20 Comments

1.   Deafchipmunk   |  Wednesday, 03 August 2011 at 11:32 am

   Hi Ryan,That is an excellent video documentary! We need a shift to a higher dimension as a financial power. That will afford Deaf people rights and opportunities to invest in themselves individually and collectively. Deaf Culture will succeed by eliminating the Wall of oppression, colonization and audism.Most important of all is to develop a new strategy to make it a reality!Thank youDavid

   
2.   FlatironSpunk   |  Wednesday, 03 August 2011 at 7:12 pm

   This video documentary raises several valid issues that we, as a collective, should take a hard look at.  Besides the obvious, such potential issues are: reforming NAD to be more transparent and open for interviews/community voice and how to raise the collective spirit among the Deaf community.On a personal note; way to go, NAD.  As much as I want to help contribute to the Deaf, I just couldn’t contribute to NAD.  Seeing this documentary leaves me with no regret.   I do hope NAD changes their ways rather quick.

   
3.   J   |  Wednesday, 03 August 2011 at 8:21 pm

   Excellent ??? I would say NO because  Ryan did NOT tell both sides of the story,  There are always 2 side of the story,  Ryan did an excellent job of saying 100% one sided story.  Ryan needs to do more research and many answers will clearly come up and show the truth!  Is this video 100% True?  the answer is NO!

   
4.   Rise of the Planet of the Deaf Apes   |  Wednesday, 03 August 2011 at 8:56 pm

   Ryan,Your video documentary sounds so good that I cannot understand one thing – how come you know so much about VRS business yet you could not set up the VRS business yourself.  What are you?  Just damn whiner with one-side mind.  You dwell greatly on many negative old VRS stories.  I see no positive comment in your speech.  You vented a lot of anger toward the hearing people and VRS industries.  Just another whiner as usual and you ought to be locked up in a cage filled with apes (deaf apes, preferred).It is unfortunate that iDeafNews made a serious mistake putting your biased video documentary on their website.

   
5.   Karen Atwood   |  Thursday, 04 August 2011 at 3:25 am

   Outstanding informative and educational video news on economic power regarding VRS with Ryan Commerson.  Definitely a wake-up call for all Deaf communities to start supporting their own people!  Worth the time to watch!  Waving hands!

   
6.   Jana   |  Friday, 05 August 2011 at 11:31 am

   I applaud for you to take this step and dig the questions and get some answers. You empower us to think about the VRS Industry. Hearing people are more mobile than deaf people in employment and promotions. “Deaf People are always the last people to find out”. Keep it up with your work- ask questions and share thoughts with us. You should do more produce the films like DEAF 20/20 or DEAF 60 minutes, something like that. Getting the facts, report what is happening. Your video helps me to be more aware what is happening around the deaf community and how the hearing earn benefits by deaf people. I look forward to hearing more from you, Ryan.

   
7.   Martha   |  Friday, 05 August 2011 at 10:41 pm

   Thank you very much for sharing with us Deaf community to be aware of it!!!! Unfortunatelly that is true  I never happy with NAD and VRS and Interpreter agencies or bid  they does not care Deaf at all only they care is Politic and $$$$$$$$$$. This is abuse to us Deaf Community. We need is FBI eye to protect Deaf Community against Thiefs, scams or abuses from Hearing world!! Enough is enough!! Keep good job! God bless Deaf America!

   
8.   peace   |  Saturday, 06 August 2011 at 2:57 am

   This is what I have been saying here, Seems like nobody really cares the accountability has to go to DOJ PEOPLE and VRS company. I must admit that viable is doing illegal but what about other vrs did the same thing, and yet people still attacking deaf community instead of attacking hearing regarding to “MONIES”. Purple sponsor Matt Hamill and use him. I strongly believe that “Hearing” is getting away with MURDER BY SCAMMING FCC and Viable Is The One Who Pay Major Price. Viable did fraud by 2.5 to 7 million and they going to jail while Purple owes 17 millions to FCC and we are kissing purple VRS’s  Bottom and we still attacking deaf community. We as deaf community really have a problem here!

   
9.   SPDundas   |  Saturday, 06 August 2011 at 6:49 am

   There are some that accused Mr. Commerson of being biased and not showing two sides of every story.  I have to respectfully disagree. As a former TV Journalist and broadcast producer, one of the golden rule is to show two sides of every stories, but unfortunately, that does not always happen in the real world of television news for several reasons.  However, Mr. Commerson’s documentary is just that, a documentary, not a news story, so therefore, does not require interview of another side of the story. Keep in mind, the claims that Mr. Commerson have shared in his documentary have enough substantiation to even be mentioned otherwise there would be no documentary, right?  Hopefully almost everyone in the Deaf community is aware of more than few unethical and scare tactics which SorensonVRS have produced, which that alone is part of the claims against SorensonVRS and other VRS companies which were mentioned in the documentary.  In fact, I was surprised that Mr. Commerson didn’t mention one of SorensonVRS’s other scare tactic schemes claiming that VRS industry will fall apart when FCC announced the proposed tiered rates, and had unsuspecting VRS consumers to sign petition to oppose the proposal (I personally witnessed SorensonVRS representatives going around Gallaudet to sign petition and another one in another state in Midwest during the same time frame). It is my hope that more people will appreciate Mr. Commerson’s effort of bringing the light into a dirty and dark world of VRS industry and have all the disturbing things exposed.  Instead of trying to bring down a fellow Deaf member/citizen, we should applaud him for doing something that most of us didn’t do and fail to do.  Investigative reporting or documentaries is always risky and Mr. Commerson should be commended for his courage to stand up for the Deaf community.Thank you,SPDundas

