Lithuania launches video sign language interpretation service for people with hearing disabilities

Europe, October 12 2012

Lithuania has launched a unique project for people with hearing disabilities that will facilitate their interaction with others.

From now on, sign language interpretation services will be provided remotely using online chat applications and video calls through mobile phones. Such services have not been provided so far; the project is first of this kind, Lithuania’s Ministry of Social Security and Labour reports.

This project will be implemented by Lintel, the winner of the tender announced by Kaunas County Sign Language Interpreters Centre.Lintel Contact Centre, situated in Kaunas, is equipped with five workstations where sign language professionals will help people who are deaf and hard of hearing to more easily find necessary information and use public and social services.

This is the first stage of the provision of such services: people who are deaf and hard of hearing will be able to call by mobile phones or over the Internet, and sign language interpreters will communicate with callers using tablet PCs. Every consultant will be able to provide services to dozens of people with hearing disabilities on a daily basis.

There are approximately 7,000 persons with hearing disabilities in Lithuania, to whom sign language interpreters were providing their services individually until today.

Source: The Baltic Course