MJ Bienvenu Honored as Friend of Sorenson Communications

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Utah-based Sorenson Communications, LLC has named MJ Bienvenu, world-renowned American Sign Language (ASL) educator and Gallaudet professor, a “Friend of Sorenson Communications.” The award was presented to Bienvenu for her many years of passionate leadership and dedicated work in and on behalf of the Deaf community. Bienvenu received the honor after her keynote presentation at a Sorenson management meeting recently held in Salt Lake City. 

“Since Sorenson’s founding, MJ has supported our efforts to provide innovative communication technologies and quality ASL interpreting for Deaf people,” noted Chris Wakeland, Sorenson’s Chief People Officer. “We are indebted to MJ for her many years of support, guidance and friendship.”

Bienvenu reflected on historical methods of communication between Deaf and hearing people and noted that those methods – writing, faxing and using teletypewriters – relied on English, a second language for most Deaf people.

That changed in 2003, Bienvenu said, with the introduction of the Sorenson videophone and Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®). For the first time, Video Relay Service (VRS) connected Deaf and hearing callers in real-time and gave each the option of conversing in their preferred language – ASL and spoken English or spoken Spanish. This was a “tipping point” in the Deaf world – “a dream finally realized,” she said.

Bienvenu reported that over the years, technologies, sponsorships and organizations – many of them offered by Sorenson – have benefitted the Deaf community. However, challenges still exist. She inspired the leaders to respond to the need for federal regulation, continued innovation in Deaf technologies, fluency and flexibility among VRS and community interpreters, the use of Certified Deaf Interpreters, increased number of Deaf executives and the growth of Sorenson Community Interpreting Services – all while working in a “Deaf way.”

Bienvenu inspired and renewed excitement among the Sorenson leaders. “Growth is forever,” she said, and with success, the realization of these goals will lead to greater independence, access, equity and equality for all people.

Sorenson Communications, LLC
Sorenson Communications, LLC (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communication products and services for the Deaf. The company's offerings include SVRS^®, the highest-quality video interpreting service; the ntouch^® VP and the ntouch VP2 videophones, designed especially for use by Deaf individuals; ntouch PC, software that connects users to SVRS by using a PC and webcam; ntouch for Mac^®, software that connects users to SVRS by using an Apple^® computer; and ntouch Mobile, an application empowering SVRS communication via tablet and mobile devices.

A video accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/604c1f81-a636-4253-8d80-7782afdb6b5d

Press Contact
Ann Bardsley
Sorenson Communications
801-287-9400
[email protected]