Last week, Comcast announced the launch of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting services at eight Xfinity store locations in the National Capital Region, with plans to expand the offering nationwide over the course of this year.
Accessible tech
The service, which uses video conference technology to connect customers requiring ASL support to an interpreter, was piloted last year at select stores. The service will allow the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing to interact with any Xfinity associate, greatly expanding the customer service opportunities to the community.
“We’re thrilled to be able to bring live ASL interpreting services to new retail locations across the DMV area to help ensure an excellent in-store experience for our Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing customers,” said Comcast Vice President for Accessibility Thomas Wlodkowski.
Community involvement
Also, the company announced a $10,000 digital equity grant for their community provider, Maryland School for the Deaf, to broaden access to digital skills training for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
“It’s critical to have community partners like Comcast that continue to ensure all forms of technology and customer-facing services are accessible to the deaf community,” said John A. Serrano, Superintendent of the Maryland School for the Deaf. “We’re excited to partner with Comcast to accelerate our digital skills programming, empowering our students with the necessary tools to thrive in today’s digital landscape.”
A long commitment to accessibility innovation
Over the years, Comcast has remained committed to making their products and services accessible to more people regardless of physical ability. From voice remotes that help the visually impaired navigate the X1 menu, to Xfinity X1 eye control which allows customers to operate the TV with their eyes through a web-based remote control application, the company has long been an innovator in accessible technology.
“Accessibility is at the heart of our mission to deliver a world class customer experience – from in-person services at our Xfinity Stores to the products our customers enjoy at home,” said Wlodkowski.
To learn more about Comcast’s wide variety of accessible technology options, visit the Comcast website.