2 November 2006

Salt Lake City International has become the first US airport to offer special Internet booths for deaf or hard-of-hearing travellers.

The special booths are designed to offer improved accessibility for users who may not be able to use public telephones to communicate with friends or family.

Featuring a high-speed Internet connection and a videophone, the booths have been created by Sorenson Communications.

Users are able to call a hearing individual, at which point they will be connected online to a sign-language interpreter, who will help the two parties to communicate.

Russ Pack, acting director of the Salt Lake City Department of Airports, commented: "This is a notable step for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community."

Patrick Nola, president and chief executive of Sorenson Communications, added: "In the hearing community, we take for granted the availability of public telephones when we travel."

The booths have also been installed in time for the 2007 Winter Deaflympics in Salt Lake City, in which hearing impaired athletes will travel to the region from around the world to compete.

© Adfero Ltd

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