Certified sign language Interpreting services have been in high demand since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, the deaf community in the United States has become more visible than ever previously. In some cases, ASL interpreters have even achieved near-celebrity status.
Thanks to deafness no longer being an invisible disability, more businesses are starting to make efforts to cater to deaf consumers. The most notable of these being JPMorgan Chase.
JPMorgan Chase Is Now Making Sign Language Interpreting Services Available to Customers
Starting this month in Washington DC, JPMorgan Chase will be making real-time sign language interpreting services available to customers via video.
As part of a pilot project at the JPMorgan Chase branch near Washington’s Gallaudet University for deaf students, all customers will be greeted in spoken English and American Sign Language. Any customer with hearing loss will also be able to sign with a certified sign language interpreter via video or converse with bank employees with devices that connect to customer hearing aids.
Will Certified sign language interpreting services Roll-out to All JPMorgan Chase Branches?
At present, it isn’t clear whether JPMorgan Chase plans to roll-out certified sign language Interpreting services to branches nationwide. However, there are reasons to be hopeful that this will happen eventually.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) makes it clear that all U.S. businesses have a legal obligation to cater to deaf and hearing-impaired customers. However, as anyone who is deaf knows, many businesses and banks fall short of doing so.
Now thanks to advances in video streaming technology, businesses no longer have an excuse for not fully catering to the deaf community. As reported by the American Banker, businesses are also starting to realize that by investing in better accessibility, they may be able to reach up to 25% more customers.
Now in 2020, Even Small Businesses Can Invest in Better Accessibility
If U.S. banks start offering on-demand certified sign language Interpreting services, should other businesses follow suit? At Languagers, we think that other businesses should be doing so already.
JPMorgan Chase might seem like they are breaking new ground by making branches accessible to the deaf community. However, the Video Remote Interpreting Services technology JPMorgan Chase is using is nothing new. Neither does getting started with VRI require significant investment.
How You Can Make Your Business More Accessible to the Deaf Community
Would you like to take a leaf out of the JPMorgan Chase PR playbook? If so, doing so is altogether easy.
At Languagers, we can connect businesses with remote certified sign language interpreter in a matter of minutes. All it takes is one phone call and installation of our app on a modern laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Learn more about sign language interpretation here.
As soon as our software is up and running, you will be able to request an ASL interpreter any time 24/7 to appear on-screen and communicate with deaf customers on your behalf.
Get Ahead of the Herd
At Languagers, we don’t just help small to medium-sized businesses comply fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act. As well as this, we can help you improve your profit margins, by becoming the place in town to shop, eat, get takeout, or do business if you have a hearing impairment.
Get Ahead of the herd now by reaching out to one of our team to find out how we can help make your business more accessible.