Yesterday, I attended the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment’s Chicago Listening Tour to learn more about tools that make work environments friendlier to people with disabilities.  There are a number of new and emerging technologies, particularly for people that are hard of hearing, that help facilitate communications in the workplace.

Video Relay and VRS
Video Relay and VRS allow employees to communicate with managers in sign language, translating communication into spoken word and visa-versa.

Traditional Relay, Internet Relay and Captioned Phone Service
These services allow users to type information that is then spoken to the person they are communicating with.  That person can speak back to the service and the information will be translated into text.

Instant Messaging and Text Messaging
Broadband access and mobile wireless devices have made it easy for people to communicate via chat or text message.

Communication Access Real-Time (CART)
As a result of high-speed Internet, presentations and speeches can be translated into real-time captions, making it easy to follow along.

Technology is changing the world around us.  Thanks to telecommunications and broadband wireless technologies, those who have hearing loss are able to work and communicate more easily with their peers.

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