The City of Wolverhampton Council has joined forces with SignLive to improve access to services for D/deaf and hard of hearing residents.
The innovative service enables users of British Sign Language (BSL) to communicate directly with council staff through on demand video relay interpretation.
SignLive, soon to be known as Convo, connects residents with qualified BSL interpreters who facilitate real time conversations between users and council staff.
The service is available via a free app, through which residents can make a 3 way video call with a BSL interpreter and council worker. People will also be able to scan Convo QR codes located within council buildings with their smartphone, instantly connecting them to a BSL interpreter who can help on the spot.
Councillor Jeszemma Howl, Cabinet Member for Governance and Digital, said: “This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring that all our residents can engage with services confidently and independently.
“We recognise that accessing services can be particularly challenging for residents who use BSL as their first language. By removing communication barriers, this partnership will ensure that, whether they are contacting the council from home or visiting a public building, BSL users have a simple and effective way to get the support they need.”
Convo QR codes are available across several key locations, including the Civic Centre, Strengthening Family Hubs, WV Active sites, Wolverhampton Art Gallery and Wolverhampton Archives.
For further details of the service, visit SignLive and for more information about how the City of Wolverhampton Council supports BSL users, please visit Sign Language.