual communication-especially the power inherent in sign language. The goal of the contest is to encourage the creation of video content that contains sign language, is deaf-related or contains representations of deaf culture," says Ron Burdett, Sorenson Communications Vice President of Community Relations. "We were pleased with the response to last year's contest. We look forward to even more entries this year from aspiring filmmakers."

There are three categories for entrants:

Youth (under 18 years of age)
General (18 years of age and older)
Employees of Sorenson Communications

The winner of the Youth category will receive $1,000. Winners of the other two categories will receive $1,500 each. Their winning entries will also be considered for public screening or be shown through the Sorenson Communications Video Center.

Entrants may submit any genre of original video, including film and animation. Videos will be judged solely on the following criteria:

Incorporation of the theme "Express Yourself"
Originality
Creativity
Use of sign language and/or representations of deaf culture
Cinematography and editing

Entries will be accepted from Jan. 13, 2011, through April 1, 2011. Participants may submit more than one entry. To obtain an "Express Yourself" Video Contest entry form and view the Official Rules, visit www.sorensonvrs.com/express.

About Sorenson Communications
Sorenson Communications^® (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communications services and products. The company's offerings include Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), the highest-quality video interpreting service; the Sorenson VP-200^® videophone; and Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay), enabling text-to-speech relay communication.

January 7, 2011 ASL Interpreters Gain Needed CEUs in Sorenson-Sponsored Workshops

SALT LAKE CITY - (Jan. 7, 2010) Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf individuals who use sign language to communicate and the largest employer of ASL interpreters in the U.S., today announced that from January through October 2010, the company sponsored more than 350 interpreting workshops for ASL interpreters. The Sorenson-sponsored workshops provide an opportunity for interpreters to earn Continuing Education Credits (CEUs), which they need to maintain professional certification status and continue to work as professional ASL interpreters. Sorenson provides these workshops for employees as well as community interpreters who are not employed by Sorenson Communications.

"Sorenson dedicates resources to the professional development of interpreters at Sorenson Communications, as well as interpreters throughout the country, in an effort to advance national interpreting standards," says Chris Wakeland, Sorenson Communications Vice President of Interpreting. "The number of master-level interpreters is very small. We are constantly trying to grow this pool to better serve our customers and the greater deaf community."

In 2010, more than 4,000 interpreters attended Sorenson-sponsored workshops, earning more than 22,000 CEUs. The workshops also provided a channel for interpreters to donate to local communities and deaf organizations.

According to Amy Kalmus, Sorenson Communications Director of Professional Development, Sorenson encourages all interpreters to pursue and maintain the highest standards of excellence. Kalmus says that due to the nature of the work in the VRS setting, continued professional development and growth is essential to providing top-quality customer service. Providing training opportunities for employee and non-employee interpreters allows Sorenson to support the customer base that use VRS. Most Sorenson interpreters work part-time schedules, which allow them to also perform community interpreting work.

According to Kalmus, Sorenson Communications already has hundreds of workshops scheduled for 2011 which will benefit the interpreter base across the country. "ASL Interpreting is a dynamic profession, and those working in the field must be nimble enough to meet the needs of the situation in which they are interpreting," says Kalmus. "Continued learning is an integral part in keeping pace with the demands placed on ASL interpreters."

2010 Press Releases

December 14, 2010 BlackBerry App Now Available from Sorenson Communications

SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 14, 2010)-Sorenson Communications, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced its Video Center app is now available through the BlackBerry^® App World for Bold™, Bold2™ and Tour™ cell phone models. The Sorenson Video Center app empowers Sorenson VRS^® (SVRS^®) users to access Video Center content, including SignMail^® messages, videos and Storytime videos for children on their BlackBerry^® while on-the-go. The BlackBerry app is significant because it brings deaf cell phone users one step closer to communications that are functionally-equivalent to those enjoyed by hearing individuals.

The Video Center is a one-of-a-kind, central information repository that is typically accessed through a stationary Sorenson VP-200^® videophone. The Video Center offers deaf individuals access to SignMail, a service which is similar to voice messaging, except that messages are recorded in American Sign Language (ASL). The Video Center also offers informational updates and entertainment videos which are all filmed using ASL. The Video Center app offers Sorenson users mobility and connectivity. The app contains a video tutorial to help users get started as well as provides answers to questions they might have about using the app.

The Video Center app is available at no cost from BlackBerry^® App World or at http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/20160.

More information is available on the Sorenson Communications VRS website at www.sorensonvrs.com.

November 4, 2010 Sorenson Communications' "Storytime" to Delight All Audiences

New Videos Offer Classic Children’s Stories in American Sign Language

SALT LAKE CITY (Nov. 4, 2010) - Today, Sorenson Communications announced it has begun distribution of "Storytime" videos. Released to those with access to the Sorenson Video Center through Sorenson VP-200® videophones, Sorenson's new Deaf Kids Network™ (DKN™) Storytime will be available for individuals and schools. Like all Sorenson services, DKN's Storytime will be provided at no cost to Sorenson users.

"New videophone functionality makes it possible for Sorenson to provide informational and creative content to Sorenson users," says Pat Nola, Sorenson Communications President and CEO. "Capturing timeless children's stories on film and in sign language supports and demonstrates Sorenson's commitment to the preservation of ASL."

All Storytime videos are signed in ASL and include charming illustrations. Several children's favorites, "Three Billy Goats Gruff," "The Milkmaid and Her Pail" and "The Lion and the Mouse" have already been delivered through the Video Center.

"The new DKN Storytime videos are presented in a fun and family-friendly way," says John Peebler, Sorenson Communications Director of Advertising and Communications. "They come from various childhood classics, such as Aesop's Fables and the Brothers Grimm and are really meant to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. Given the long-standing tradition of storytelling in deaf culture, we hope Storytime will be very well-received."

Sorenson Video Relay Service® (SVRS®) users who have downloaded the Sorenson Video Center App on their iPhone® or on an iPod touch® will also be able to access DKN's Storytime videos. (The Video Center App is available at no cost from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore.)

October 27, 2010 Sorenson Communications Responds to User Requests by Announcing New IP Relay Services

SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 27, 2010)-Sorenson Communications, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced the launch of Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay^®) Messages and Outbound Caller I.D. The introduction of these applications is in direct response to requests from Sorenson users.

SIPRelay is a service that Sorenson Communications provides to its users at no cost that empowers deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to place and receive text-based relay calls from their PC or mobile device to any standard telephone user in the United States and its territories. A Sorenson Call Assistant (CA) relays the conversation between the deaf or hard-of-hearing person and the standard telephone user.

SIPRelay Messages is significant in that it provides deaf individuals with communication technology that is functionally equivalent to that used by hearing individuals. SIPRelay Messages empowers deaf and hard-of-hearing people to communicate while on-the-go and away from their home videophones. With SIPRelay Messages, users can now be notified when they have missed a call from a hearing individual. They can also receive text-based messages, delivered by the CA, to the email address linked to their Sorenson user accounts.

For the first time, Sorenson is also now offering user specific Outbound Caller I.D. for SIPRelay users. Outbound Caller I.D. empowers hearing call recipients to view the SIPRelay user's telephone number on their telephone's caller I.D. system when receiving a call.

October 6, 2010 Sorenson Communications Announces IEP Award of Excellence Winner

SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 6, 2010) - Sorenson Communications^®, congratulates Douglas College, located in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, on becoming the 2010 recipient of the Sorenson VRS^® (SRVS^®) Interpreter Education Program (IEP) Award of Excellence. Sorenson Communications is the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate. This annual award includes a financial contribution and is given to IEP programs that are making meaningful contributions by expanding curriculum and responding to the ever-increasing demand for interpreters.

As the largest employer of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters in the United States and Canada, Sorenson Communications created the award to recognize IEP programs that are improving the quality of professional interpreting and advancing interpreter education to benefit the deaf community.

Cheryl Palmer, Douglas College's IEP Coordinator, says she submitted Douglas College's entry for the SVRS IEP Award because the program produces quality graduates. "Students leave the program work-ready for entry-level interpreting positions and it's common for 100 percent of our students to be employed within a few months after graduation," says Palmer. "The feedback we receive from the community about the quality of our students' internship work is extremely positive." Douglas College has the longest-standing IEP program in Canada. The program began in 1988.

Sorenson Vice President of Interpreting Chris Wakeland commends Douglas College for leading the way in Canada by fostering partnerships with the community at large that give the students an opportunity to increase their exposure to the culture and language of the Deaf. This is a critical piece often missing in IEP programs.

Says Douglas College instructor Nigel Howard: "The key to our success is our community partnerships. We meet regularly as a staff and are very supportive of students and meeting their needs. If it weren't for each of those pieces, I don't think we would be as effective as we are."

Sorenson Communications is committed to increasing the overall quality of interpreting in the United States and Canada. This is evidenced by the ongoing educational and professional development classes Sorenson provides for its interpreter employees. In 2009, Sorenson provided more than 200,000 CEUs (continuing education units) to Sorenson and community interpreters.

September 10, 2010 Sorenson Communication Invites Young Deaf Artists to Submit Their Work

SALT LAKE CITY (Sept. 9, 2010)- Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS), for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced the kickoff of its Young Artists Contest. The contest is part of Sorenson's celebration of Deaf Awareness Month, which will be commemorated on Sorenson Communications' VRS website www.svrs.com/aware throughout the month of September

The Young Artists Contest begins today, www.sorenson.com/youngart. Final submissions are due by Oct. 22, 2010. The contest encourages deaf and hard-of-hearing youth to create an artistic expression about what inspires them - their feelings about being deaf, people or things in the world around them, their dreams and aspirations for the future. The contest is open to all deaf and hard-of-hearing children who live in the United States and its territories. Participants may submit works of art on any medium that can be framed and used as wall art.

Submissions will be judged in three age categories:

5 through 10 years old
11 through 14 years old
15 through 18 years old

First-place winners in each category will receive an iPod touch^®. Second-place winners in each category will receive a Nikon^® COOLPIX L22 digital camera. Winners will also be featured in Sorenson Communications' VRS Messenger newsletter in December 2010. Art works will be permanently displayed at the VRS Interpreting Institute (VRSII), a world-class American Sign Language interpreting training facility, located at Sorenson Communications' headquarters in Salt Lake City.

"We are very excited to view these works of art from the deaf youth of America," says Carolyn Ball, Executive Director of the VRSII. "Our understanding of the feelings and perspectives of every age group in the deaf community helps us to be better interpreters."

Sorenson Communications' Deaf Awareness Month online celebration highlights many aspects of deaf history and culture. Deaf art and artists are one facet of deaf culture to be showcased during September. To learn more about deaf culture and history, visit www.svrs.com/aware.

July 26, 2010 On 20th Anniversary of ADA, Sorenson Communications Vows Continued Progress toward Fulfilling Mandates of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Salt Lake City (July 26, 2010)-On the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Sorenson Communications reaffirms its commitment to the principles of the ADA, which include providing "functionally equivalent" communications services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

Sorenson Communications is the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS), the most functionally-equivalent form of communications for the deaf and hard-of-hearing to date. Sorenson Communications developed the first videophones designed especially for deaf communication, including the award-wining Sorenson VP-200®, which is the mostly widely-used videophone used by deaf individuals in the United States today. In 2003, Sorenson launched Sorenson Video Relay Service® (SVRS®), the highest-quality relay service.

"There is still much to be done to keep pace with the many evolving communication technologies enjoyed by hearing individuals," notes Pat Nola, Sorenson Communications President and CEO. "We have come a long way from the days of the Teletypewriter (TTY), but we have not yet realized functionally-equivalent communications for the deaf. Sorenson Communications embraces the challenge and opportunity to continue to develop new, innovative technologies."

Title IV of the ADA dictates that deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals have the right to enjoy the same access to communications services as hearing people. Specifically, Title IV of the ADA mandates:

Functional Equivalency. Communication services for deaf people must be functionally equivalent to hearing individuals.
Access and Efficiency. VRS providers must provide VRS in the most cost-effective way possible. In addition, telecommunications relay services must be available to all deaf Americans, to the extent possible and in the most efficient manner.
Innovation in Technology. Improved technology must be developed.

