As COVID-19 pandemic continues, Kyoto Prefecture introduces service that offers sign language interpreters by smartphone and tablet

Written with extracts translated from The Kyoto Shimbun

June 12 2020

KYOTO – As a preventive measure against the new coronavirus infection, Kyoto Prefecture introduced a service from the June 9 that allows people with hearing impairments to use sign language interpreters remotely using smartphones or tablet terminals.

If someone needs a sign language interpreter, the deaf person and the sign language interpreter must accompany you, but if you use a remote service through the screen, you can avoid the risk of infection.

It is intended to be used for medical examinations at hospitals and for administrative windows, and can also be used at a quarantine hospital if a user is infected with the coronavirus.

A staff member working at the prefectural disabilities support section said, “With the spread of the infection, both hearing impaired people and sign language interpreters were anxious about the infection. If the service helps the hearing impaired people’s lives.”

Apply from the homepage (HP) of the Kyoto Hearing Impairment Welfare Association (Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto), install the dedicated app, and enter the ID and password. For those who do not have a smartphone, lend the terminal to the association and eight hearing speech impairment centers in the prefecture.

Principle: Working hours for sign language interpreters are from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays. Advance reservations required. Free (communications charges are borne by you). A manual and video introducing the operation method will be posted on the website of the association.

For inquiries, please contact the Association 075 (841) 8337.