   
10.   J   |  Saturday, 06 August 2011 at 3:49 pm

    @Peace,  Its Apple and Oranges…. Viable was caught doing 100% fraud churning minutes.. Thats why Viable is facing Jail time… Purple is completely different, the issue was Purple was doing conference calls, employee calls and
    Purple did ASK FCC on several times to clarify some ruling as it was
    not clear, FCC did NOT reply for few years , When FCC decided to make
    the ruling, FCC decided to RETROACTIVE the ruling back. Purple was
    assuming since FCC said NOTHING for few years so they went ahead.. But
    FCC retroactive it leaving Purple stranded. Instead of wasting few
    years on Legal battle and more money with FCC on this issue, Purple
    CHOSE to settle and MOVED on! Now regarding Datastar situation
    Since Ryan brought it up. Ryan chose to IGNORE Jerry Nelson’s own Vlog
    explaining the whole thing. Jerry Nelson’s Vlog can be found at  http://www.purple.us/blog/​2010/01/response-from-jerr​y-nelson-and-purple/@SPDundas, Exactly.. the biggest oppressor is Sorenson! They actually manipulate the Deaf Community just for their own pockets compared to the other VRS companies.   1) Why Sorenson refuses to roll out answering machines for direct point to point calls EVEN though they did for all VRS calls?  the answer is.. its ALL ABOUT MONEY!  Sorenson gets NOTHING if answering machine utiliized during direct point to point calls and SORENSON GETS MONEY WHEN HEARING PERSON CALLS TO LEAVE A MESSAGE.  Other VRS providers did it because they wanted to help Deaf Community!

    
11.   UnknownDeaf   |  Saturday, 06 August 2011 at 10:59 pm

    Ryan,You did an incredible job with this documentary.  I have no words to describe the eye opener you created with this documentary.  It is clear that we MUST stop supporting the hearing-owned VRS companies.  It is time for us as a deaf community to start support deaf-owned VRS companies like Power VRS, MalkaVRS, and ConvoVRS.  Change all your dials and only dial the deaf-owned VRS companies no matter what.   Let’s cut Sorenson, Purple, and Z and move forward and empower financial power to the deaf world!

    
12.   Former Regional sales mgr and former Director for Telesales program for ZVRS   |  Monday, 08 August 2011 at 3:22 pm

    Those people on this Vlog, whom I know very well were telling about all of these documentaries which are totally truth, just simple because I had worked for VRS industry for 9 years. My own eyes saw everything that were taken by who ? Of course, it is an easy answer… like again they told you on this VLOG.  I earned between 20k to 25k a year from the minute incentive. However, reminding you that mine was like a peanut, compared to my former CEO and Executive Directors

    
13.   asljimbocoda   |  Monday, 08 August 2011 at 5:42 pm

    Ryan , good job I am a CODA and believe the entire deaf culture has become passive. Sad it breaks my heart to know my deaf children and parents  grand kids don’t have leaders in the community. I work for a VRI/VRS company and struggle with ignorance of hearing and deaf. They(both) always pointing fingers , we are all responsible for this madness. I ask, I beg you to do something positive for the deaf! They wont let me because I am hearing. They think I have an other motive, not true. I love deaf, I am hearing but, sometimes I wish, I was deaf. please stand up and lead! please.

    
14.   John   |  Tuesday, 09 August 2011 at 7:41 pm

    Hi RyanI totally agreed with what you bring up. I always tell deaf people we need to build deaf powers how? the answer is the money power. several of us working on find good investment that we can find but it is not easy taskforce on investment. I am big lobbyist in government and I did some researchs on investments that I believes will help deaf community become deaf power with money in equal with hearing world. I have been working on foundation for the deaf community around usa and world. All I could do is wait for the investments complete their transcations.I am well known as retiredkirk, I always tried to teach deaf communities about the power money seem today no one really cared and very lazy to stand up for the deaf communities. I have been advocates for deaf’s need and freedom of business enterprises.If you have any questions feel free email me to set up videophone discussion.