Sorenson Communications focuses on meeting and exceeding the requirements of the ADA and is dedicated to providing cutting-edge communication services for all deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

July 23, 2010 Sorenson Communications Announces Winners of Video Contest

Las Vegas (July 23, 2010)-Last night, Sorenson Communications announced the winners of its first "Express Yourself" Video Contest at an awards party, held at the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino. The announcement party, sponsored by Sorenson Communications, was held in connection with DeafNation World Expo, an event that brings together deaf people from around the world.

The "Express Yourself" winner of the "Under 18" category is Eric Epstein, from Tucson, Ariz. The winner in the "Over 18" category is Ewa Zalewska, from McHenry, Ill. The winner in the "Sorenson Employee" category is D. Lance Pickett, from Saratoga Springs, Utah. Each winner received a trophy, a check for $1,000 and the opportunity to have their video considered for public screenings or shown through the Sorenson Communications Video Center.

Winning entries were selected from dozens submitted and were judged on:

The incorporation of the contest theme, "Express Yourself"
Originality
Creativity
Use of sign language and/or representations of deaf culture
Cinematography and editing

"Sorenson Communications was very pleased at the response to our first Video Contest," notes Ron Burdett, Sorenson Communications Vice President of Community Relations. "As the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS), Sorenson recognizes the power and beauty inherent in sign language. Sorenson is intent on helping to preserve this magnificent language and documenting deaf culture through the medium of video. We are looking forward to the contest growing even more each year."

Details of the Sorenson 2011 Video Contest, including the new theme and deadline, will be announced in early 2011. For more information, visit www.sorensonvrs.com/express.

June 29, 2010 Sorenson Communications Responds to FCC's Interim VRS Rate

SALT LAKE CITY (June 29, 2010)—Sorenson Communications has developed the most advanced, user-friendly Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) and is the industry-leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) in the United States. Efficient VRS can provide significant opportunities to the deaf and more fully integrate them into the mainstream. Among VRS providers, only Sorenson has been successful in reaching large numbers of people who are deaf.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently decided to adopt an interim rate of $5.07 a minute for providers of 500,000 minutes or more of VRS service. While an interim rate of $5.07 is an improvement over the $3.89 rate initially proposed in the April 30, 2010 FCC Public Notice, it is a significant reduction from the current VRS rate of $6.24. Sorenson is disappointed that the FCC, despite having access to the detailed audited financial materials submitted by Sorenson, chose a rate significantly below the rate that is required for Sorenson to maintain existing service levels. In light of the FCC's reduced rate, Sorenson anticipates having to make certain operational changes and cost reductions. However, Sorenson intends to do everything possible to minimize the impact of reduced service levels to VRS consumers that this FCC action necessitates. In addition, Sorenson plans to seek a stay of the rate order from the FCC and, if necessary, from a court. A stay of the current rate, if granted, would permit Sorenson to continue to maintain existing service levels.

April 20, 2010 Sorenson VRS Website More Deaf Friendly

SALT LAKE CITY (April 20, 2010) —In an ongoing effort to meet consumers' needs, Sorenson Communications^® today announced the implementation of a new design for the Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®) website that includes additional deaf-friendly content. The updated and easy-to-use website, www.sorensonvrs.com, features more videos in American Sign Language (ASL). ASL is the first language of many deaf individuals and the language in which they prefer to communicate.

Paul Kershisnik, Sorenson Communication's Chief Marketing Officer, notes, "Prior to the website update, about 20 percent of our web content was in ASL, the first language of our primary audience; and 80 percent of the content was in English. We have now switched those percentages to make information more easily accessible for our users who visit the Sorenson VRS website."

ASL videos on the new SVRS site provide detailed information about SVRS, videophone equipment, technical support, Sorenson products and services and Sorenson social media. VRS users can now access information in a way that makes more sense to them.

In addition to information about SVRS features and services, visitors to the new website can also download "Defining Moments in Deaf History" wallpaper for computers or BlackBerry^® devices.

Ron Burdett, Sorenson Communications Vice President of Community Relations, notes, "Sorenson is committed to providing content that is relevant and meaningful for the deaf community—in the language they understand best. We are very pleased to present our new website format that incorporates many interesting and informative ASL videos."

March 11, 2010 Sorenson Video Center App Now Available on App Store

SALT LAKE CITY (March 11, 2010)- Sorenson Communications, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced its Video Center App is now available on the App Store. The Sorenson Video Center App will empower Sorenson VRS^® (SVRS^®) users to access their Video Center content, including SignMail^® messages and videos, on their iPhone^® or and iPod touch^® anytime, anywhere, without using an ASL interpreter.

The Video Center is a one-of-a-kind, central location accessed through a Sorenson VP-200^® videophone. The Video Center offers deaf individuals access to SignMail - which is similar to a voice message, but recorded in sign language - as well as informational and entertainment videos, all in American Sign Language (ASL). The Video Center App contains a video tutorial to help users get started, as well as provide answers to questions they might have about using the app.

"Our app for iPhone and iPod touch is a great addition to the new technologies we are developing here at Sorenson Communications," says Mel Walker, Sorenson Communications senior director of Product Development. "Our goal is to extend services and deaf communications with unique offerings that truly benefit the deaf community. With the Video Center App, SignMail messages and other ASL videos become even more accessible."

The Video Center App is available at no cost from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

More information is available on the Sorenson Communications VRS website at www.sorensonvrs.com/vcip.

March 8, 2010 2010 Interpreter Education Program Award of Excellence Announced by Sorenson Communications

SALT LAKE CITY (March 8, 2010) - Sorenson Communications^®, the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced that submissions are now being accepted for the 2010 SVRS^® Interpreter Education Program (IEP) Award of Excellence. The annual award recognizes IEP training programs that integrate VRS tracks into their curriculum and continually improve their programs in response to the broadening communication needs of the deaf community.

The SVRS IEP Award of Excellence will be presented to an IEP that meets or exceeds specific criteria. The winning program will be awarded $10,000 to be reinvested in curriculum and training materials to strengthen already existing programs. The program will also receive sponsorship for two faculty members to attend the 2010 Conference of Interpreter Trainers (CIT) semi-annual conference where the winning IEP will be announced. The conference will be held in San Antonio, Oct. 27-30. The deadline to apply for the SVRS IEP Award of Excellence is April 14, 2010. Complete instructions can be accessed at www.svrs.com/IEP.

Sorenson Communications founded the award two years ago in an effort to encourage IEP programs to train increasing numbers of qualified and professional ASL interpreters.

Chris Wakeland, Vice President of Interpreting for Sorenson Communications, notes, "Our goal is to recognize and support IEPs that are effectively preparing interpreting students. As a result of this training, we are closing the school-to-work gap."

Award eligibility criteria have been designed to encourage programs from among the approximate 150 IEPs nationwide. Criteria will apply to the graduating class of 2009, which will be judged in seven categories:

VRS tracks offered
Supervised practicum opportunities
Mentorship opportunities
Accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education (CCIE) or an initiative to track accreditation
Proposed use of award funds
The number of graduates that have either NAD-RID-National Interpreter Certification (NIC) tested or have received state quality assurance screening or certification at an advanced or higher level within six months of graduation
The number of graduates gainfully employed in the field of interpreting by Nov. 1, 2009, following graduation

Wakeland adds that with the growing popularity of VRS, the demand for highly-trained interpreters has never been greater. "This award recognizes IEPs that provide extraordinary curriculum, learning and mentoring opportunities for their students."

March 2, 2010 New Video Contest Announced by Sorenson Communications

Salt Lake City (March 2, 2010)- Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced its sponsorship of the first-ever "Express Yourself" Video Contest.

"Sorenson recognizes the power of visual communication-especially the power inherent in sign language," notes Ron Burdett, Sorenson Communications Vice President of Community Relations. "The goal of the contest is to encourage the creation of video content that contains sign language, is deaf-related, or contains representations of deaf culture."

The theme of the Video Contest is "Express Yourself." There are three categories for entrants:

Entrant under 18 years of age
Entrant 18 years of age or older
Sorenson employee

Entrants may submit any genre of original video, including film and animation. Videos must be between one and ten minutes long and will be judged solely on the following criteria:

Incorporation of the theme "Express Yourself"
Originality
Creativity
Use of sign language and/or representations of deaf culture
Cinematography and editing

One winner in each of the three categories will receive a $1,000 award and may also be considered for public screenings worldwide or be shown through the Sorenson Communications Video Center.

Entries will be accepted from March 3, 2010, through April 27, 2010. To obtain an "Express Yourself" Video Contest entry form and view the Official Rules, visit www.svrs.com/express.

February 18, 2010 The VRS Interpreting Institute Welcomes Translation and Interpretation Educator Daniel Gile

SALT LAKE CITY (Feb. 18, 2010) – Dr. Daniel Gile, internationally renowned educator in spoken language interpreting and interpreting research and education, will visit the VRS Interpreting Institute (VRSII) (www.vrsii.com) March 2 through 4, 2010. The VRSII is housed at Sorenson Communications' (www.sorenson.com) headquarters in Salt Lake City.

The VRSII and Salt Lake Community College are working together to facilitate Gile's trip to Utah, which will include a visit the VRSII to teach interpreter educators about models and methods of interpreter education. His research findings are applied not only in spoken language interpreting and translation, but are also frequently referenced in models of sign language interpreting. Dr. Carolyn Ball, Executive Director of the VRSII, says Gile's work helps interpreter educators improve their teaching by grounding their work in research that leads to more theory-based and efficient teaching practices.

Ball says Gile's training is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for interpreters who are attending the lectures. "Many of the models we use for our interpreting research and teaching have come from Dr. Daniel Gile. It is rare to have such a distinguished international scholar provide direct training for the ASL/English interpreting community. This is a unique opportunity. We are all very excited about the lectures and their direct relationship with our own VRSII offerings," says Ball.

The VRSII opened in March 2009 and is a premier facility for advanced American Sign Language (ASL)/English interpreter education. Dr. Carol J. Patrie, who is considered a pioneer in ASL interpreter education, influenced the design of the VRSII curriculum. Patrie based much of her work on Gile's research and philosophy.

Gile began his work in translation more than 30 years ago. His work focuses on cognitive processing skills in translation and interpretation. Gile's research interests are in translator and interpreter education, training of young researchers, and cognitive processes in conference interpreting. Gile was an associate professor at National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) in Paris, France, from 1987 through 1995; a professor at Université Lumière Lyon 2, from 1995 through 2007; and a professor at Université Paris 3 – Sorbonne Nouvelle, ESIT, where he currently teaches. Gile is also a guest professor at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. He holds a doctorate in translator and interpreter training in the Japanese-French combination, and in conference interpreting. Gile freelances as a conference interpreter and is a published author/editor of nine books and more than 200 papers. He also serves on multiple international academic boards and committees.

About VRSII
The mission of the VRS Interpreting Institute is to provide innovative educational experiences that empower interpreter educators and interpreters to achieve professional excellence. The vision of the VRS Interpreting Institute is to create a diverse and expansive community of deaf and hearing educators and interpreters who advance professional excellence in the delivery of VRS and community services. The VRSII was established by Sorenson Communications, Inc in March 2009, and is located in Salt Lake City.

February 16, 2010 New Educational Opportunity for Recent Interpreting Education Program Graduates

Salt Lake City (Feb. 16, 2010)-The VRS Interpreting Institute (VRSII) (www.vrsii.com) today announced its new School-to-Work Program. This innovative sign language interpreter training program aims to close the gap between the time when interpreting students graduate and when they actually have the skills and experience necessary to obtain national certification and readiness for work. The VRSII is now accepting applications from highly-qualified IEP program graduates for the new program.

The VRSII School-to-Work Program, the first of its kind in the United States, is a full-time residency program. Students will be immersed in training for 14 weeks, from June 21 through September 24, 2010. The training classes, which will be offered on-site at the VRSII, will assist recent graduates of Interpreter Education Programs (IEPs) in obtaining additional supervised experiences to gain the practical skills necessary to pass the National Interpreter Certification (NIC) Interview and Performance test and become employable as a sign language interpreter.

