This year marks 10 years since Canada VRS officially launched on September 28, 2016. While there were earlier discussions, trials, and CRTC decisions leading up to it, the public rollout was a major milestone.
In the U.S., VRS had already been available since the early 2000s, with commercial rollout in 2003. Companies like Sorenson Media (with dedicated videophones like the VP-100) and better high-speed internet made it practical and popular for Deaf and hard-of-hearing users communicating in ASL through video interpreters.
I remember making calls from Canada using U.S. VRS services through phone companies like AT&T. It was all done online with a computer, internet connection, and bulky webcams. Not long after, Viable introduced the V-Pad for Deaf Canadians — free to use. There were also early point-to-point video calling options using IP.
This was a massive shift from the old TTY era. Video Relay Service finally allowed Deaf people to communicate using their primary language — ASL — efficiently and naturally.
Since then, internet speeds, data, and video quality have improved dramatically. Today we have seamless options like MS Teams, Zoom, FaceTime, and Google Meet. It’s incredible to see how far technology has come in such a short time.
I believe AI will open even more possibilities in the years ahead.
Canada VRS has been a significant accessibility win — and it’s worth celebrating its 10-year milestone.
What about you? How has Video Relay Service (or similar video technology) changed communication in your life? Or what’s one tech advancement that made a big difference for you?
Share your experiences in the comments!
See you tomorrow for Day 14!