    
15.   The One and Only Ridor   |  Thursday, 11 August 2011 at 1:55 pm

    I made several vlogs talking about the same thing which Ryan Commerson has covered in his masterpiece vlog on VRS industry.  About time, someone else other than myself saw the true colors of VRS industry.  R-

    
16.   Unknown deaf person   |  Thursday, 11 August 2011 at 9:05 pm

    Ryan, you did great job. I agreed with you about minutes and also other issues. Fomer I worked for Purple Co, They(CEO and Staffs) were dirty business. They told Dist Managers to used VRS minutes thru conference calls. Must be 45 minutes meeting 1 or 2 times in a week plus also daily training in 3 times in weeks. There were change every months and using minutes lots and I found out somewhere in Florda called datastars. That Datastars , deaf people/workers they were over 50,000 minutes in one months. They were contract with credit card to use VRS and contact to Deaf people by minutes too. Credit card or others co use text message thru VRS . That was illegal. I do not know if FBI catched them (Purple Co) yet. so later on Purple Co changed the plan. Then later on downsized or removed deaf employees all over US. I am sure Others Co will be same things using minutes.  

    
17.   George   |  Friday, 12 August 2011 at 3:03 pm

    I was reading all the messages, what I would like to see this happen. When a Deaf or HOH gets involved joining the VRS, then the Deaf or HOH will be full ownership of VRS company, why not, we Deaf or HOH letting hearing control our lives for years. I think it is time for the Deaf thruout U.S.  to be unity to establish the DEAF VRS. I couldnt understand why the U Tube is operated by the hearing, I think, if I am wrong tell me. I want to earn a piece of Company of VRSMaybe you dont agree with that is fine.  I want some honest Deaf to operate the VRS. I think it is time for the Deaf to have their own VRS when they join up. This is an idea. I am sure can get grant to start off and must have a good lawyer to make sure we are doing this right by law. 

    
18.   Jason   |  Sunday, 14 August 2011 at 11:01 pm

    Ryan really need to do better job getting his fact straight.  As Deaf color person I support VRS company that hires, and support diversity in the community.  We really do not need Deaf Own VRS company like Convo when they only support their own race and reject  color deaf  people.  (How do they reject), they do not say it in their face, they show it by poor service they give to color person compare to Deaf white person. Purple VRS has given a lot back, I have witness this VRS company give back to diversity community. They hired diversity people and they have proven they not afraid  hire Deaf color people in management posotion or executive position.  In my view Convo may be  Deaf own company, but why isn’t any one questioning one of the current owner of Convo who use to run Hawk Relay service.  Why is this certain person still able to own a VRS company after running previous relay service down to the ground?  Why isn’t anyone stopping the bad practice they doing to the color people which is giving poor services on purpose.   What really interesting, we all know who behind this video really and it’s Convo. The person who was filming this works for Convo and that means Convo part of this.**If there is a Deaf own VRS company that support diversity and actually hire diversity Deaf people then they have MY SUPPORT!**SORENSON, ZVRS, Convo,Snap vrs has not yet shown they are friendly to diversity people int he community.  The way to show this by HIRING Deaf Color people to work for their company and prompt them to be in manager or executive position levels.  But by far the worst VRS company is Convo when it comes to diversity people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    
19.   Jeremiah   |  Monday, 15 August 2011 at 6:58 pm

    In 2006, I have begun working in a VRS industry, during my college year to now, as a contractor.  I have seen a lot of oppression within the industry as described on the documentary that composed byRyan Commerson. On the documentary described perfectly true and the information that has shown balance, one thing I want to tell you that I wish that Ryan could talk more about the employment within the Deaf community. I have been in VRS industry as an independent contractor since 2006 with two different companies. I never sense the security within the position as an independent contractor.
     Let me explain here: I worked for a particular company and I was a dedicated worker where I was so happy to work with the customers until one tiny naive mistake came in my way that cost me by terminated me immediately, and left me with nothing. This experience I had gotten me to see the whole things different. I have started working for another company; I had the opportunity to apply for the full time position and within my disappointment that the company have drop that position to my home state and gave that job to one who has been in full time position moving to one state from another state. I never had the interview for that position. This disappointment gotten me to lost my motivation and I have gotten a full time job with the state agency. After I lost my job with the state due to budget issue and I had to move back home, then I applied another VRS company for a full time position. Unfortunately, I was interviewed but I wasn’t selected and later I learned that the VRS Company have select from someone that work inside to move to the specific state to be a state outreach specialist.
    On the video, there was a little of talk about the employment issues but to my knowledge is that there are so too much favouritism within the company rather than giving more Deaf/Hard of Hearing people the opportunity to work. As Deaf community have been struggling with find the full time job and enjoy the decent living.
    I feel that the FCC should do something about the abuse within the employments such as so many independent contractors out there that working for VRS companies just much like Avon Distributor that always have the contractors to sell the products, and have to pay more taxes (Tax Form 1099), than the full-time employment.  VRS industry has taken advantage of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing people by both users and the contractors. The contractors are struggling to make the living like me. I had to make a living like everyone else but I earn the money and been paying taxes to the same amount I have earned through sales etc…
    I have contacted FCC about the problem within the employments for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing people who are sharing the same struggling I am now in. I haven’t hear from FCC.
    In the perfect world, VRS would be able to give more “FULL TIME” positions to all contractors and this would motivate them to give their best to the companies.
    Time will tell VRS will not going to be same from now on….
    Support Deaf-Owned business! I would love to work for one of them but unfortunately they aren’t able to create that opportunities yet.
     

    
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