Hearing challenged people often struggle to operate well on the job. It can create a communication barrier and impede their professional development. Deafness differs from other disabilities in that it affects how individuals communicate. Many people rely on sign language interpreters to help them communicate with the person they're talking to.

Sorenson Communications stands out among the many companies worldwide that provide exceptional communication services to those who are hearing impaired. Sorenson was formed in 2003 with the goal of facilitating meaningful human connections between Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, as well as between the Deaf and hearing communities. The company's first offering, Sorenson Video Relay Service^® (SVRS^®), used video compression technology invented by founder James Lee Sorenson and licensed by Apple for their QuickTime 3.0 software. Sorenson's breakthrough technology transformed communication for Deaf individuals, opening up new avenues for engagement and inclusion. Since its beginnings, Sorenson has expanded from 40 to 11,000 employees, making it one of America's largest private employers of deaf people.

In conversation with Jorge Rodriguez, CEO of Sorenson Communications

Could you provide a brief explanation of your services?

Sorenson is a global leader in language services as well as accessible communication for the deaf and hard of hearing. The company connects signed and spoken languages using unique technology and human-centric services. Sorenson Video Relay Service improves communication and connection by combining innovative products with high-quality, experienced translators.

Sorenson's CaptionCall phone captioning services provide free communication amongst hard-of-hearing people who require captions to utilize the phone efficiently.  Sorenson is also the global leader in sign language interpretation, offering on-site, in-person interpreting, real-time event captioning, and sign language translation. Sorenson's Sign Language Interactions is a leading provider of interpreting services, including 999 emergency services, to the Deaf and DeafBlind in the United Kingdom.  

The objective should be to grow the company based on the passions of its employees. Do you ask your staff what they are interested in and how they want to see their careers progress?

We are passionate about our purpose of connecting people across languages, cultures, and countries, and we want our workers to share that commitment. 

How has the success of your company been impacted by emerging technologies?

Sorenson is using cloud technologies to streamline its processes, support business development, and improve service delivery. A new partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) is intended to help Sorenson transition from on-premises data centers to virtual, automated infrastructure. Cloud-based services are enabling the provision of sign language interpreting for international customers served from Canada, Puerto Rico, France, and the company's U.K. headquarters, as well as interpretive services offered by Sorenson for AWS events such as "re:Invent," AWS's flagship conference.

Sorenson is also investing in AI, natural language processing, and machine learning to improve automated speech recognition (ASR) skills, which are critical for increasing the availability of real-time captioning services. Furthermore, through a strategic relationship and investment in Canary Speech, Sorenson is looking into the application of digital biomarkers in AI-enabled speech technology, primarily to evaluate vocal data and improve diagnoses and health-related results. The technique offers the ability to non-invasively monitor health and track the prevalence and severity of a wide range of targeted disorders, including anxiety, depression, and cognitive loss.  

Are there any new services you're planning to introduce?

Sorenson is constantly working to improve and expand its product and service offerings. One area of study is on remote workforce collaboration solutions that combine video, voice, and captions to allow Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons to effortlessly interact with hearing colleagues in the workplace by asking questions and providing comments. Recent announcements include an increase in on-demand captioning, including communication access real-time translation (CART) and transcribing services in higher education.

This effort will provide vital information to students, instructors, and staff with distinct visual and linguistic learning styles, as well as services tailored to accommodate diverse learning approaches and promote an inclusive learning environment. Colleges and universities are increasingly seeking these services to improve recruiting, enrollment, engagement, and graduation rates.

Meet the Pioneer of Sorenson Communications' Success

After joining Sorenson as CEO in January 2022, Jorge Rodriguez executed a vision to build diversity and inclusion within the organization. At the time of his appointment, the board included one person of color. Currently, seven of the nine board members are people of color.  Women and people of color now make up nearly 60% of Sorenson's C-Suite, compared to zero people of color and one female executive at the end of last year. People of color now account for 50% of the Sorenson leadership team, up to and including the VP level, up from 3% last year. In addition, Rodriguez was named the first Deaf C-level executive. The majority of these adjustments were executed over a period of four to five months.

Rodriguez is also committed to improving and broadening Sorenson's skills and services, particularly to enable inclusion and widespread acceptance of Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons, as well as those with different learning styles. Rodriguez hopes to use his significant experience in telecom and technology services to develop creative tools and 21st-century platforms that would enable Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and different persons to connect on an equal footing with the hearing population.

"We are dedicated to our goal of bringing people together globally, and we're looking for employees who share our dedication."