Hands On Video Relay Service Opens
VRS Call Center in Puerto Rico
ROCKLIN, CA — August 23, 2006 — Hands On Video Relay Service, Inc. (HOVRS), a recognized leader in high quality Video Relay Services (VRS), is pleased to announce the opening of its sixth call center. The call center is located in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico and provides Spanish VRS to Spanish communities nationwide, including Puerto Rico.
HOVRS will celebrate the opening of its newest call center during an open house reception on Sept 16, 2006.
HOVRS en Español Service Launched February 21, 2006
In order to meet the growing demands of VRS services within the Spanish speaking community, “HOVRS en Español” has been established. HOVRS en Español enables Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Spanish-speaking customers to communicate through the use of a tri or bi-lingual video interpreter. Since February 21, 2006, HOVRS has been in partnership with ASL Services, Inc. (ASLS), a sign language interpreting agency with an exceptional awareness of both the Deaf and Hispanic cultures. Specializing in American Sign Language (ASL), ASL Services, Inc. offers quick and seamless communication for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and the Hispanic communities.
Providing Opportunities in Puerto Rico
With the introduction of a call center in Puerto Rico, we anticipate an influx of opportunities for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
“As seen in other communities across the country—when communication barriers are removed and Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals can access communication with ease—an array of opportunities arise. These opportunities come in the form of employment, professional and personal advancement possibilities, as well as an overall improvement in quality-of-life,” said Ronald Obray, president of HOVRS. The opening of the Puerto Rico call center also provides additional opportunities for tri and bi-lingual sign-language interpreters. With demand for video relay services on the rise, job opportunities in this industry have never been better. Obray added, “For Puerto Rican sign language interpreters, this means staying closer to home with their families while securing a steady income.”
24/7/365 Accessibility
HOVRS en Español is open 24 / 7, 365 days a year. Deaf individuals can access HOVRS en Español by using a Videophone and adding www.espanol.hovrs.tv to their address book, by simply using VideoSign 2.5 on a PC, or by using IChat on their Apple Macintosh computer. An HOVRS en Español customer chooses the Spanish language option to then be automatically connected to an HOVRS en Español interpreter so that they can converse in American Sign Language and spoken Spanish.
Spanish-speaking callers can now call Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals by directly dialing a Video Interpreter (VI) at 1-877-HOLA-VRS. The caller provides the VI with the Deaf or Hard of Hearing person’s extension number and then the VI assists in placing the call.
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About Hands On Video Relay Service
HOVRS is recognized as a leader in Video Relay Services throughout the country. The company has been serving the needs of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community since 1992 when it first established Hands On Sign Language Services, Inc. (HOSLS), a community based sign language services agency. Since 2002, HOVRS has been leading the way as a nationally renowned VRS provider. HOVRS uses the Internet to provide an audio/video link to a qualified Video Interpreter (VI) who interprets between the visual language of ASL and the auditory language of the hearing person. The company is committed to removing communication barriers for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals while providing quality services they can rely on. For more information, visit our website at
www.hovrs.com.
About ASLS
ASL Services, Inc.’s 15 years’ of experience has contributed to the success of providing Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals with the missing communication link between their world and the Hispanic community. ASL Services, Inc. is a well-established agency known for its bi- and tri-lingual, professional sign language interpreting services throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. It provides an array of interpreting services to the southeast United States, ranging from community, educational, business and artistic interpreting services to cruise lines, major theme parks and conventions nationwide. For more information, visit their website at www.aslservices.com.
