 2020 is a year we will all remember, but frankly one we all would like to forget. Too many of us have family, friends and colleagues who have been affected by COVID-19. We’re thankful to the scientists and researchers who developed a vaccine so quickly, as well as the frontline workers who work tirelessly every day. We welcome a return to normal – whatever that will be – in 2021. On behalf of the Global Alliance, I wish you all peace, good health and much-needed joy and laughter in the new year.
What Has the Global Alliance Done in 2020?
The Global Alliance held five virtual social gatherings during COVID-19, partnering with the Clear2Connect Coalition (C2C). These gatherings created a safe space for members and nonmembers to meet and share their experiences and concerns, as well as ideas for how to survive and thrive during the pandemic. Global Alliance members generously donated their realtime captioning talent to make these gatherings fully accessible for all.
- In December we held the first of six educational webinars, with topics of interest to all members of the Global Alliance, as well as nonmembers. Each webinar is available to view on demand.
- We served as the Communication Sponsor for all Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) Walks4Hearing, providing realtime captioning for each event.
- We joined the Clear2Connect Coalition and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Alliance. C2C and DHHA are comprised of disability advocacy and veterans service organizations committed to working on behalf of people with hearing loss.
- We supported the Language Access Professional Association (LAPA) and its efforts to stop California bill AB5, which would harm freelance captioners and sign language interpreters.
- Our members presented at the Hearing Access & Inclusion Conference.
- Our members presented at, and captioned for, regional HLAA meetings.
- We were interviewed by International Conference Services (ICS) and discussed all forms of captioning and the importance of communication access.
- We attended Federal Communication Commission meetings and hearings.
- We donated to charitable organizations, including Starkey Hearing Foundation, Children’s Tumor Foundation, Salvation Army, Feeding America and No Kid Hungry.
Assessment and Certification Committee Update
In the last newsletter, we updated you on the Global Alliance Certification and Assessment Committee. Developing and refining a certification and assessment model is time-consuming and sometimes arduous, but we continue to work to develop what we know will be the best certification and assessment for realtime captioning, one that others will be compared to and one that will set us apart as an association.
More members of this committee are needed. Please email us at info@speechtotextcaptioning.org if you’re interested in volunteering.
We anticipate our certification and assessment will be completed in early 2021. Watch for more updates in coming newsletters. |