Applicants chosen to participate in the VRSII School-to-Work Program will receive the following:

One-time transportation costs to and from Salt Lake City
On-site housing in Salt Lake City for the duration of the program
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD)-Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) NIC Interview and Performance testing fee will be paid by the VRSII

The VRSII is seeking highly-qualified applicants who have already graduated, or who will graduate, from an interpreting program between November 2008 and June 2010. To be eligible to participate in the VRSII School-to-Work Program, applicants must have already passed the written portion of the NIC Exam and be a current supporting member of RID .

"The School-to-Work Program is a boot camp specifically designed to address the school-to-work and school-to-certification gaps," notes Dr. Carolyn Ball, VRSII Executive Director. "This program will provide in-depth opportunities for interpreters to really learn the profession. By empowering interpreters through this new program, the need for highly qualified interpreters in the deaf communities and VRS settings can be met."

For more information on the VRSII School-to-Work Program or to request application materials, please send an email to vrsii@sorenson.com or call 801-287-9802. Applications for the program must be postmarked by March 20, 2010. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by April 15, 2010.

January 14, 2010 Relay Service Empowers Deaf Graduates to Compete for Employment

SALT LAKE CITY (Jan. 14, 2010)- Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced the launch of a new career training program for deaf and hard-of-hearing high school students.

Sorenson Communications Vice President of Community Relations, Ron Burdett, visits deaf schools across the country teaching high school students how to be more effective when searching for a job. Using his Career Training Program, he shares the following principles:

Students should leverage mobile technology to their advantage when seeking a job interview. Nearly all high school students carry cell phones or personal digital assistants (PDAs), such as Blackberry^®s. Pairing mobile communication devices with mobile relay service, such as Sorenson Communications' SIPRelay^®, empowers deaf students searching for employment to be contacted by potential employers when they are away from their home videophones. Students should list their SIPRelay number as well as their local-10-digit VRS numbers on their resumes.
When a hearing person calls the local 10-digit SIPRelay number listed on a graduate's resume, the call is answered by a Sorenson Communications Assistant (CA). The CA relays the hearing individual's message, via text, to the deaf individual's mobile device using AOL Instant Messenger^™ (AIM) or to their Blackberry^®. The deaf individual can either return a text message suggesting a time for a follow up VRS call with the potential employer, or can establish the job interview time and date on the spot.
If the first interview of the employment process is to be a telephone interview, deaf students might consider requesting that it be conducted using SVRS. For some students, using VRS is the preferred form of communication, empowering the deaf student to respond to the potential-employer's questions confidently, creating a positive first impression.
If the student is offered the job, he or she can request that the employer install a videophone in his or her workplace so communication with hearing contacts and associates in distant locations is easy and "functionally equivalent" to hearing individuals' communication with a telephone. There is no cost to the employer, and using VRS in the workplace can significantly increase productivity for deaf employees. See how a professional moved ahead in her career using Sorenson VRS (SVRS) in her workplace at www.svrs.com/Joanne

Technology is ushering in a new era of functional equivalency for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Taking advantage of these tools can empower deaf individuals. To learn more about SIPRelay and SVRS, visit www.svrs.com.

2009 Press Releases

December 28, 2009 Sorenson Communications Provides CEUs for ASL Interpreters

SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 28, 2009) — Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced that it provided more than 200,000 continuing education units (CEUs) from January through October 2009 toward the continuing education of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. Since Sorenson first began offering CEU-bearing classes in May 2004, it has provided thousands of CEU workshops many of which included deaf individuals.

In November 2008, Sorenson Communications became the first VRS provider to offer its interpreters an American Council on Education (ACE)-accredited, professional development program through a pilot project that would allow them to earn CEUs in pursuit of their national interpreting certification (NIC) through RID as well as standard college credits. Between January 2009 and the end of this month, Sorenson Communications sponsored more than 750 interpreter workshops. These workshops focused on topics ranging from mentoring to Spanish language-focused training. Sorenson Communications is pleased to provide these trainings that benefit the interpreters who work at Sorenson and those who work in deaf communities at large. Additionally, Sorenson Communications founded the VRS Interpreting Institute (VRSII), a world-class ASL interpreter training facility dedicated to lifelong interpreter training and mentoring for qualified professional interpreters and interpreter trainers, earlier this year. Sorenson Communications partnered with ASL academic leaders Drs. Carol J. Patrie and Marty Taylor, among others, to develop the curricula for the Institute. The VRSII courses are accredited and also provide CEUs to professional interpreters. The VRSII educational programming addresses a broad range of topics, including short-term training, training for interpreters intending to reenter the field, internship opportunities, certification preparation and teacher and mentor training.

Sorenson Communications is committed to furthering ASL interpreting education to provide an optimal VRS experience for SVRS users and to benefit the deaf community. For more information about Sorenson Communications, visit www.svrs.com. For more information about the VRSII, visit www.vrsii.com.

October 29, 2009 Sorenson Communications Launches First Video Center

SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 29, 2009)— Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced the launch of the Video Center, a premier service that represents another major step forward in providing functional equivalency for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

The Video Center is the first of its kind and gives VP-200^® videophone users a central location to access both information and entertainment, all in American Sign Language (ASL). Video Center content includes SignMail^® messages, or missed-call messages recorded in ASL; technical training and educational videos for videophone equipment and VRS services; deaf-related news and educational information, such as Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations that may affect communication; and deaf-produced movies and footage of deaf events. Video Center content, like all Sorenson services, is provided at no cost to Sorenson users.

"The Video Center represents a new era of videophone functionality and is reflective of Sorenson Communications' creativity and dedication in offering the deaf community the best technology available," says Pat Nola, Sorenson Communications President and CEO.

With the introduction of the Video Center, the videophone's capabilities are now expanded to provide a central, deaf-related education, information and entertainment repository.

The Video Center includes:

SignMails viewed directly on the videophone without the use of a personal computer
Access to educational tech-support videos
Access to deaf-produced movies and events from a rotating list offered by Sorenson Communications
Announcements from Sorenson Communications in ASL regarding Video Center features, VRS information and/or FCC announcements
The capability for users to answer a VRS call that comes while viewing a video
The ability to pause or stop a video and resume play later

The Sorenson Communications Video Center is accessed through a new icon that appears on the videophone users' primary interface. Sorenson VRS users can access the Video Center simply by selecting the new "Videos" button on the videophone home screen.

October 6, 2009 Sorenson Communications Announces 2009 IEP Award of Excellence Winner

SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 6 , 2009) – Sorenson Communications^®, the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, congratulates Georgia Perimeter College (GPC) on becoming the 2009 recipient of the Sorenson VRS^® (SRVS) Interpreter Education Program (IEP) Award of Excellence. This annual $10,000 award is given to programs that are making meaningful contributions by expanding curriculum and responding to the ever-increasing demand for interpreters.

As the largest employer of ASL interpreters in the United States, Sorenson Communications created the award to recognize IEP programs that are improving the quality of professional interpreting and advancing interpreter education to benefit the deaf community.

In 1978, GPC began offering an ASL interpreting program, making it one of the first colleges in the U.S. to do so. Now, more than 30 years later, GPC reports an average 90 percent student pass rate on the written portion of the RID National Interpreter Certification (NIC) exam, the only nationally-recognized professional accreditation for ASL interpreters.

Sorenson Vice President of Interpreting Chris Wakeland commends GPC for its research-based program and for the grounded practicum opportunities it provides students. "It is vital that students graduate from programs that prepare them for the demands of community and VRS interpreting work," he says.

Damita Boyd, GPC's Sign Language Interpreting Department Coordinator, says the college's strengths include small class size, devoted faculty, administration, and staff, and a campus language lab that allows students to practice and teachers to follow students' progress. Boyd reports that all the interpreters in the 2008 GPC graduating class who wanted to work in interpreting have been placed. Most 2009 graduates are awaiting the results from their RID NIC performance exam.

GPC Emeritus Department Coordinator Christine Smith nominated GPC for the award prior to her retirement. Smith says, "GPC's technology-driven program seemed like a perfect fit with a technology company like Sorenson Communications. A few years ago educators thought that technology might decrease the need for interpreters. We didn't anticipate VRS or how it would become so accessible to the masses. It's an impressive feat," says Smith, adding that businesses' need for interpreters has changed the interpreting profession. "We now understand how important it is to prepare interpreting students to step into a technological world. We are grateful for the support of GPC's administration in helping us achieve that," says Smith.

October 1, 2009 Sorenson Communications Urges FCC to Deny Payment for Illegitimate VRS Calls

SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 1, 2009)—Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today called for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt clear rules to deny payment for Video Relay Service (VRS) calls that do not further the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Sorenson Petition for Rulemaking proposes rules to enhance the integrity of the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund by denying payment for illegitimate calls. The TRS fund provides funding for communications services for the deaf.

"The FCC should advance the twin goals of functional equivalence and universal access by denying compensation for ginned-up calls," said Sorenson Communications Chief Marketing Officer Paul Kershisnik. "Today, provider-generated calls needlessly inflate the size of the Interstate TRS Fund without improving service for the deaf. Denying compensation for these calls would restore the TRS Fund to its core purpose of providing communication services for the deaf."

In today's filing, Sorenson urges the Commission to deny payment for VRS calls resulting from "minute-pumping" and other practices that artificially inflate the size of the TRS Fund. Under Sorenson's proposal, providers would not be compensated for calls to VRS-provider-sponsored phone-in events; calls to "podcast" numbers, which provide the audio of broadcasts that often run for hours; and calls induced by a financial incentive offered by a VRS provider. The proposed rules also would deny compensation for calls placed by a VRS provider's employees or contractors while working "on the clock."

Sorenson's petition would also require VRS providers to maintain professional work environments that are inhospitable to minute-pumping schemes and would give video interpreters narrow but important discretion to disconnect or interrupt certain calls that likely do not meet the statutory definition of TRS. Collectively, the proposed rules would eliminate practices that Sorenson describes as not advancing the goal of functional equivalence for deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech-disabled Americans.

September 3, 2009 Sorenson Communications Supports Deaflympics Team USA

SALT LAKE CITY (Sept. 3, 2009) — Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced support of the 2009 Taipei Summer Deaflympics Team USA. The 21st Summer Deaflympics Games open Sept. 5, in Taipei, Taiwan, and run through Sept.15. Team USA, comprised of 141 athletes, left Los Angeles on Aug. 27 to travel to Taipei to train and compete.

Sorenson Communications, which also supported Team USA in the 2007 Winter Deaflympics Games in Salt Lake City, donated staff and other needed resources to ready the team to successfully represent the United States. "Sorenson is proud to support the athletes who have demonstrated the commitment necessary to reach their goals of becoming a Team USA member," says Sorenson Communications Vice President of Community Relations Ron Burdett. Three Sorenson Communications trainers are included among the 2009 athletes: Andrew Cohen, from Monroeville, Pa., in the category of Athletics; Bradley Miller, from Orlando, Fla., in Basketball; and Paul Wood, from Fortville, Ind., in Cycling.

"As a company focused on serving the deaf community, there was no question that Sorenson Communications we would help," notes Burdett. "We are proud of the athletes and wish them the best of luck."

At a parting luncheon held in the athletes' honor, a representative of the USA Deaf Sports Federation expressed thanks to Sorenson Communications for its support and coordination in bringing the athletes together in one place and preparing them for departure.

"It's an honor to support Team USA and the deaf athletes in the 2009 Taipei Games—just as we have done in the past," says Pat Nola, President and CEO of Sorenson Communications. "We appreciate the opportunity to help make this a memorable experience for them and for the entire team."

Sorenson Project Specialist, Gary Christensen, who coordinated Sorenson's efforts, said the athletes were very surprised and appreciative of the resources that Sorenson Communications supplied. "All of the athletes have a great attitude and are ready to start their unique experience," said Christensen.

The USA Deaf Sports Federation notes that the athletes—current and past—are ambassadors within the U.S. and around the world. The athletes serve as role models for deaf and hard-of-hearing youth across the country.

August 31, 2009 Sorenson Communications Partners with ASL Interpreter Educator Carol J. Patrie

SALT LAKE CITY (Aug. 31, 2009)—Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced that it is partnering with Carol J. Patrie, Ph.D. (www.carolpatrie.com), a pioneer in the field of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter education, to further expand the expertise of its interpreter management and Professional Development group. Sorenson Communications, the leading employer of ASL interpreters in the United States, is the only VRS provider to offer such a program on this scale.

