"We answer to the Deaf Community"

What makes callVRS so unique? by Debbie Lesser, CI & CT " CallVRS has found a way to offer outstanding VRS services while providing customers with a friendly 'community' feel. All of our interpreters are not only nationally certified but have prior VRS experience. We display both our interpreter number and first name onscreen. It's very refreshing to have a caller greet me with "Hello, Debbie (using my name sign). How are you today?" I have found that many of our customers continue to use our service because they enjoy building a rapport with our interpreters. Hearing people take for granted the amount of personal information that is filtered through an interpreter during a call. It is critical that the deaf individual using our service is confident that the message is being communicated accurately, that they are comfortable with the interpreter with whom they are working, and that their personal information is kept in the strictest confidence. It is through this working relationship that we are able to built trust and respect for one another. In addition to providing VRS services, callVRS is unique in the way we serve the Deaf community. We continue to find ways to give back to the community as much as we can. During the winter holidays, we provide a free service where kids can sign with Santa and give him their Christmas list directly - just like hearing children. We sponsor ASLStory.info where children can see a new signed story every month. We support opportunities for ASL gatherings through community events and support non-profit organizations like coda356.org. Our interpreters volunteer their time to make these things happen. In addition, all members of the management team are active VRS interpreters and also donate their interpreting time to the ASL community. I am proud to work for a VRS provider that truly answers to the Deaf community! I am Debbie Lesser (VI#9905) and that is why I work here."

	CallVRS.info Dial "callvrs.info" on your favorite VP device and start enjoying the quality and accommodations for your calling needs.
	DBVRS.info Dial "dbvrs.info" to connect with one of our Deaf-Blind friendly interpreters.
	TriVRS.info Dial "trivrs.info" to access trilingual interpreters serving the Deaf-Latino community.

Below are prerecorded stories and callVRS kids are not interpreted calls and do not include interpreters or call placements. These are independent of VRS services and a way for us to give back to the community

	ASLstory.info Dial "ASLstory.info" to see the latest ASL story for children. Updated every month.
	Need Interpreter Need a Sign Language Interpreter? Explore our three solutions customized for your needs: VRS - Community - VRI. Click here.

About CallVRS

Based in Long Island, New York and Clearwater, Florida, CallVRS started working to provide support for their specialized needs in 2006. CallVRS markets to the Deaf Community through public events like the ASL Comedy Tour and online ASL commercials, to help raise awareness. CallVRS was started by owners, Emilia Lorenti-Wann and Keith Wann, to help establish services for the Deaf, Deaf-Latino, and Deaf-Blind Communities.

Free Access 24/7

We offer our VRS users a free, easy, and convenient way to call friends or family, make a doctor's appointment, call a utility, or even order a pizza! Our friendly video interpreters will respond within seconds to assist you in placing your call.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide quick, effective, and courteous communication linking the Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing and hearing communities by means of advanced technology to experienced, professional video interpreters. In addition, we are committed to making a difference in the lives of Deaf people by providing innovative programming, education, and counseling services, thus enabling equal access to everyone in the community.

Access to Emergency 911 Services

Your Safety Is Our Concern.

In the event of an emergency, dial "911" on your telephone or contact local emergency numbers utilizing a TTY.

CallVRS advanced video relay service technology is being developed to enable access to emergency "911" responders serving your local area, wherever you may be located. This capability will be available to subscribers soon.

Until then, should you experience an emergency requiring immediate assistance, please dial "911" or use a TTY device to contact local emergency assistance. Pending deployment of an emergency access capability, use of CallVRS video relay service to place emergency calls may delay connection to local emergency responders while interpreters determine current location, locate an emergency responder that serves your area, and then contacts the responder. In some cases, CallVRS may be unable to locate a local emergency responder and connect emergency calls.

Additional information is available through the Federal Communications Commission at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/voip911.html

Here at callVRS we are growing everyday and adding to our team of outstanding interpreters. This elite group of professionals brings years of experience and leadership to our team, which enables us to provide the highest quality interpreting and customer service to the Deaf Community. We take pride in knowing that any one of our outstanding interpreters will be able to process your call and meet your needs. We answer to you, the Deaf Community!

Why I work here at CallVRS by Persis Bristol: The video featuring Windell “wink” Smith Jr. on the home page gives a unique look into the reason why callVRS is not your average video relay service provider. Keith Wann and Emilia Lorenti-Wann teamed up with several skilled interpreters who also recognize the lack of community amongst the interpreters within the VRS arena. Interpreters overwhelmed with the “business as usual” attitudes and profit margin mentality. Longing for a venue to provide quality services to the community they cared for and be respected and appreciated in the process. Interpreters don’t want to be forced to choose between service and revenue. Although VRS is an industry, interpreters are the human connection that makes it work. We are not the equipment nor a number, but living, feeling, individuals with names. When the interpreter is at ease, the consumer is better served. callVRS provides both community accountability and the interpreter connection. I am Persis Bristol (VI# 9904) and that’s why I work here.

