SALT LAKE CITY, UT--(Marketwire - January 7, 2011) - 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."
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), which enables text-to-speech relay communication.
Contact Information:
Press Contact
Ann Bardsley
Sorenson Communications
801.287.9897