Barrier-Free Communication with Sign Solutions

Could you tell me a bit about yourself and your role at Sign Solutions?

My name is Sophie Kang, and I am the Sales and Marketing Manager at Sign Solutions. I first became involved in the Deaf community when I did work experience at a local Deaf school over 10 years ago and I found it difficult to communicate with the children who all used British Sign Language to communicate. From then I went on to learn BSL at college and then University. Now I work to support and educate organisations on how they can become accessible for BSL users through the variety of services on offer at Sign Solutions.

What is your mission at Sign Solutions?

Sign Solution’s mission is to provide access and combat inequality by enabling people of different languages, cultures, and communities to talk to each other. My personal mission is to make as many services accessible as possible to BSL users across the UK. I want to live in a society where nobody faces a barrier in communication when accessing everyday services that hearing people may take for granted.

What sort of support does Sign Solutions provide?

Sign Solutions provides on-demand and around-the-clock interpreting, training and translation services nationwide, enabling Deaf people to communicate more effectively and gain equal access to information, products, services, education and work. Our on-demand Video Relay Service InterpretersLive! provides an innovative way for BSL users to communicate with organisations over the phone and in person through a qualified, NRCPD-registered interpreter.

Why are awareness days like Deaf Awareness Week important?

Awareness days like Deaf Awareness Week are crucial for fostering understanding, empathy, and promoting positive change in society, ultimately leading to a more inclusive and supportive environment for the Deaf community. Deaf Awareness Week provides an opportunity to educate, empower and highlight the experiences of Deaf individuals and Deaf Awareness Week helps dispel myths, misconceptions, and stereotypes surrounding the Deaf Community. By highlighting the challenges faced by the Deaf community, Deaf Awareness Week promotes inclusivity and encourages people to consider the needs of Deaf individuals in various aspects of life, such as education, employment, and public services.

Why is it important for Sign Solutions to provide inclusive online experiences?

Sign Solutions providing inclusive online experiences is important because it ensures that the Deaf community can access information and services without barriers. This includes offering sign language interpretation, BSL translations, Deaf Awareness training, captions, and other accessibility features to make online content and communication accessible to all.

Inclusive online experiences ensure that the Deaf Community have equal opportunities in education, employment, and other areas of life. By removing communication barriers, Sign Solutions can help level the playing field and enable Deaf individuals to participate fully in various online activities.