The Capsule Group and Sign Shares Inc./International held an event in Galveston, Texas on Friday, June 3, to address Deaf community concerns regarding the use of Video Remote Interpreting, or VRI, in health care settings.
The event was held at the Galveston City Hall.
According to the report, Galveston resident Janie Morales, who is Deaf, wants a live interpreter.
“When Janie Morales goes to the hospital, she doesn’t want to speak to a computer screen,” according to the report.
One of Morales’ chief complaints was that VRI was on a small screen and it was difficult to see.
Attendees requested more information about how to request live interpreters and shared their experiences with healthcare interpreting in general.
The group also discussed revisions to healthcare law Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which will now hold the higher standard of giving preference to the individual with a disability’s choice of accommodation. While revisions to Section 1557 go into effect in July, complaints are active now, since preference for consumer choice was already in effect under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
If you’re concerned about not having a choice about the use of Video Remote Interpreting with your healthcare professional, you can call Video Phone: Deaf / Hard-of-Hearing: VP1: 832-431-3854 or VP2: 832-431-4889 to discuss it with Sign Shares advocates.
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