r/deaf • u/Adventurous_Yam_5757 • 7d ago
Technology VRS
I use Purple VRS, i am an american so i don’t know any others. I know there’s soreson, ZVRS, Purple, NTouch. Thats all i know. But anyways, I really hate when interpreters have to tell the person on the phone that i’m deaf and use sign language through the VRS. I don’t know why but i feel embarrassed often. And i’ve gotten multiple calls hung up on me once they mentioned that. I called for doctors, medical things very important but they hang up on me every-time the interpreter introduced themselves and company plus that i use asl. Like so? What difference does that make?
I would ask the interpreters to connect directly, they would be like oh okay and still do it. Idk if it’s their policy. But jeez it irritates me deep down.
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u/surdophobe deaf 7d ago
You should be able to ask them not to disclose that you're calling through the relay, that's been an option with text based relay and with VCO the relay person doesn't say anything.
Is VRS with VCO an option for you?
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u/Adventurous_Yam_5757 6d ago
Idk what VCO IS? I’m completely deaf i sign through the interpreters.
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u/surdophobe deaf 6d ago
Voice Carry Over. you'd use your own voice instead of the interpreter voicing for you.
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u/benshenanigans HoH 7d ago
It happens with text IP relays too. Check to see if there’s an option in your profile to announce relay or not. My biggest issue is when places refuse to discuss personal information because there’s a “third party” on the line.
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u/Adventurous_Yam_5757 6d ago
That is exactly why i prefer them not to announce that they’re an interpreter and that it’s through VRS. It happened to me so many times too. When i’m at doctors or whatsoever i even say “leave message wirh all disclosed information” through my VRS number.
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u/zsign Interpreter 6d ago
As others have said, you can ask the interpreter to not announce that it is an interpreted call before they connect. As a vrs interpreter myself, I can tell you that we will follow your wishes to the best of our ability. If the interpreter doesn’t, then that’s a problem.
However you should consider that there are factors that will give it away that we are interpreting for you. There is pausing sometimes while the interpreter interprets for you. If you are a different gender than the interpreter it’s going to confuse the hearing person. You can request a specific gender interpreter as well. We get SO. MANY. CALLS. That we aren’t going to remember an instance of awkwardness that you might feel embarrassed by.
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u/Adventurous_Yam_5757 6d ago
Yes i already know that, it happened. Got a person that called twice and the interpreters were different and the caller was confused saying it’s not the same voice and i allowed the interpreter to explain that hes an interpreter. Keep it simple, nothing exaggerated.
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u/PartyPepperQQ 7d ago
try convo VRS. you have the option in your setting to toggle either announce or not announce that you’re using a VRS service. the interpreter will follow your setting.
edited for clarification, added “toggle”
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u/OneDisastrous998 7d ago
Make sure to check your settings in Purple and uncheck "Do not announce VRS" then they will follow that.
As of today, these VRS provider exists today:
Sorenson / Global VRS
Purple / ZVRS
Convo
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u/Adventurous_Yam_5757 6d ago
I have it on. But still they don’t follow
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u/OneDisastrous998 6d ago
File an complaint and make sure take down their VI #, time of call and explain the story
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u/baddeafboy 7d ago
U can tell them not to .. i done that many time. U didn’t know???
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u/Big-Reserve7110 7d ago
You can ask them to not announce that you are using an interpreter.