"Sorenson Communications employs and seeks to train the best interpreters in the country," says Sorenson Vice President of Interpreting Chris Wakeland. "We are committed to improving the quality of professional interpreting for Sorenson VRS users and advancing interpreter education for the benefit of the industry as a whole."

The management training program consists of five, two-day courses that are based on Patrie's The Effective Interpreting Series. These one-credit courses are accredited through the American Council on Education. The program will enhance interpreter managers' skills in hiring qualified video interpreters, evaluating existing video interpreters' skill sets and offering career strategies. It will also create a platform for VRS Interpreting Center management teams to accurately assess interpreters' needs, thereby determining training that will benefit both interpreter and VRS user alike.

"Sorenson is setting a trend. No other VRS provider has taken such a direct approach to training," says Patrie, who established and directed the Master of Arts in Interpretation program at Gallaudet, the nation's premier liberal arts university for deaf individuals. "Sorenson Communications is raising the standard by offering training for those who can then train others within the company."

Through mentorship, skills assessment, workshops and training, Sorenson Communications managers and professional development staff will be in a position to offer standardized training throughout the company, based on the training they receive from Patrie.

According to Patrie, historically, sign language interpreter education programs were characterized by a lack of standardization, which led to less-than-optimal student outcomes, leaving many graduates unprepared to enter the workforce. In more recent years, with the inception of federal equality legislation and communications technology for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, such as VRS, ASL interpreting has become a rapidly-growing profession, making advances in ASL interpreter education imperative.

"I am impressed with Sorenson Communications' ability to determine training needs and Sorenson's implementation of programs to meet those needs," says Patrie. "Sorenson has demonstrated a commitment to providing top-quality education for their interpreters at all levels."

June 26, 2009 Sorenson Communications Applauds the Confirmation of Julius Genachowski to be Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission

SALT LAKE CITY (June 26, 2009)—Sorenson Communications^®, the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Services (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, applauded the Senate confirmation today of Julius Genachowski as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Robert McDowell to another term as an FCC Commissioner. Genachowski will chair an agency that plays a crucial role in the lives of deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans. By law, Congress has directed the FCC to ensure that the telecommunications services available to the deaf and hearing-impaired are functionally equivalent to services available to the hearing. As Americans enjoy the benefits of broadband services and other technological developments, this statutory mandate has become more important than ever to the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

Ron Burdett, Vice President of Community Relations for Sorenson Communications, commented on the confirmation: "We are pleased with President Obama's choice of Julius Genachowski. His knowledge of and experience with technology, innovation, and communication in both the public and private sectors gives him unique perspective to lead the FCC. We look to him and to the other commissioners to ensure that all deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans can participate fully in the communications networks of the 21st Century."

Sorenson Communications' mission is to break down communication barriers by offering the highest-quality communication products and services to all deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. The Sorenson VP-200^® videophone and Sorenson Video Relay Service^® have revolutionized communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing people who use sign language to communicate and ushered in a new era of communications for them.

June 4, 2009 Federal Appeals Court Unanimously Rejects FCC's Restrictions on VRS Provider Communications on Deaf Issues and Agrees that VRS Providers are Entitled to More than FCC-Allowed Costs under Three-Year Rate Plan

Salt Lake City (June 4, 2009)-Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit (Denver, Colorado) announced its unanimous decision that the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) speech restrictions on deaf issues violate the First Amendment and are arbitrary and capricious. The court emphasized that the FCC had not even "attempted" to justify how its restrictions could be constitutional under applicable case law.

The court also rejected the FCC's theory regarding Video Relay Service (VRS) compensation, finding that "[t]he FCC has chosen to reward efficient providers by allowing them to retain the savings generated by providing TRS at a low cost. It does this by compensating providers regardless of their actual costs in providing TRS."This methodology "give[s] providers an incentive to innovate and reduce costs. If a provider can deliver VRS at an actual cost lower than the FCC's estimated cost, it retains the difference."

Pat Nola, President and CEO of Sorenson Communications, the leading provider of VRS for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, said, "We are pleased that we will be able to continue to communicate on issues of interest and importance to the deaf community. Our goal is to make VRS, the technology currently providing the most functionally-equivalent telecommunications for the deaf, available to as many deaf people as possible. This decision will help us reach that goal."

In its 3-0 decision, the Court of Appeals rejected two parts of the FCC's 2007 decision and its 2008 clarification. The Court rejected the FCC's restrictions on VRS providers communicating with deaf consumers and others on deaf issues, and rejected the FCC's restrictions on using customer data to communicate with customers. The Court remanded the Declaratory Rulings to the FCC for further consideration consistent with its opinion.

May 14, 2009 Sorenson Communications Supports Long-Term VRS Rate Plan

SALT LAKE CITY (May 14, 2009)-Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to keep the commitment it made to the deaf community when it adopted a three-year rate plan for VRS. The FCC today released a Public Notice and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that asks whether it should adopt a VRS rate consistent with its three-year rate plan, proposed by NECA, or abandon the three-year VRS rate plan after it has been in place for only 14 months.

"VRS is a great success story," said Pat Nola, Sorenson Communications President and CEO. "VRS has revolutionized communications for deaf individuals and is the service that comes closest to meeting the mandate of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for functionally-equivalent communications. The stability and predictability of the three-year rate plan has enabled us to invest and improve VRS. We have new videophones, new technology on the drawing board, better interpreters, and better speed-of-answer. Now is not the time to undercut progress towards functional equivalence by abruptly changing the VRS rate. We urge to FCC to keep the promise it made to the deaf that VRS services would continue to improve."

VRS rates under the three-year plan have been in place only since March 1, 2008. The three-year plan, adopted unanimously by the FCC, cuts VRS rates every year, but also provides the stability, fairness, and predictability that providers need to make investments in VRS technology. Before the FCC adopted the three-year plan, VRS providers faced annual uncertainty and turmoil that prevented long-term investments in improving VRS.

Under the three-year plan, VRS providers have ramped up investment in a range of areas, including outreach and education. "Congress has mandated that 100 percent of the ASL community have access to VRS as soon as possible," said Nola. "The universal access mandate of the ADA is a top priority at Sorenson, but unfortunately we are still a long way from 100 percent access. We need a predictable and settled rate to continue making the investments in outreach that are necessary to get there. This is our mission and our goal and it should not be disrupted, especially as it is mandated by law."

"VRS transforms the lives of deaf people who use sign language," said Ron Burdett, Sorenson Communications' Vice President of Community Relations. "President Obama talks about the importance of broadband. Now is the time the FCC should be doing all it can to expand the use of broadband-based VRS, instead of cutting back on the availability of VRS for deaf people!"

"NECA's proposed rates are consistent with the FCC's three-year rate plan and should be adopted by the FCC," said Nola. "The NECA filing also documents the success of the VRS program, showing increasing use of VRS by the deaf. Where the NECA filing gets it wrong, though, is with its cost data. For years, all of the VRS providers have told the FCC that the costs the providers are allowed to submit to NECA do not accurately reflect the real costs of providing VRS."

Burdett notes "Under the current rate plan the VRS program is succeeding. More deaf people are using VRS because they are learning how it empowers them to live and to work. The FCC should stick to the commitment it made to improving VRS."

May 5, 2009 Sorenson Communications Introduces One-Number Access to Spanish-Speaking VRS Interpreters for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Individuals

Clic aquí para leer el anuncio en español.

SALT LAKE CITY (May 5, 2009)—Sorenson Communications^®, the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Services (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced a new feature providing direct, one-number access to Sorenson VRS Español 24/7, an interpreting service that enables deaf individuals to make videophone calls to any hearing Spanish-speaking individual.

The new one-number Spanish VRS service is available to deaf videophone users at the URL rapidovrs.tv, and toll-free to hearing individuals at 1-866-9VRSLATINO (1-866-987-7528). Hearing callers who speak Spanish can use this number toll-free from the United States, its territories, Canada and many Caribbean islands. Sorenson Communications launched Sorenson VRS Español 24/7 in March 2007. Then, callers used one general number for connection to English- and Spanish-speaking interpreters.

"We are delighted to provide this new streamlined service to our customers," said Lisa A. Fragoso, Sorenson VRS Español Service Manager. "Direct one-number access makes it even faster and easier for deaf individuals and their friends, family, and business colleagues who speak Spanish to take advantage of the industry's highest-quality VRS interpreters."

Sorenson VRS Español 24/7 interpreters are trilingual: qualified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, proficient in English, and professionally rated in spoken Spanish by Berlitz Languages Inc., one of the world's top language services providers. Interpreters must attain one of Berlitz's highest three categories of spoken Spanish and once on the job, Spanish-speaking VRS interpreters undergo comprehensive and ongoing professional development, including one-on-one mentoring, virtual seminars, and quarterly Spanish focused trainings.

When placing a call through rapidovrs.tv, a deaf or hard-of-hearing user sees the Sorenson VRS Español 24/7 trilingual interpreter on a TV screen and communicates in sign language while the interpreter contacts the Spanish-speaking hearing user via a standard telephone. The interpreter then relays the conversation between parties fluidly, in real-time. Access to Sorenson VRS and Sorenson VRS Español 24/7 requires a videophone, a TV screen, and a broadband Internet connection.

For more information please visit www.svrs.com/espanol.

Sorenson Communications introduce el nuevo Número de Acceso a los intérpretes en español de los servicios televideo de Sorenson (VRS, por sus siglas en inglés) para los individuos sordos e hipoacústicos

SALT LAKE CITY (5 de mayo del 2009) - Sorenson Communications^®, el principal abastecedor a nivel nacional de los servicios VRS para individuos sordos e hipoacústicos que utilizan el lenguaje de señas americano (ASL, por sus siglas en inglés) para comunicarse, anuncia hoy una nueva función proveyendo de manera directa el Número de Acceso a los intérpretes en español Sorenson VRS Español 24/7, un servicio de interpretación que permite a los individuos sordos hacer llamadas de televideo a cualquier individuo oyente que habla español.

Este nuevo servicio del Número de Acceso VRS está disponible para los usuarios sordos de televideo en URL rapidovrs.tv, y sin costo para los individuos oyentes marcando el 1-866-9VRSLATINO (1-866-987-7528). Los oyentes que hablan español pueden utilizar este número dentro de los Estados Unidos, y sus territorios, Canadá y muchas Islas del Caribe. Sorenson Communications lanzó Sorenson VRS Español 24/7 en marzo del 2007. Para ese entonces, las personas que llamaban utilizaban un número general para conectarse con intérpretes en inglés y español.

"Estamos encantados en proporcionar este nuevo servicio aerodinámico a nuestros clientes," dijo Lisa A. Fragoso, directora del servicio VRS Español de Sorenson. "Este número de acceso directo hace más rápido y más fácil que los individuos sordos y sus amigos, la familia, y los colegas de negocio que hablan español aprovechen a los intérpretes más de alta calidad de VRS en la industria."

En Sorenson VRS Español 24/7 nuestros intérpretes son trilingües: cualificados en ASL, muy competentes cualificados en el inglés, y profesionalmente cualificados en el español hablado por Berlitz Languages Inc., una de las compañías más destacadas del mundo en proveer servicios de lenguaje. Los intérpretes deben lograr una de las tres más altas categoría de Berlitz del español hablado, y una vez en el trabajo, los intérpretes que hablan español VRS experimentan un desarrollo profesional comprensivo y continuo, incluyendo tutoría de persona a persona, seminarios virtuales, y entrenamientos enfocados en el español trimestrales.

Al hacer una llamada con rapidovrs.tv, el usuario sordo o hipoacústico, ve al intérprete trilingüe de Sorenson VRS Español 24/7 através de una pantalla de TV y se comunica en lenguaje de señas mientras que el intérprete trilingüe entra en contacto con al usuario oyente que habla español vía telefónica. El intérprete entonces retransmite la conversación entre las personas con fluidez, simultáneamente. El acceso a Sorenson VRS y a Sorenson VRS Español 24/7 requiere un televideo, una pantalla de TV, y una conexión de Internet de alta velocidad (banda ancha).

