2 minute read

13/10/2017

How technology is uniting and connecting the d/Deaf community

Digital technology has revolutionised the way we communicate. It has made it easier and quicker than ever before. But because it’s now a way of life, we often take this for granted.

For some communities, like those who are d/Deaf, communication is a daily challenge and affects almost every aspect of their lives. For them, technology is not something to be undervalued. For them, it is a lifeline.

Throughout this article we’ll be using d/Deaf. The lower-case d refers to deaf people who identify themselves by their inability to hear. A capital D refers to deaf people who are culturally immersed in the deaf community, language and more. They no longer see themselves as deaf but as Deaf, redefined by their ‘disability’, and feeling part of a culture that sits within the hearing world and is a community united by shared experience.

Lingoing are a company who understand the true value of using digital technology to bridge the communication gap between the hearing and the d/Deaf. By connecting their clients with language service professionals, they enable them a more efficient way of working and an easier way of living.

CEO, Sadaqat Ali founded Lingoing after his deaf friend almost lost his life when he was unable to communicate with hospital staff. If Sadaqat and his wife had not been by his side to translate his sign language to the nurses and doctors, his friend would not be alive today. His experience proves your voice is not only key to communication but it can be the difference between life and death.

There are 800,000 d/Deaf people in the UK and, thanks to Lingoing and the technology behind it, via the company’s online platform, the d/Deaf community can post, apply for and accept jobs, and companies can source language service professionals either face-to-face or by video relay.

And always one to push boundaries and never one to shy away from a challenge, Lingoing have also developed an app called, InSignLanguage. Their app features an onscreen chatbox, which allows d/Deaf people to contact an interpreter at the click of a button. Lingoing hope to develop their app even further so that their d/Deaf users and interpreters experience seamless connectivity.

They also hope to scale up their video relay service to support 24/7 cover in the UK.

By improving their existing technology and adopting the latest innovations, Lingoing have set themselves up for a bright future and have created an even brighter one for the d/Deaf community. Together, they can be ready for anything.

If you are a d/Deaf Vodafone customer and would like to find out more about how we can help, please explore our Accessibility pages, which provide details on the range of options available at Vodafone.