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 re-enter 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.sorensonvrs.com . For more information about the VRSII, visit www.vrsii.com .
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.