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The Deaf Community and DEIA & CX Initiatives - FEB 2024

This recorded session includes the session video, handouts, presentation and links to the Monday Roundtables. This Package is valid for 30 days.

This session was recorded on February 27th, 2024

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Overview

Topical Overview

  • Serving the Deaf Community
  • The Deaf, DEIA & 508 Compliance
  • What Does the Deaf Community Need?

Federal Initiatives

  • Presidential Memoranda
  • Agency Initiatives for DEIA 
  • Customer Experience (CX)

Understanding the Deaf/Hearing Gap

  • The need for services most take for granted
  • The desire for hearing to be more proactive
  • The view from the deaf community
  • Legal requirements versus what is really needed

Current Deaf Communication Services Review & Challenges

  • TTY and TTY Relay
  • Video Relay
  • Protecting deaf individuals

The Need to Improve the Deaf Customer Experience

  • Call centers
  • Point of service
  • Agency Employees

Comparing New Technologies

  • AI Captions
  • Video Relay Services/Real Time Translation
  • ASL Now – Direct Video Calling 

Next Steps

  • Continuing the Conversation
  • Agency Pilots
  • Procurement Options

Closing Remarks 

Agenda

This briefing will educate government personnel about common challenges the 11.5 million deaf and hard of hearing citizens face in terms of engagement, inclusion, and customer experience, as well as review emerging technologies that can be utilized at the point of service.

Since 1975 the federal government has been providing communication services to deaf and hard of hearing citizens utilizing TTY (Teletypewriters) and TTY relay service communication assistants (CA) through programs and services provided by Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD). With rapid improvement in technology and limited advancement in accessibility standards, the deaf and hard of hearing community has become one of the most underserved communities in the United States.

As federal agencies are actively engaged in significant improvement programs for both DEIA (Diversity Equity and Inclusion) and CX (customer experience), there are significant opportunities for HR and 508 compliance personnel to understand the new technology that will help agencies meet presidential memoranda and current initiatives.

As video and AI technology rapidly evolves, the deaf community faces numerous struggles when businesses and organizations continue to rely on the technology outlined in legislation like the ADA. While AI, video transcription, and live video translation have their place, accessibility for deaf consumers at the point of service continues to be awkward and difficult for government representatives who genuinely want to provide assistance to deaf and hard of hearing communities. This briefing will provide a platform for discussion of current and future technology that can facilitate an equitable and improved customer experience for deaf individuals.

Recommended attending personnel will include agency 508 compliance, HR, Customer Experience (CX), Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEIA), Call Center management, and point of service managers. support personnel, program personnel responsible for maximizing agency R&D program effectiveness as well as procurement personnel responsible for R&D contracts.

IMPORTANT: This briefing will include a vendor provided product overview.

Agency Panelist Participation

Agency participation is encouraged for this briefing. If you or one of your colleagues would like to be a contributor or panelist in this discussion, please contact support@govbrief.us or call 888-818-8726 to coordinate your participation. GovBrief provides free access to all government presenters and will distribute all accompanying documentation at no charge.

Access: This briefing uses Zoom based communication connection via your network. This briefing will be accessible via phone if you are unable to connect online. Instructions will be provided upon registration.

Speakers

Greg Pollock photo
Greg Pollock

Communication Service for the Deaf

Vice President of Business Development

Karen Peltz Strauss photo
Karen Peltz Strauss

CSD – Communication Service for the Deaf

Consultant for the CSD team; former Deputy Chief of the FCC’s Consumer & Governmen

Ryan Bonheyo photo
Ryan Bonheyo

Communication Service for the Deaf

Senior Account Executive