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Press Releases:

 

From a Clearwater garage, signing Santa takes wishes from the deaf

CLEARWATER - Santa's videophone rang Thursday night. An elf answered.

A boy in blue pajamas appeared, calling from Wisconsin. He stared into the camera with a look of doubt, then curiosity.

The elf traced a flurry of sign language with his hands, made funny faces into the camera, shook his head until his hat fell off. The boy giggled, showing a gap in his teeth.

His name was Humberto, he signed with a smile. He wanted to speak with Santa.

The elf tapped at his cell phone. Santa stepped into the shot with a heartily waved hello, lifting his list of good children to the camera. Would you look at that, he jokingly signed - Humberto was at the top.

The boy laughed and hopped in place and signed his wishes for Wii games and Bakugan toys. He promised cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. Humberto's dad, smiling behind him, signed messages above the boy's head.

The elf signed that other children were waiting and reminded Humberto to sleep all night on Christmas Eve. They signed their goodbyes - "I love you" - and closed the connection.

Here, for the first time, was a Christmas rite many deaf people had missed: speaking with Santa. He didn't ho-ho-ho and didn't need to. This Clearwater Santa just watched the signs and shared his own. He understood. And for a few hours, he was a phone call away.

Keith Wann, the 40-year-old elf, could relate. He had joked earlier of his childhood with two deaf parents, how they got him socks when he wanted an Atari.

"This little kid is me," he said of Humberto, his funny face turning serious. "That's why I do this. For this little kid to be able to tell his deaf dad what he wants."

A few seconds later, the phone rang again. Like many of the calls Thursday night, this one wasn't asking for toys.

· · ·

The wives of Wann and Tony Barraza, the 39-year-old Santa, laughed from off-screen. Emilia Lorenti-Wann, 42, and Jenn Barraza, 26, poured the actors ginger ale and tallied the callers' wishes on Wann's Facebook.

"We're LIVE tonight," Jenn updated, "ROCKING AND ROLLING!!"

During the day, the four worked for callVRS, their relay interpreting service, from the closed-in garage in Wann's back yard. But during the off-time, they decided, they could share Signing Santa with the rest of the country.

Wann, a touring comedian of deaf stand-up, advertised they would take calls every week until Christmas Eve. Last week was their first.

For the first half of the night, the calls, more than a dozen and growing, never seemed to stop. Wann drew wishes of cars and laptops on a whiteboard, feverishly cleaning it with his knee. Barraza jumped out between calls, wiping away sweat, awaiting his next grand entrance.

Jena, an older woman, wanted a BMW. Destiny, a young girl, wanted a doll. Heather, her mother, wished for prayers for her family.

A deaf father called next with a phone number and a request. Could they call his daughter, he signed? She spoke from the other room.

Barraza conjured his first-ever Santa voice. "Hi, is this Jada?" he bellowed. "This is Santa Claus."

Jada clasped the phone to her face and walked to her father's side. He looked at her as she asked for "a doll that pees and goes to the toilet." Wann signed her wish back to the dad.

"That's so cool," he signed. He leaned back in his chair, his smile widening. "Thank you. Thank you."

· · ·

When the ringing calmed about 7:30, Santa's helpers settled. The Wanns found coupons and ordered a Jet's pizza. Barraza, in socks and the Santa suit, stepped outside for a cigarette.

They proposed a Walmart trip to research toys. They laughed at their family members who kept calling in. And they shared a realization. This had all been for the little ones, the mall Santa miss-outs, who couldn't sing carols or listen for sleigh bells but could still share in the spirit.

Yet many of the callers had no kids in sight. They were middle-aged men crumpled into desk chairs, frizzy-haired women in sweats, asking for mansions and luxury cars.

Grown-ups with wish lists, performing a childhood ritual, seeking someone who understood.

Even if that person was dressed in a Santa suit.

· · ·

It was 9 o'clock, log-off time, when Wann and Barraza prepared to shut down. The phone rang before they could. This would be the last, they swore.

One man, maybe in his 20s, with thinning hair and a gray hoodie. "I saw you on Facebook," he signed, "and saw how you were asking if people want something. Is that right?"

Santa and the elf hid their fatigue. They joked and made faces and scribbled. His name was Kohl. They asked about his gift.

"I just want a peaceful life," he signed. "So I can just be cool, and be cool with people. Know what I mean?"

Santa nodded, stroked his beard. His fingers signed the night's last message.

"You're on the list."

Drew Harwell is Times Staff Writer for St. Petersburg Times, can be reached at dharwell@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4170. You can find him on Twitter at @drewtimes.

The printed article is 

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/from-a-clearwater-garage-signing-santa-takes-wishes-from-the-deaf/1058660