Nevertheless, I tried again today (Monday) and made the call to myfedvrs.tv. I got a middle aged female who looked quite professional. She gave me the impression that she was a high-caliber interpreter. As the conversation began, she had her mouth closed and signed pure ASL. Now that was a first! Very few people can sign pure ASL with their mouth closed. That was neat to see. However, I cannot say the same about her voicing skills. She kept missing my fingerspelling and also a few of my signs. She never bothered to double check with me. Instead, she just apologized to the friend that I called, and said "Interpreter error" and continued interpreting. Now I thought that was unprofessional. I think every interpreter should ALWAYS double check with the clients regardless. My hearing friend agreed, the conversation was confusing at times.
Anyhow, they have a clean and simple website. Easy to navigate. They offer a 10-digit number, Spanish VRS, a software you can download to your PC or MAC, and VCO. They do not do VRI, IP-relay, or captel.
- ASL Video users : myfedvrs.tv
- Spanish Videophone users: espanol.myfedvrs.tv
- Videophone users : vco.myfedvrs.tv
- Non-emergency: 877.709.5798
- 911/Emergency: 877.646.7441
- (NEW) Hearing Callers: 877.709.5801
Next VRS Provider: Snap!VRS
Who ever said the government is supposed to be available to you 24/7? There are no government offices open on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteThis is supposed to be a service used by deaf federal employee as opposed to other VRS services. That's why the hours are limited. Feds contracts with Sprint to provide VRS and when the contract expires, other VRS can bid for that services. That's how the US Govt works.
ReplyDeleteactually, FEDVRS isn't open only to federal employees. the service is also available to federal territories such as native american reservations, and so we reasonably should expect it to remain open 24/7.
ReplyDeletesprint doesnt own the service, but was awarded the federal contract to provide FEDVRS. as expected it's been one suckfest. The GAO (the procurement agency for the fed govt) doesn't really provide remedies, otherwise i would have asked them to look into termination and re-opening the service to vendor competition.
i tried contacting the fedvrs rep with sprint and he was an impotent sack of flesh. very frustrating for me so i've been using convo.
More important is if all VRS interps are certified AND qualified. Read this for more info. More VRS companies are hiring NON-CERTIFIED and firing certified terps. WHY? because GOVT pays same 6.00 a minute NO MATTER IF CERTIFIED OR NOT!
ReplyDeleteWE MUST Complain to FCC! See here:
http://stopnoncertifiedvrs.blogspot.com
REALLY SURPRISE ME...
ReplyDeleteFEDVRS is contracting with ZVRS to use their interpreter service, same with SprintVRS is contracting with ZVRS.
ReplyDeleteSame with Convorelay dont have certified with FCC and intepreter! They using CAC system.
ReplyDeleteHey guys,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the great feedback.
I suppose it boils down to one question.
That question is How do we define the terms "reasonable accommodations"? (Is the government responsible to take the first step in providing reasonable accommodations?)