Para más información, favor de visitar www.sorensonvrs.com/espanol.

April 30, 2009 Sorenson Communications Urges VRS Users to Choose Default Provider by FCC Deadline

SALT LAKE CITY (April 30, 2009)-Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today urged VRS consumers to respond to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) requirement to choose a default VRS provider.

The FCC urged VRS users to choose a default VRS provider by March 31, 2009, but has allowed a three-month "permissive" calling period during which the VRS user can still place calls. Callers who have not chosen a default VRS provider by June 30 will not be able to place routine VRS calls after this date.

A recent FCC order mandating that relay services be more "functionally-equivalent" to those used by hearing individuals outlines new responsibilities for both VRS providers and VRS users. Under the order, VRS users are required to choose a VRS provider that will, by "default," route all of their VRS calls. Once the default VRS provider has been selected, the VRS provider is required to assign the VRS user a local 10-digit number. After obtaining the VRS user's location information, the VRS provider is also required to provide the user with Enhanced 911 (E911) services. VRS users are required to keep their address information current with their default VRS provider so that an up-to-date address can be passed through to the closest emergency response center should an emergency call be placed.

Under current FCC rules, VRS users can change default providers at any time and can transfer, or "port," a local 10-digit number they have been assigned to another VRS provider, a convenience hearing callers have been enjoying for years.

Sorenson Communications' Vice President of Community Relations Ron Burdett notes the significance of this ruling. "In the past if a deaf caller was dissatisfied with a VRS service and wanted to change to another, the deaf caller had to change his or her videophone number to one that worked with the new provider's videophone device. Numbers could not be transferred to other providers and there was no standard way to call."

Burdett explains that, obtaining multiple numbers from multiple VRS providers is inconvenient and complicated to manage. "Choosing one number from the leading VRS provider, Sorenson Communications, simplifies the process. I have given my number to my hearing family and friends. They can keep it in their speed dial list and I can keep it on my contact card for years to come!

"Just as hearing callers opt for phone carriers that best meet their needs, so will deaf individuals find that choosing one default VRS provider is advantageous as they come to value the unique products and services that the provider offers," Burdett says. "When you choose Sorenson Communications, in addition to all of the basic 'default provider' services, you also get support for Sorenson videophone equipment and Sorenson 'Gold Services,' which include many valuable features, such as Contacts Lists, Call History, SignMail^®, and Redial and Speed Dial.

When you select Sorenson as your default provider of VRS or IP Relay, Sorenson will help you choose a 10-digit telephone number for use with that service. To select Sorenson as your default provider before the permissive calling period ends on June 30, 2009, call 800-659-4810. Your new number will be portable to another provider. To properly route 911 calls to local emergency service providers, Sorenson must have your correct street address. You can update your address on your Sorenson videophone or by calling 800-659-4810 or visiting www.svrs.com/moving. Sorenson will confirm receipt of this address information. For more information about 10-digit numbers and the limitations and risks associated with using Sorenson's VRS or IP Relay services to place a 911 call, please visit Sorenson's Web site at: www.sorenson.com/disclaimer.

April 29, 2009 Sorenson Communications Establishes VRS Interpreting Institute

SALT LAKE CITY (April 29, 2009)-In an effort to increase the supply and quality of sign language interpreters, Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced the establishment of the VRS Interpreting Institute.

The VRS Interpreting Institute is located at Sorenson Communications' corporate headquarters in Salt Lake City. The new institute is a state-of-the-art facility with highly sophisticated visual language laboratories that integrate the most current educational technology and teaching methodology.

The VRS Interpreting Institute will implement a systematic approach to increasing the supply and quality of sign language interpreters for Sorenson VRS^® and for the community at large. Educational programming will address a broad range of topics including:

Short-term training
Training for interpreters intending to reenter the field
Internship opportunities
Certification preparation
Teacher and mentor training

Dr. Carolyn Ball, Ph.D., was recently named Executive Director of the new VRS Interpreting Institute. Ball is a nationally esteemed interpreter educator and scholar who has more than 20 years of experience in developing and delivering educational programming for sign language interpreters.

"Dr. Carolyn Ball is an experienced educator who brings a wealth of knowledge to the new VRS Interpreting Institute," notes Chris Wakeland, Vice President of Interpreting for Sorenson Communications. "We are confident that under Dr. Ball's leadership the institute will flourish and be a positive force in addressing enhanced education for interpreters and interpreter educators."

Dr. Ball is certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. She directed the Interpreter Education Program at William Woods University in Fulton, Mo. for ten years and was formerly Coordinator of the Salt Lake Community College Interpreter Training Program. She has served on the board of the Conference of Interpreter Trainers (CIT), as CIT president for three terms, and is currently the CIT treasurer.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to lead Sorenson's effort to increase the number of qualified interpreters," notes Ball. "I plan to ensure that our educational programming is based on measurable outcomes, and I am committed to including service-based learning that will contribute to the wellbeing of deaf communities nationwide. I am pleased to announce that our first programmatic offering began in March of 2009 and will continue thereafter."

March 12, 2009 Sorenson Communications Programs to Help More ASL Interpreters Gain National Certification

Additional testing site offices provided and test-preparation workshop and DVD developed to assist interpreters who seek national certification

SALT LAKE CITY (March 12, 2009)—Sorenson Communications^®, the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Services (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced two initiatives that will help increase the number of nationally certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters available.

Sorenson Communications will provide, in partnership with Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and local community partners, an additional four to six testing sites in key locations for all who wish to take the RID National Interpreter Certification (NIC) exam, the only nationally-recognized professional accreditation for ASL interpreters. In addition, Sorenson Communications announced it has developed—and is presenting to Sorenson interpreters who have yet to take the NIC exam, comprehensive test-preparation training.

The NIC examination measures with both written and English performance tests the fluency and quality of a person's ASL interpreting as well as their knowledge of interpreter standards, ethics, and professionalism. Sorenson Communications' employee policy strongly encourages its interpreters to acquire the NIC credential by their fifth year of employment.

Sorenson Communications' second initiative includes the development of a comprehensive six-hour pre-test training to boost the interview and performance skills of Sorenson interpreters who are not yet NIC-certified. The new training, which includes an accompanying DVD, demonstrates 50 challenging interpreting scenarios demonstrated by 10 deaf individuals, male and female, from different areas of the United States. The variety of demonstrators is especially helpful because ASL varies among individuals and exhibits regional differences as well.

Workshop participants are enthusiastic. "Our workshop instructors gave us the opportunity to build our foundation for the NIC performance test. I acquired an incredible amount of understanding that will help me prepare," said Beth Dowers, a video interpreter in the Chattanooga Sorenson VRS Interpreting Center. Co-worker Jonathan Walterhouse said, "This workshop alleviates many of my fears and gives me a heightened level of self-confidence so I can effectively pursue my NIC."

The new Sorenson Communications training has been presented in many Sorenson VRS Interpreting Centers throughout the U.S. and will be presented in designated locations in coming months, reports Michael Canale, Sorenson Communications Eastern Region District Manager, who has been directing the initiative under Sorenson Communications Vice President of Interpreting Chris Wakeland.

February 26, 2009 Sorenson Communications Develops Unprecedented Support for Trilingual VRS Interpreters

SALT LAKE CITY (Feb. 26, 2009)—Sorenson Communications, the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Services (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced successful implementation of a set of programs to support its Trilingual Video Interpreters (TVIs), those proficient in English, American Sign Language (ASL), and spoken Spanish.

TVIs are the heart of Sorenson VRS Español 24/7, a service that enables deaf individuals to place the equivalent of a phone call to any hearing Spanish-speaking individual in the United States or its territories, for free. As Spanish is the second most commonly-spoken language in the U.S., many VRS calls involve different Spanish dialects used by the culturally diverse Hispanic/Latino communities. This can be a challenge for TVIs who must consistently deliver a positive experience to VRS callers who may be from regions as diverse as Mexico, Spain, and Argentina. To respond to this unique challenge, Sorenson Communications developed an ongoing support system that includes mentors, expert training, virtual seminars, and quarterly Spanish Summits.

Many aspects of the support system were suggested by members of the Sorenson Communications' Spanish TVI team. "We listened to what our deaf users and interpreters said they needed and came up with a set of programs. This is unprecedented in our industry," said Lisa A. Fragoso, Sorenson VRS Español Service Manager. "No other company provides interpreters with these tools to address cultural differences and variations in spoken Spanish."

Qualifications to become a TVI for Sorenson Communications are the most rigorous in the industry. All must be professional-level ASL interpreters and proficient in spoken Spanish. To evaluate each candidate's level of Spanish skills, Sorenson Communications employs Berlitz Languages Inc., one of the world's top companies in appraising language aptitude.

TVIs work from one of Sorenson Communications' many VRS Interpreting Centers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. TVIs are linked together by a dedicated, real-time communication system that allows them to assist each other and hand-off calls when necessary.

Sorenson Communications trilingual mentors have been trained by renowned educator Carol Patrie, author of The Effective Interpreting Series, published by DawnSignPress. Patrie teaches the trilingual mentors effective ways to coach adult learners, enhance their language skills, and discuss cultural sensitivities. "Sorenson Communications has created a powerful set of educational experiences for the trilingual mentors," said Patrie. "Training trilingual interpreters to be mentors allows them to be on-the-job authorities and gives them ownership of the program."

Virtual workshops also expand interpreters' expertise. In November 2008, interpreters went online to participate in "Mexicanismos," a program that examines different regional dialects and cultural customs within Mexico. In addition, four times a year TVIs are invited to attend a Spanish Summit.

"I grew up in Colombia, so my Spanish skills were very strong before entering the Sorenson Communications trilingual program," said Jose Urrego, an interpreter in the Sorenson VRS Interpreting Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "But as a result of the Spanish Summit, I broadened my linguistic skills along with my Hispanic cultural awareness."

Fragoso notes, "At Sorenson Communications, we are committed to filling the need for high-quality trilingual video interpreting services that will bridge communication between the deaf community and hearing individuals who are Spanish-speaking. I believe we have built a program that provides the support necessary to build the most proficient and professional group of TVIs in the VRS industry."

February 24, 2009 Sorenson Communications Awards Thousands of Continuing Education Credit Hours to ASL Interpreters Annually

The leading provider of VRS contributed nearly $20,000 to local deaf and interpreter organizations

SALT LAKE CITY (Feb. 24, 2009)—Over the course of 2008, Sorenson Communications, the leading provider of Video Relay Services (VRS) for the deaf and hard-of-hearing who use sign language to communicate, sponsored more than 90 workshops and awarded more than 10,000 hours of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters nationwide. The workshops featured nationally- and internationally-known presenters and were attended by more than 2,400 participants.

To maintain state and national certification, ASL interpreters must complete a requisite number of CEUs within a prescribed timeframe. For a nominal fee, community interpreters and students of interpreting educational programs (IEPs) across the United States may enroll in community CEU workshops. (Sorenson Communications interpreters attend at no cost.)

"Sorenson Communications supports the interpreter certification process by providing a variety of CEU workshops for all skill levels. These include language-based skill building, conflict resolution, ethical decision making, and preparing for the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) National Interpreter Certification (NIC) exam," notes Amy Kalmus, Director of Professional Development for Sorenson Communications.

"Our external training provides a myriad of topics, really something for everyone at every stage of their professional development," notes Sandra Rouse, Sorenson Communications National Workshop Facilitator/Trainer, who provides many of these training opportunities.

Funds raised from the 2008 CEU workshops totaled $20,682 and were donated directly back to local deaf and interpreter organizations, including deaf schools, interpreter education programs, camps for deaf children, and deaf cultural senior centers. Vanghi Hardin, Sorenson Communications Manager-Trainer of the Columbia South Carolina VRS Interpreting Center, reports that funds collected from local 2008 CEU workshops were contributed to the South Carolina Department of Mental Health Deaf Services Program. "The donation is meaningful as it will directly benefit deaf clients in our community who use those services."

