Sorenson Communications a provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals has named Douglas College as the 2010 recipient of the Sorenson VRS Interpreter Education Program (IEP) Award of Excellence.

Located in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, Douglas Collage has the longest-standing IEP program in Canada. The program began in 1988.

This annual award includes a financial contribution and is given to IEP programs that are making meaningful contributions by expanding curriculum and responding to the ever-increasing demand for interpreters.

Cheryl Palmer, Douglas College’s IEP Coordinator, says she submitted Douglas College’s entry for the SVRS IEP Award because the program produces quality graduates.

“Students leave the program work-ready for entry-level interpreting positions and it's common for 100 percent of our students to be employed within a few months after graduation,” Palmer said.

“The feedback we receive from the community about the quality of our students’ internship work is extremely positive,” Palmer added.

Sorenson Video Relay Service is a free service that enables deaf and hard-of-hearing callers to conduct video relay calls through a qualified ASL interpreter. As the reputed employer of American Sign Language interpreters in the United States and Canada, Sorenson Communications has created the award to recognize IEP programs that are improving the quality of professional interpreting and advancing interpreter education to benefit the deaf community.

Douglas College Sorenson Vice President of Interpreting Chris Wakeland commends Douglas College for leading the way in Canada by fostering partnerships with the community at large that give the students an opportunity to increase their exposure to the culture and language of the Deaf.

 “The key to our success is our community partnerships. We meet regularly as a staff and are very supportive of students and meeting their needs. If it weren’t for each of those pieces, I don’t think we would be as effective as we are,” Nigel Howard, instructor at Douglas College said.