The Golden Hand Award, the organization's highest honor, is presented biennially to an individual or organization that has substantially contributed to the betterment of Utah's deaf community. The UAD, which was established in 1909 to serve deaf and hard-of-hearing Utahns and one of the oldest state associations in the United States, held its biennial conference and the awards presentation at the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, in Taylorsville, Utah. Ron Burdett, vice president of community relations for Sorenson Communications, accepted the award on behalf of the company.
Sorenson Communications created the VP-200, a videophone for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Using the VP-200, a television, and a high-speed Internet connection, deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals can connect to a nationwide network of interpreters who place calls to hearing individuals and then relay the conversation between the two parties.
"We are proud to honor Sorenson Communications, a local business that has a strong, supportive presence in the Utah deaf community," said Robert Kerr, UAD president. "Through development and distribution of its videophones and Sorenson VRS, Sorenson Communications has made it possible for deaf people to communicate with each other and with hearing people in their native language, ASL, which is a boon to deaf people across the nation. We also appreciate Sorenson Communications' support of the Deaflympics Expo, the 16th Winter Deaflympics, and their ongoing support of our local community through financial grants."
In response, Ron Burdett, vice president of community relations for Sorenson Communications, stated, "We appreciate this award from UAD. Through our long-time association with UAD has helped us better understand the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Our organizations are both committed to breaking down communication barriers between deaf individuals and the hearing world."