In 2008, in addition to providing workshops for the greater interpreting community, Sorenson Communications also offered more than 500 "internal" professional development training opportunities and workshops for Sorenson VRS interpreters. Sorenson interpreters received specialized training in a variety of areas, including mentor specialty training, stress management, skill set development, and customer service. This training was created to meet the interpreting needs of VRS users.

"At Sorenson Communications we are committed to offering the highest-quality interpreting VRS services possible," says Sorenson Communications Vice President of Interpreting Chris Wakeland. "We strengthen this goal by providing ongoing training and education for community and Sorenson Communications VRS interpreters. In this way we enhance the overall quality of the interpreting community and the services we provide."

January 15, 2009 Sorenson Communications Now Accepting Applications for the SVRS Interpreter Education Program Award of Excellence

SALT LAKE CITY (Jan. 15, 2009)- Sorenson Communications^®, the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Services (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate, today announced it is accepting applications for the 2009 Sorenson VRS^® (SVRS) Interpreter Education Program (IEP) Award of Excellence. The award, now in its second year, recognizes training programs that incorporate VRS tracks into their curriculum and continually improve their programs in response to the broadening communication needs of the deaf community.

Last fall, at the 2008 Conference of Interpreter Trainers (CIT), Sorenson Communications presented Western Oregon University's (WOU) ASL/English Interpreting Program with the award. The honor recognized WOU's commitment to the deaf community as evidenced by efforts to strengthen and incorporate VRS into its programs.

Sorenson Communications, the world's largest employer of sign language interpreters, will present the 2009 SVRS IEP Award of Excellence to one or two IEPs that meet or exceed specific criteria. The winning programs will be awarded $10,000 each, to be reinvested in curriculum and training materials to strengthen existing programs. This year's award winner or winners will be announced in April 2009. Travel costs will also be awarded for two faculty members from the winning program to attend the 2010 Conference of Interpreter Trainers (CIT), to be held in San Antonio.

Chris Wakeland, Vice President of Interpreting for Sorenson Communications notes, "The SVRS IEP Award of Excellence recognizes exceptional IEPs, those that provide extraordinary curriculum, learning, and mentoring opportunities for their students. These IEPs also are monitoring graduates' certification and employment levels, then enhancing curriculum so that the time between graduation and when graduates enter the workforce is reduced."

Wakeland explains that award eligibility criteria have been designed to target (and encourage) such programs from among the approximate 150 IEPs nationwide. Criteria will apply to the graduating class of 2008, which will be judged in the following categories:

VRS tracks offered
Mentorship opportunities
Supervised practicum opportunities
Accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education (CCIE) or an initiative to track accreditation
Intended use of award funds
The number of graduates that have either NAD-RID-National Certification tested or have received state quality assurance screening or certification at an advanced or higher level within six months of program completion
The number of graduates gainfully employed in the field of interpreting by Nov. 1, 2008, following graduation

The deadline for this year's award is March 6, 2009. Eligibility requirements and application information for this year's SVRS IEP Award of Excellence can be accessed at www.svrs.com/IEP.

2008 Press Releases

December 23, 2008 Sorenson Communications Now Providing Real Numbers for Deaf Individuals

Local 10-digit numbers fulfill FCC's order for functionally-equivalent services

SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 23, 2008)- Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Services (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced it has begun assigning real phone numbers to users of its VRS service. The initiative is in compliance with the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) recent order requiring VRS providers to offer real numbers and Enhanced 911 (E911) to VRS users, by Dec. 31, 2008.

Sorenson Communications will be offering two types of real numbers to the deaf community: local 10-digit numbers and DirectVP numbers. These numbers can be used in different ways, depending on the needs of the caller.

A local 10-digit number corresponds to a deaf individual's geographic location and appropriate area code. This number is ideal for deaf individuals to give to hearing friends and neighbors nearby who share the same area code, often resulting in no charge for the call. If hearing individuals are not in the same local calling area, they may be charged long-distance fees.

A local 10-digit number is also ideal for use on forms, such as those required by local schools, banks, medical offices, veterinarians, and day care providers. Calls placed by these offices and individuals are usually free, provided they are in the same local calling area.

DirectVP numbers are toll-free and can be used by hearing callers to contact deaf people from any location, whether they are across the street or across the country. As there are no charges for these calls, a DirectVP number is ideal for giving to family and friends who are located outside of the deaf individual's area code. Callers can talk as long as they want without charges for long-distance service.

"Sorenson Communications is pleased to give VRS callers a choice of real numbers," notes Pat Nola, Sorenson Communications President and CEO. "VRS users will receive a local 10-digit number and can also choose to have a DirectVP number. They can use the numbers in the way that works best for them, similar to the way hearing individuals choose calling options. Sorenson Communications' goal is for all deaf individuals to have access to functionally-equivalent communication services."

In the past, Sorenson VRS users received a number with an IP address, also known as a "proxy" number. Although proxy numbers will continue to work through June 30, 2009, Sorenson Communications is in the process of assigning new real numbers that will eventually replace the proxy numbers. (Instructions on getting a real number will be provided through users' videophones.) Sorenson Communications has created a way for callers to be notified when a proxy number has changed, a process that is similar to the way callers are notified when hearing individuals change phone numbers. In addition, VRS users can use Sorenson Communications' Contact Cards to notify others of their real numbers. For more information on how to get a real number, visit www.svrs.com/connect.

When you select Sorenson as your default provider of VRS, Sorenson will help you choose a 10-digit telephone number for use with that service. To select Sorenson as your default provider, call 800-659-4810 or visit www.svrs.com/moving. Your new number will be portable to another provider as of December 31, 2008. To properly route 911 calls to local emergency service providers, Sorenson must have your correct street address. You can submit or update your address on your Sorenson videophone or by calling 800-659-4810. Sorenson will confirm receipt of this address information. Because all VRS calls are sent over an Internet connection, you must keep in mind that using a Sorenson videophone to place an emergency 911 call is subject to certain limitations and risks, particularly in comparison to 911 calls made using a voice telephone. For example, you may not be able to place a 911 call with a Sorenson videophone if an Internet connection failure or a power outage occurs, or if your Broadband or ISP service has been terminated. For more information about 10-digit numbers and the limitations and risks associated with using a Sorenson videophone to place a 911 call, please visit Sorenson's Web site at www.sorenson.com/disclaimer.

December 16, 2008 Sorenson Communications First VRS Provider Approved to Load VRS Numbers Into Numbering Directory

SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 16, 2008)-Sorenson Communications^® today announced it is the first Video Relay Service (VRS) provider to be approved to load VRS numbers into the numbering database production system required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The approval to load numbers into the system, known by the FCC as the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Numbering Directory, was given on Nov. 14. The approval is another important step in readying Sorenson Communications' backend technical systems in preparation to offer and support real telephone numbers and Enhanced 911 (E911) services to Sorenson VRS^® users. The FCC is requiring all VRS providers offer these services by Dec. 31, 2008.

"This is another first in a very long line of firsts for Sorenson Communications. This significant accomplishment reinforces our committed to meeting the requirements of the FCC and the needs of our customers as we provide them with the best Video Relay Services possible," notes Pat Nola, Sorenson Communications President and CEO.

Sorenson Communications, the leading provider of VRS to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, and other VRS providers are required to be approved by the provider of the centralized telephone numbering system as part of implementing the recent FCC order. Real telephone numbers will replace past Sorenson videophone numbers, which were IP addresses or "proxy" numbers.

In addition to providing E911, Sorenson Communications will be offering VRS users two types of real numbers-local 10-digit and DirectVP numbers. A DirectVP number is a toll-free number. Information on both types of numbers is available at www.svrs.com/connect.

December 12, 2008 Sorenson Communications and Berlitz Introduce Virtual Course in Spoken Spanish to Increase Number of Top-Quality Trilingual ASL Interpreters

SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 12, 2008)—Sorenson Communications^®, the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Services (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced it has partnered with Berlitz Languages, Inc. Sorenson Communications has launched an online Spanish comprehension and proficiency course for its American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters who want to become more proficient trilingual interpreters. These interpreters are already proficient in English and ASL, but are seeking assistance to increase their ability to interpret to and from Spoken Spanish. The new online spoken Spanish course is named the Berlitz Virtual Course. Interpreters can access the course to download interactive audio lessons by logging in using their home computers or the computers located in Sorenson VRS Interpreting Centers.

The demand for trilingual interpreters in the United States is growing faster than the pool of candidates ready to fill those positions, notes Chris Wakeland, Vice President of Interpreting for Sorenson Communications. "Spanish is the second most-commonly spoken language in the United States, and there is a strong need for interpreting services between deaf individuals and hearing people within America's fast-growing Hispanic and Latino communities."

The new language development course complements Sorenson VRS Español 24/7, a program launched in March 2007 that provides trilingual interpreters to Sorenson VRS^® users. All of Sorenson Communications' trilingual interpreters are tested and professionally rated in spoken Spanish by Berlitz, one of the world's premier language education companies. To become a Sorenson Communications trilingual interpreter or to take the Berlitz Virtual Course, an ASL interpreter must first be tested by Berlitz in spoken Spanish. Candidates who score in the top three ratings are eligible to become Sorenson Communications trilingual interpreters. Those who fall below can take the Berlitz Virtual Course and test again later.

The first group of Sorenson Communications ASL interpreters graduated from the Berlitz Virtual Course last March. Each participant improved his or her Spanish speaking and comprehension skills by at least one level, Wakeland reports.

The Berlitz course requires five hours per week for ten weeks and is free to Sorenson Communications ASL interpreters who have completed the Berlitz oral comprehension and spoken Spanish tests.

"The course really catered to my needs," says Rosalie McChesney, a video interpreter at the San Antonio Sorenson VRS Interpreting Center. "The use of technology is fantastic. I was able to complete the course from my home. We used eight CDs and a textbook and covered conversation, reading, vocabulary, grammar. We also had open discussions on different topics. I learned a great deal and gained more confidence in my Spanish."

Sorenson VRS Español 24/7 allows deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate to conduct free VRS calls to Spanish-speaking hearing individuals anywhere in the U.S. or its territories. When placing a call, the deaf individual sees the Sorenson VRS interpreter on a TV screen and communicates in sign language with him or her while the interpreter talks to the Spanish-speaking hearing party via a standard telephone. The Sorenson VRS trilingual interpreter then relays the conversation between the two parties fluidly and in real-time. Access to this nationwide communication network requires a videophone, a TV screen, and a broadband Internet connection.

November 24, 2008 Sorenson Communications Offers First College Accredited Interpreter Professional Development Courses

SALT LAKE CITY (Nov. 24 2008) – Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Services (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate, today announced sponsorship of new professional development education courses that allow Sorenson Communications interpreters to improve their skills while earning college credit.

Accredited by the American Council on Education (ACE), the six-course Effective Interpreting Series also qualifies for Continuing Education Units for the Registry of the Interpreters for the Deaf's (RID) Certification Maintenance Program.

"I am honored and excited to work with Sorenson Communications to bring college-level courses to its interpreters," notes acclaimed sign language interpreter educator Carol Patrie, author of The Effective Interpreting Series and the course instructor. "This is a wonderful opportunity for interpreters to increase their professional knowledge base. Sorenson Communications' offer to provide these courses internally at no cost for interpreters is ground-breaking and forward thinking."

The training consists of six one-credit courses currently offered in Chattanooga, Tenn. Each course has been accredited by the American Council on Education and successful completion of a course provides one academic credit that can be used for graduate or undergraduate coursework.

"This series, offered at the university level, enhances my interpreter training," says Sharon McLaughlin, Nashville VRS Video Interpreter (VI). "My interpreting skills are further strengthened because of the solid training provided, which allows me to better service VRS callers and the deaf community."

Language Matters, Inc., in partnership with Patrie and publisher DawnSignPress, created the courses and obtained accreditation for each course through ACE's rigorous approval process. ACE also provides a transcript and tracking service for students who enroll in the ACE system.

"Dr. Patrie's training program is unprecedented in this field," said Amy Kalmus, Sorenson Communications Professional Development Director. "This training is the first of its kind for our Video Interpreters. We are pleased it is being led by one of the most respected professionals in the business."

Soon, the RID will require interpreters have a college degree to be eligible to sit for certification. The new training series is a significant opportunity for current interpreters who are working toward a college degree.

