Joyce Dworsky-Srour, Founder and Avi Siegel, CEO
In an era where inclusivity is not just valued but expected, the conversation around equal access to communication for all has never been more pertinent. This is especially true for the Deaf community, where the necessity for accessible communication channels transcends convenience, embodying a fundamental human right. Vital Signs, a second-generation family business, a company at the forefront of this transformative journey, shares insights into its mission, challenges, and innovative solutions that are setting new benchmarks in the industry.
Team Dynamics and Culture
The Vital Signs team is described as a close-knit family, founded over 35 years ago by Joyce Dworsky-Srour which has expanded to a dynamic mother-in-law/son in-law team with Avi Siegel as CEO.
The entire Vital Signs team is known to celebrate milestones together and support one another beyond professional obligations. This culture of care and connection extends to their approach to service provision. Every team member plays a crucial role in delivering exceptional results.
The Dual Focus
At the heart of Vital Signs’ mission lies a dual focus: advocating for equal access to communication for the Deaf and hard of hearing, and educating companies on the importance of accessibility. This approach not only aims at optimizing workforce efficiency but also at ensuring compliance, thereby mitigating vulnerability to lawsuits.
Behind each assignment request is an end user. We would never sacrifice one person’s services for a profit margin
Vital Signs does this by advocating on Capitol Hill, conducting trainings, and providing American Sign Language (ASL) services, Video Remote Interpreting (VRI), Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) and TypeWell captioning and transcription services that are tailored to the needs of each Deaf and hard of hearing individual. Their personalized service model promotes workforce efficiency, equity, and inclusion.
Understanding that one size does not fit all, Vital Signs tailors its services to meet the unique needs of each client. This bespoke approach ensures Americans with Disabilities Act ADA compliance and effective communication for all Deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
For example, someone who grew up in the Deaf community, likely uses ASL as their first language. If a company was requiring communications services and tried to use captioning services, that may not be considered equal access.
Similarly, someone who has recently lost their hearing and hasn’t yet learned sign language, likely would not use an ASL interpreter at all. Equal access communication for that individual may be captioning services. Therefore, securing an ASL interpreter would not be considered equal access communication as directed by the ADA.
Challenges and Responses
The post-COVID era has seen a significant rise in demand for accessible communication solutions, highlighting the challenge of providing high-quality American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting and Speech to text transcribing services. Vital Signs addresses this by prioritizing the recruitment and training of top-tier interpreters and transcriber/captioners, ensuring that each assignment is matched with the ideal candidate.
Innovative Services
A more recent innovative addition to the Vital Signs repertoire of services is their On-Demand services. In an interview with CEO, Avi Siegel, he explained that they created the On-Demand model to fill two main voids within the industry. The need for interpreters at the clients’ fingertips within seconds, and the need to ensure ADA compliance for companies with seemingly no Deaf interactions.
“We listened to the market. We heard mid to large-size companies telling us, we do not have any Deaf employees but we need to make sure the company is able to interact with Deaf individuals if the need arises. From there, we created a model that allowed companies access to a database of interpreters at their fingertips.”
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We listened to the market. We heard mid to large-size companies telling us, we do not have any Deaf employees but we need to make sure the company is able to interact with Deaf individuals if the need arises. From there, we created a model that allowed companies access to a database of interpreters at their fingertips
Avi continued, “It is similar to insurance (that we hope everyone will be fortunate enough to use.) It will be there now to ensure compliance when the need arises and protect the company from ADA lawsuits.”
Methodology with a Human Touch
Vital Signs’ methodology emphasizes individual needs and preferences rather than a one-dimensional focus on profitability. Assignments are prioritized based on timing rather than duration or financial gain, underscoring the company’s commitment to each Deaf individual’s right to communication access.
“Behind each assignment request is an end user. We would never sacrifice one person’s services for a profit margin.”
Siegel explained “Some agencies, when short on interpreters, will shift an interpreter from a one-hour assignment to an eight-hour assignment. It allows them to bill eight hours instead of one therefore making the company more profit. We would never do that. We see the end user behind each assignment. Shifting an interpreter from one assignment to the next for additional billing is unethical.”
Case Study and Differentiators
The company’s commitment to quality and individualized care sets it apart in the industry. Vital Signs ensures the highest standards of service and maintains a competitive edge by focusing on the specific needs of both clients and service providers.
“I want to take a moment to express my appreciation for the exceptional services provided by the ASL Interpreters and captioners. Furthermore, I want to highlight the interpreter who provided ASL interpreting services for three days. His professionalism and positive attitude assisted in making our events successful,” says a Vital Signs Customer.
Another Vital Signs Customer said, “Vital Signs LLC has ALWAYS provided reliable customer service and exceptional sign language interpreting and captioning services. Vital Signs, LLC has NEVER let me down when it comes to providing interpreting services. Even when my requests have been last-minute or complex, they always find a way to make it work. Their customer service is EXCEPTIONAL as they are reliable, prompt, thoughtful, and just the BEST. I have worked with Vital Signs for over 10 years and they get better each year.”
As Vital Signs continues to innovate and expand its services, its core mission remains unchanged: to bridge the communication gap for the Deaf and hard of hearing. Through education, tailored services, and a commitment to quality, the company not only meets the current demand for accessibility but also shapes the future of inclusive communication.
