Priority Areas: Access to Knowledge, Technology
Practice Details: The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) launched a pilot program that will assist deaf and hard of hearing travelers in communicating with MTA staff. QR codes posted at transit stations lead to a virtual platform, Convo Communications, that connects travelers with a live sign language interpreter. The service is free for travelers.
Why It’s Promising: Real-time sign language interpretation increases access to the transit system for deaf and hard of hearing travelers. The MTA’s Transit Tech Lab, which helped launch the pilot,reported: “Within four weeks, Convo Communications successfully provided interpretation services for 44 customer interactions. Qualitative feedback captured from these customers highlighted the value of the tool, reporting they felt ‘seen, empowered, and grateful’ for the service.”
Replication: Transit systems looking to improve access for deaf and hard-of-hearing riders could consider partnering with an interpretation platform. Because the service is virtual, riders would need access to a smartphone in order to use the service.
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