Additional information about the courses is available at www.languagemattersinc.com, under the Effective Interpreter Professional Education Series. Information on the texts for these courses, The Effective Interpreting Series, is available at www.dawnsign.com (keyword: interpreting).

October 23, 2008 Western Oregon University Wins the 2008 Sorenson VRS Interpreter Education Program Award of Excellence

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO (October 23, 2008)- Sorenson Communications^®, the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Services (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate, has named Western Oregon University's (WOU) ASL/English Interpreting Program the recipient of the Sorenson VRS^® (SVRS) Interpreter Education Program (IEP) Award of Excellence. The award, to be presented annually, was announced last night at the Conference of Interpreter Trainers (CIT) 2008 Conference. The honor recognizes WOU's effort to respond to the broadening communication needs of the deaf community by strengthening programs and incorporating VRS tracks into its curriculum.

Earlier this year, Sorenson Communications, the world's largest employer of sign language interpreters, established the SVRS IEP Award of Excellence to encourage programs to expand curriculum and respond to the ever-increasing demand for interpreters. WOU met specific eligibility criteria and was awarded $10,000, to be reinvested in curriculum and training to strengthen WOU's already existing and new programs. The award also covered the cost of attendance at CIT for two WOU program members.

Chris Wakeland, Vice President of Interpreting for Sorenson Communications notes, "With the growing popularity of VRS, there is a tremendous demand for highly-trained VRS interpreters. By providing work-ready and community-driven practicum and mentorship opportunities, WOU's ASL/English Interpreting Program is preparing IEP graduates for the rigors of community and VRS interpreting work. In addition, WOU is monitoring graduates' certification and employment levels, then strengthening curriculum so that the time between graduation and when graduates enter the workforce is reduced."

Elisa Maroney, coordinator for WOU's ASL/English Interpreting Program, expressed appreciation for the award and emphasized WOU's commitment to the deaf community.

"WOU's interpreting program faculty stay abreast of what is most current in the field of interpreting and interpreter education. With the emergence of VRS interpreting, the merging of interpreting and technology, we decided that for our students to be most marketable and to be able to serve their consumers to the best of their abilities, incorporating VRS into our curriculum was critical," Maroney says. "WOU will use the award funds to research entry-level interpreter readiness. Research findings will inform faculty so that evidence-based changes to our curriculum and programs may be implemented."

For more information on the eligibility requirements for this year's SVRS IEP Award of Excellence, visit www.svrs.com/IEP.

October 1, 2008 New Sorenson Communications SIPRelay Call Center Opens in Price, Utah

Communications Assistants Provide Services for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Individuals

PRICE, Utah (Oct. 1, 2008)—Sorenson Communications^®, the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Services for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate, today announced the official opening of its newly completed Sorenson IP Relay^® (SIPRelay) Call Center, located in Price, Utah. A ribbon-cutting is planned for Wednesday, at 5 p.m., at the new center, located on the corner of 600 W. and 200 S., in Price.

SIPRelay is a free service that enables deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, located anywhere in the country, to quickly and easily communicate with hearing phone users from any PC or mobile device.

The 9,500-square-foot SIPRelay Call Center was created in response to the increased demand for SIPRelay services and has been operating in a temporary Price facility since February.

The SIPRelay Call Center employs both part-time and full-time individuals as Communications Assistants (CAs) and support personnel. As demand for SIPRelay increases, the employee base will grow to more than 100 individuals, all of whom will receive initial and ongoing training.

Pat Nola, president and CEO of Sorenson Communications, announced, "We are pleased to be opening this new SIPRelay Call Center in Price, where there are many students who need part-time and flexible work and residents who seek full-time employment. The SIPRelay Call Center in Price and the Communications Assistants who work there will provide much-needed services to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals."

When the establishment of the SIPRelay Call Center was announced last December, Utah Governor Jon Huntsman noted, "The citizens of Carbon and Emery Counties have a strong work ethic and will be a tremendous asset to Sorenson Communications. These jobs will further diversify the workforce and stimulate valuable economic development in that part of the state."

For more information on SIPRelay, visit www.siprelay.com

September 16, 2008 Sorenson Communications Enables Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing SIPRelay Users to Receive Calls from Hearing Individuals through AIM

SALT LAKE CITY (Sept. 16, 2008)—Sorenson Communications^®, the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Services for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use American Sign Language to communicate, today announced that deaf and hard-of-hearing SIPRelay users can now receive calls from hearing associates on their computers or mobile devices while using AOL Instant Messenger ™ (AIM^®).

Using a standard telephone, hearing callers can contact deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals by dialing the toll free number 1-866-SIPRelay (1-866-747-7352) and providing the Communications Assistant (CA) with the deaf individual's AIM Screen Name. The CA connects to the deaf individual and relays the call through text-based messages. The CA speaks the deaf SIPRelay user's response to the hearing individual.

SIPRelay users can create an "away" message on AIM, which alerts callers to the fact that he or she is still connected to AIM, but is currently unavailable or away from the device. Hearing callers can then leave a message, which the deaf individual will receive the next time he or she is available.

All that is needed to use SIPRelay is a computer with an Internet connection or a mobile device with AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). SIPRelay calls are quickly relayed through one of Sorenson's professional CAs, who are available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.

"Empowering deaf SIPRelay users to receive calls from hearing individuals is one more way Sorenson Communications is demonstrating its commitment to breaking down communication barriers between the deaf and hearing worlds," notes Pat Nola, Sorenson Communications President and CEO. "Sorenson Communications continues to create innovative solutions that offer the highest-quality communication products and services for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals."

To let hearing family, friends, and associates know about this new way they can be contacted, SIPRelay users can print and distribute SIPRelay Contact Cards. These can be easily downloaded and printed by visiting www.svrs.com/contact_cards.

July 22, 2007 Sorenson Communications Supports the National Forum on Disability Issues

SALT LAKE CITY (July 22, 2008)- Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of communication offerings for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, today announced its joint co-sponsorship, with the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), of the upcoming National Forum on Disability Issues.

United States presidential candidates have been invited to participate at the event to present their vision for the future of disability policy in America. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), presumptive nominee for the Republican Party, will be participating via satellite from Arizona. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) will be participating at the forum in Ohio as the surrogate for Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party. The presentations will be followed by questions, moderated by Judy Woodruff, senior correspondent and 2008 political editor for the "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer."

"As the nation's leading provider of communication products and services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, Sorenson Communications is pleased to join members of these communities at this exciting event. Future leaders of our country will learn, first-hand, ways deaf individuals are empowered through technology," noted Sorenson Communications' Community Relations Vice President Ron Burdett. "Sorenson Communications is dedicated to ensuring that comprehensive, functionally equivalent communication services, including Video Relay Services (VRS), are available for every deaf and hard-of-hearing individual who uses sign language to communicate."

The National Forum on Disability Issues, to be held July 26, at the Conference and Technology Center, in Columbus, Ohio, is a nonpartisan forum on national disability policy. More than 1,000 Americans with disabilities and their friends and family will attend the event and commemorate the 18th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Registration for the conference is required. More information on registering for the forum can be found at www.aapd.com.

July 7, 2008 Sorenson Communications Offers First-Ever, Live Video-Based ASL Language Mentor Program

Deaf ASL experts provide one-on-one training to enhance interpreters' skills

SALT LAKE CITY (July 7, 2008) - Sorenson Communications^®, the leading provider of Video Relay Services (VRS) for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate, today announced it will provide a new Language Mentor Program. The program will pair leading Deaf ASL experts with Sorenson Communications ASL interpreters who aspire to improve their skills and increase their breadth of experience.

The 16-week Language Mentor Program will offer Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS) interpreters in most areas of the United States intensive one-on-one mentoring. The weekly mentoring sessions will enhance interpreters' ability to provide effective and high-quality VRS experiences.

"The highly-skilled Deaf mentors in our program are the recognized experts in the interpreting world," said Dawn Smith Raymond, National Video Interpreter-Provisional (VI-P) Manager for Sorenson Communications. "This new 16-week program will build upon what SVRS interpreters have learned in their schooling and community work. Mentoring opportunities and national certification preparation, included in the program, are designed to broaden SVRS interpreters' training and strengthen their existing skills. As a result, those who complete the Language Mentor Program will be better prepared for both VRS and community interpreting work."

To accommodate varying work schedules, the Language Mentor Program, provided at no cost to SVRS interpreters, is designed in modules that can be completed from the interpreter's home. The mentoring sessions are conducted via Sorenson Communications videophones.

Matt Gwynn, Language Mentor Program Coordinator for Sorenson Communications, says, "Sorenson Communications is committed to the professional advancement of its interpreters. This new training provides exposure to regional differences in ASL style - 'accents' and dialects that may be encountered in a professional VRS setting."

Amy Kalmus, Director of Professional Development for Sorenson Communications, notes, "Sorenson Communications recognized the need for extended interpreter training and so is now pioneering this one-of-a-kind mentoring program. Ultimately, SVRS interpreters will be better prepared for their work. And the Deaf community will enjoy enhanced quality in their calls as a result of training by some of the best Deaf or native users of ASL mentors in the industry."

Currently, the new Language Mentor Program is only open to SVRS interpreters. Language mentors must meet specific eligibility criteria to participate. These include being a native ASL user, experience with formal training in ASL, experience as a Deaf interpreter, and American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA) certification. For more information on becoming a Language Mentor, contact Matt Gwynn at LMP@sorenson.com.

June 19, 2008 Sorenson Communications' DirectVP Numbers to Streamline Calling

Clic aquí para leer el anuncio en español.

SALT LAKE CITY (June 19, 2008)- Sorenson Communications™, the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Services for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate, today announced it now provides its Sorenson Video Relay Service (SVRS) users with DirectVP numbers for their Sorenson videophones.

Sorenson Communications President and CEO Pat Nola explained, "This new feature will greatly simplify and streamline the process for hearing callers to contact deaf individuals who use SVRS, further helping to break down communication barriers, which is Sorenson's mission."

The new DirectVP numbers are designed to be less confusing for hearing callers, allowing them to contact deaf individuals directly through just one number.

DirectVP numbers are available for Sorenson VP-100^® and VP-200^® videophones and no account need be set up or activated. SVRS users simply select their own DirectVP number from their videophone. Once a DirectVP number is selected it will appear on the home screen. All calls placed via the new DirectVP numbers are free of charge. SVRS users can call each other by dialing either a new DirectVP number or through the existing Sorenson videophone number.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals with DirectVP numbers will now be able to include just one phone number in contact information on important documents, such as resumes and medical information forms. Those who do not have an SVRS DirectVP number will still have to include two numbers: the Sorenson VRS number (1-866-FAST-VRS) and their Sorenson videophone number or IP address.

Debbie Willman, a deaf DirectVP number user who lives in Middletown, Ohio, gave her DirectVP number to her doctor's office. "The office called me and the call went through without having to use a secondary phone number; so it was easier for the doctor to call me directly. We both thought it was very cool. I am going to give my new DirectVP number to my family and to my dentist's office as well."

To assist SVRS users in letting others know of the change from the existing videophone number to a DirectVP number, Sorenson Communications has created contact cards for SVRS users to personalize and distribute to hearing friends, family, co-workers, and associates. The cards also include an explanation of SVRS and how it works. Complete instructions on obtaining a DirectVP number as well as information on the downloadable SVRS contact cards can be found by visiting www.svrs.com.

Números DirectVP de Sorenson Communications Mejoraran la Eficacia de Llamadas

SALT LAKE CITY (19 junio 2008) - Sorenson Communications™, proveedor preeminente de Servicios de Retransmisión de Video para personas con discapacidades auditivas que utilizan lenguaje de señas Americanos (ASL), hoy anuncio que proporcionará a usuarios de Servicios de Televideo de Sorenson (SVRS), números de DirectVP para sus televideos Sorenson.

Presidente y Director Ejecutivo de Sorenson Communications Pat Nola explicó, "Este nuevo sistema simplificará y mejorará considerablemente la eficacia del proceso para que personas de sentido auditivo normal podrán contactar individuales sordos que utilizan SVRS, asistiendo en la continuación de superar barreras de comunicación, lo cual es la misión de Sorenson."

