NEWS RELEASE
SAPD Becomes First Police Organization To Implement Revolutionary
Interpreting Services; Sets National Precedent For Serving Deaf America
San Antonio, TX - (January 4, 2005) - The San Antonio Police Department has contracted with Deaf Link, Inc. to provide Internet-based deaf interpreting services at its main headquarters and its substations throughout San Antonio. We are the first police organization in the country to offer its deaf community this type of service. This partnership with Deaf Link gives our police officers and department personnel the ability to communicate with deaf and hard of hearing citizens at police facilities 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"Our implementation of Deaf Link’s services sets a new standard
for how our department can better serve and protect San Antonio," said Chief Albert
Ortiz. "We are now able to communicate with the deaf in critical time-sensitive
situations, without the risks posed by waiting for on-site interpreters. It is
a win-win for everyone involved."
Deaf Link utilizes state of the art technology, the Internet and American Sign
Language (ASL) interpreters to provide clear communication access for the deaf
and hard of hearing. Deaf Link has a San Antonio-based communication center,
staffed with state and nationally certified sign language interpreters, which
is open 24 hours a day. It is estimated that San Antonio currently
has a deaf/hard-of-hearing
population of approximately 115,400.
Through Internet video conferencing, Deaf Link provides the SAPD with quality
three-way communication between the officer, a certified ASL interpreter and
the deaf individual. According to Kay Chiodo, President/CEO of Deaf Link, Inc., "When a police officer, detective or case worker needs to communicate with a deaf citizen, whether to take a report or file a statement, now they can do this fast and effectively using the on-demand availability of Deaf Link at the department’s headquarters and substations."
"Deaf Link’s goal is to provide deaf and hard of hearing people the same opportunities and level of service that is available to the rest of the population," Chiodo said. "As the first police organization to utilize this type of service the San Antonio Police Department is setting a precedent for police departments throughout the United States, in addition to setting an example for all agencies and businesses that should be accessible to their deaf consumers and clientele."
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