Sorenson’s Impact on Canada : Awakening (Part 1)

Hello Sir,

I think it shall be fair USA and Canadian to be help each other by supporting the vp sorenson because I have a friends who live other country. Why they reject the vp sorenson that can’t talk thru vp sorenson in near future. I am just hoping to be a peaceful in near future that we ,the hearing impaired people , need vp sorenson to have a good community people or communicate to on vp sorenson.

I’m not really sure why Deaf Americans are upset that Sorenson set up call centre’s in Canada? Firstly, the US didn’t have enough Interpreters to handle the need for VRS services. Prior there were long hold times for Deaf people. Now the hold time or wait for an Interpreter is very fast. Did Americans not want quality VRS service? As a VRS Interpreter here in Canada I feel Sorenson setting up call centres here in Canada will ensure that Deaf Canadians will get VRS service much faster. If it wasn’t for Sorenson there wouldn’t have even been a trial these past 18 months. The Deaf community would have had to wait longer for a trial. Someone would have had to develop software, equipment, hire staff and set up a company to provide the service. Very costly. I don’t disagree that once VRS is set up in Canada that Deaf Canadians should have a variety of options in terms of VRS providers. Yes, many Interpreters work for Sorenson. I would say 98% on a part time basis. This may be a few hours a week or month. Prior to Sorenson setting up I worked in a school district. I had minimal hours, and had a job in another field to supplement my income. I would say the majority of Interpreters were in the same situation. There wasn’t enough freelance work to go around. Since Sorenson set up Interpreters that left the field came back. VRS work is challenging but it has developed our Interpreting skills. We get a lot of receptive practise that we don’t get working in post secondary or freelance. We are becoming more confident in our skills. Sorenson is providing Pro-D so that we can become better Interpreters. Not just for Sorenson but out in the community. As Interpreters become more confident in their skills they are more willing to take other certifications. Such as medical interpreting, post secondary interpreting, etc. Interpreters that work at Sorenson still work in the community. Interpreters still volunteer in the community. Remember that about 97% of Interpreters are women, and we have families and young children. We try to juggle our family lives with the needs of the community. I also need to comment on Vincent’s Vlog. Firstly to say there were no Interpreters available for a medical appointment or a court appointment and then blame it on Sorenson is ridiculous. Here in BC you need specific Certifications to do both of those settings. Secondly, Vincent is very comfortable in his job. He has a salary…which Sorenson employees don’t have, benefits which Sorenson VRS Interpreters don’t get, and a pension which we also don’t get. Vincent is the Chair of the ASL & Deaf Studies Program at Vancouver Community College. A few years ago his program was going to be cut. It was deemed that there wasn’t a need for Interpreters in our community so they wanted to cut the program. Sorenson stepped up and worked hard to show there was a need for Interpreters. At that time Sorenson was hiring and they were able to show there was a need now and a need in the future. Interpreters in the community including Sorenson VRS Interpreters signed a petition to keep the program running. As well as to keep Vincent employed….this was even after he came to our West Coast Association of Visual Language Interpreters annual meeting and stated that he did not want Interpreters working at Sorenson, he did not care if we had work, he didn’t care if we couldn’t make a living. Even after that Interpreters still rallied behind him to help keep the Program at VCC running and in turn he still has his job. Sorenson has a policy that if an Interpreter is working at VRS and there is a medical emergency they can be excused or leave early from their shift. So as you see Sorenson VRS Interpreters are not that bad after all. The Deaf community has to remember Interpreters have rights too. We have the right to earn a living, to work where we choose, and a right to have time with our families. We are not available 24/7. If Sorenson were to shut down their call centres do you think Interpreters will stick around?? Many will leave the field in frustration! Many will have to look for a second or third job in another field to support their families! Will we be any more available to the Deaf Community? Will we develop our Interpreting skills when we are working in a different field to supplement our incomes? I guarantee if Sorenson call centres close in Canada many Interpreters will leave the field. I feel if you work with Sorenson and the Interpreting community you’ll get a lot further in your cause. I’m sure we’ll have permanent VRS much sooner. I know the Deaf community is angry about losing your VRS service. If someone took my cell phone away after having it I’d be really upset too. We need to work together!!

Any business in America is allowed to run their business anywhere in the world.

This is very common. It’s called outsourcing.

Many companies in America have customer services call center in other countries.

While I do not like the idea of making a call and speaking with customer service from Indonesia or other countries because of their accent. It is what it is. Very common practice by many American companies.

I think American companies should keep their workforce here in America.

However, this is not illegal and is allowed.