Los nuevos números de DirectVP se diseñaron para presentar menos confusión a personas de buen oído que llaman, permitiéndoles contactar individuales con discapacidades auditivas directamente por medio de solo un numero.

Números de DirectVP son disponibles para los televideos Sorenson VP-100^® y VP-200^® sin tener que establecer o activar una cuenta. Usuarios de SVRS simplemente seleccionan su propio número de DirectVP en su televideo. Al escoger un número de DirectVP, aparecerá en la pantalla del punto de origen. Todas las llamadas hechas a través del nuevo número de DirectVP serán gratuitas. Usuarios de SVRS podrán llamarse uno al otro marcando el nuevo número DirectVP, o el número existente del televideo Sorenson.

Personas con discapacidades auditivas con números de DirectVP ahora podrán incluir solo un número de teléfono para datos de contacto en documentos importantes, como currículum vitae y formularios médicos. Personas sin número de DirectVP todavía tendrán que incluir dos números: el de Sorenson VRS (1-866-FAST-VRS) y el de su televideo Sorenson o dirección Protocolo de Internet (IP).

Debbie Willman, usuario de DirectVP con discapacidad auditiva viviendo en Middletown, Ohio, proporcionó su numero DirectVP a la oficina de su medico. "La oficina me llamó y se completó la llamada sin tener que usar un numero de teléfono secundario, así que fue más fácil para que mi doctor me llamara directamente. Ambos lo apreciamos. Le daré mi nuevo número de DirectVP a mi familia y a la oficina de mi dentista, también."

Para asistir a los usuarios de SVRS en informar a otras personas sobre el cambio del número existente de su videófono al número de DirectVP, Sorenson Communications ha creado tarjetas de contacto para personalizar y distribuir a familia, amistades, colegas y asociados con sentido auditivo normal. Las tarjetas también incluyen una explicación de SVRS y como funciona. Instrucciones completas para como obtener un número de DirectVP, e información sobre las tarjetas de contacto SVRS disponible para descarga se encuentran en la página www.svrs.com.

June 16, 2008 Sorenson Communications Announces New SVRS Interpreter Education Program Award of Excellence

SALT LAKE CITY (June 16, 2008)- Sorenson Communications™, the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Services (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate, today announced a new award. The Sorenson VRS^® (SVRS) Interpreter Education Program (IEP) Award of Excellence will recognize training programs that incorporate VRS tracks into their curriculum and continually improve their programs in response to the broadening communication needs of the deaf community.

Sorenson Communications, the world's largest employer of sign language interpreters, is implementing the new award to encourage programs to train increasing numbers of high-quality professional interpreters.

The SVRS IEP Award of Excellence will be presented to two IEPs that meet or exceed specific criteria. The winning programs will be awarded $10,000, to be reinvested in curriculum and training materials to strengthen already existing programs. This year's awards will be announced at the Conference of Interpreter Trainers (CIT) 2008 Conference, to be held in Puerto Rico, Oct. 22 through 25. In addition to the $10,000 awarded to each program, the cost of attendance at CIT will be paid for two faculty members from each winning program.

Chris Wakeland, Vice President of Interpreting for Sorenson Communications notes, "Our goal is to recognize IEPs that are effectively preparing interpreting students. As a result of this training, the time between graduation and when they enter the workforce is reduced."

Wakeland adds that with the growing popularity of VRS, the demand for highly-trained interpreters has never been greater. "This new award will recognize IEPs that go above and beyond routine training, those that provide extraordinary curriculum, learning, and mentoring opportunities for their students."

VRS tracks offered
Supervised practicum opportunities
Mentorship opportunities
Accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education (CCIE) or an initiative to track accreditation
Proposed use of award funds
The number of graduates that have either NAD-RID-National Certification tested or have received state quality assurance screening or certification at an advanced or higher level within six months of graduation
The number of graduates gainfully employed in the field of interpreting by November 1, 2007, following graduation

The original deadline to apply for the SVRS IEP Award of Excellence was August 1, 2008. The deadline has been extended to August 29, 2008. Complete instructions can be accessed at www.svrs.com/IEP.

June 12, 2008 Sorenson Communications Now Offers SIPRelay Mobile for BlackBerry Smartphones

SALT LAKE CITY (June 12, 2008)— Sorenson Communications™, the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Services for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use American Sign Language to communicate, today announced the launch of SIPRelay™ Mobile for BlackBerry^® smartphones from Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq:RIMM; TSX:RIM).

SIPRelay Mobile, which works seamlessly with the company's current SIPRelay service, streamlines calling and enables deaf and hard-of-hearing users to place free calls while on the go to any hearing telephone user in the United States and its territories. Users can place wireless calls from their call history list and from their BlackBerry smartphones' address book. Calls are quickly relayed through a network of text-to-speech Communication Assistants (CAs), who are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

"We are pleased to be able to offer this powerful and flexible mobile communication tool to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals," said Pat Nola, President and CEO of Sorenson Communications. "SIPRelay Mobile for BlackBerry smartphones makes it easier for users to connect to the SIPRelay service. It is our goal to continue to create innovative solutions that provide communication options for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community."

To place a SIPRelay Mobile call, a deaf or hard-of-hearing user first downloads the free application from www.siprelay.com/download using his or her BlackBerry^® browser (or to a PC for later installation on the BlackBerry smartphone). The individual then enters the number of the person he or she wishes to call on the BlackBerry smartphone and types in a message on the "chat" screen. A professional Sorenson CA receives the message, contacts the hearing telephone user, and reads the message to that person. As the hearing telephone user responds, the CA types out the reply and dialog flows back and forth fluidly between the caller and the hearing person.

May 2, 2008 Video Relay Service is Providing Functionally Equivalent Communication for More Deaf People

Increase in NECA's VRS estimate for the 2008 – 2009 fund year illustrates the importance of this communication service

SALT LAKE CITY (May 2, 2008)—In its annual submission to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today, the National Exchange Carriers Association (NECA) reported to the FCC that use of Video Relay Service (VRS) by the deaf is increasing. NECA projects that for the 2008-2009 rate year that the number of VRS minutes will increase by nearly 30 percent over the comparable period in 2007-2008.

Ron Burdett, Vice President of Community Relations of Sorenson Communications, a provider of VRS, said, "This projected increase in the use of VRS is welcome news. VRS enables deaf individuals to communicate in their first and native language—American Sign Language (ASL). VRS is the most functionally equivalent communication option for deaf individuals. Sorenson Communications is investing in the much needed technology and outreach programs to make VRS accessible to all deaf people."

Video Relay Service technology enables visual communication, a welcome breakthrough after years of text-based messaging, which often requires turn-taking and long waits for text-based messages to be delivered. By contrast, through VRS, deaf individuals can connect with the hearing world in real-time. Using a videophone, a deaf caller simply connects to a VRS interpreter (who is fluent in ASL) and places a call to a hearing individual. The deaf individual signs the message to the interpreter, who speaks the message to the hearing recipient. The interpreter then "relays" the conversation back and forth between the individuals.

NECA reported to the FCC that it expects more than 103 million VRS minutes of use and approximately 74 million minutes of IP Relay use during the funding year from July 2008 through June 2009. NECA projects a fund size of $805.5 million, approximately $657 million of which would be for VRS.

"Our goal is to provide access to VRS for every deaf person who uses ASL, and we are making the investment to continue working toward that goal," explained Burdett. "From this report it appears that other providers are doing the same."

April 21, 2008 Sorenson Communications Praises FCC 911 Decision

SALT LAKE CITY (April 21, 2008)-Sorenson Communications today commended the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC's) decision to require Video Relay Service (VRS) and IP Relay service providers to ensure that [emergency] 911 service is available to deaf users of these services. The FCC decision was published in today's Federal Register.

"911 service is as important to a deaf person as it is to a hearing person," said Pat Nola, President and CEO of Sorenson Communications. "Sorenson has offered prioritized 911 services to its VRS users for more than a year, which has resulted in our leading the industry in offering emergency VRS services. Sorenson invested in interpreter training, VRS education for 911 operators, and back-end integration with Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). Sorenson Communications made the decision to invest in 911 technology years ago because it is a vital service that should be available for all callers."

The FCC decision will require all providers of VRS and IP Relay services to the deaf to:

Accept and process all 911 calls
Give 911 emergency calls priority service by moving them to the top of the call queue
Deliver emergency calls to the appropriate PSAP

Sorenson VRS users can place 911 emergency calls 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

"We praise FCC Chairman Martin and the other Commissioners for taking this important step," said Nola. "More must be done to make 911 more efficient for deaf users. Our users can count on Sorenson Communications to lead the way in developing innovative and reliable 911 emergency solutions."

March 11, 2008 Sorenson Communications Garners 2008 CAL-ED Contributor of the Year Award

SALT LAKE CITY (March 11, 2008)—Sorenson Communications™, the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Services for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate, today announced that it has received the 2008 California Educators for the Deaf (CAL-ED) Contributor of the Year Award. The award was presented to Sorenson Communications at a banquet on Saturday at a CAL-ED conference, held in San Ramon, Calif. Sorenson Communications Vice President of Community Relations Ron Burdett accepted the award on behalf of the company.

The Contributor of the Year Award is presented by CAL-ED, the largest western United States professional organization for the deaf, for outstanding contribution to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Criteria for the award include: a working relationship with deaf and hard-of-hearing children and/or adults; giving of its time unselfishly to the education of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals; supporting staff in the education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students; and supporting the "field of deafness" for at least three years.

"Sorenson Communications is greatly deserving of the 2008 CAL-ED Contributor Award, for its leadership in providing access for the deaf community to the hearing world, and especially for its continuing commitment to communication access between languages and cultures," said Richard Kendall, past president of CAL-ED and 2008 awards chair. "Since 2003, Sorenson videophones have greatly improved communication between the deaf and hearing communities and provided career opportunities and role models for deaf and hard-of-hearing adults and children."

CAL-ED also acknowledged Sorenson Communications' volunteer work at many school functions, such as job fairs, career days and conferences, and for donating millions of dollars to support the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

"We are deeply honored to receive the prestigious CAL-ED Contributor of the Year Award for 2008," said Ron Burdett. "We are especially delighted to receive this award from CAL-ED, an organization that is highly attuned to the needs and interests of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community."

February 20, 2008 Library of Congress Installs Sorenson Communications Videophones Agency-Wide for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Staff

SALT LAKE CITY (Feb. 20, 2008)—Sorenson Communications™, the nation's leading provider of Video Relay Services for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate, today announced that the U.S. Library of Congress has implemented an agency-wide videophone communication system. Sorenson Communications has licensed 16 of its VP-200^® videophones and is providing training and ongoing support free of charge to the Library of Congress, one of the first federal agencies to set up a videophone network agency-wide for the benefit of staff members who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.

The VP-200 videophones and Sorenson Video Relay Service (SVRS) will enable deaf and hard-of-hearing Library of Congress staff members to conduct calls with hearing individuals via a high-speed Internet connection, television screen, and a qualified ASL interpreter. Using SVRS, deaf callers connect to a nationwide network of ASL interpreters. Callers see an interpreter on their TV screen and sign a message to the interpreter, who then contacts the hearing recipient on a standard phone line and relays the conversation between the two parties. SVRS is revolutionizing communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals as it enables them to communicate in their native language, which relies heavily on body language, facial expressions, and quick hand movements.

"This technology greatly improves the ability of our deaf colleagues to conduct their daily business and it underscores our commitment to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act," said Doug Meick, program manager for the library's Assistive Technology Demonstration Center. "We hope other federal agencies will see our partnership with private industry and follow our example."

The Library of Congress developed a secure internal network to link the Sorenson Communications videophones. The network serves all 20 deaf staff members who work in a variety of positions throughout the library. The Library of Congress, the research arm of the U.S. Congress, is the world's largest library and offers 30 million books and 134 million catalogued items representing more than 450 languages.

"We are very pleased that the Library of Congress has taken these steps to provide Video Relay Service and video phones for their deaf and hard-of-hearing staff," said Pat Nola, president and CEO of Sorenson Communications. "The Library of Congress is leading the way for other federal agencies to offer the most effective communication solution available to their deaf and hard-of-hearing employees."

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