TORONTO, Aug. 23,
2023 /CNW/ - Scotiabank, in collaboration with the
Canadian Administrator of Video Relay Services (CAV), has launched
a dedicated phone line aimed at providing assistance to customers
with hearing and/or speech impairments, who rely on Video Relay
Service (VRS) for their remote banking needs.
Scotiabank's new service offering allows customers using the VRS
application to call a dedicated phone number with American Sign
Language (ASL) or langue des signes québécoise (LSQ). Specifically
trained Scotiabank Customer Care Advisors will receive the call and
communicate with the interpreter and the customer to ensure a
secure and accessible customer experience.
"With our ongoing commitment to providing equitable access to
all our customers, Scotiabank is proud to introduce a new
communication channel for VRS users," said Eric Scipio del Campo, SVP, Global Contact
Centres at Scotiabank. "Our collaboration with the Canadian
Administrator of Video Relay Services, an authority in VRS, has
allowed us to refine a service for our deaf, hard of hearing, and
speech impaired customers. Together, we are delivering a more
inclusive, barrier-free banking experience that ensures every
customer feels valued."
VRS users in Canada can now
dial 1-866-267-4726 to connect with a Scotiabank Customer Care
Advisor through an interpreter who is fluent in either ASL or
LSQ. For more information about Accessibility at Scotiabank,
please visit our redesigned Accessibility site.
"As we approach International Week of the Deaf in September,
Scotiabank's launch of a dedicated phone line for Canada VRS users
serves as a testament to their commitment to the Deaf community and
inclusivity as a whole. What's more, this action is one of the ways
in which they are helping to realize a barrier-free Canada," said
Suzanne Laforest, CEO and Executive
Director of CAV.
Scotiabank continues to embrace advancements in technology to
foster a culture of accessibility and create a more level playing
field for all customers. Scotiabank's inaugural Accessible Canada
Act Accessibility Plan 2023-2026 outlines the Bank's commitment to
identifying, preventing, and removing barriers for persons with
disabilities.
Scotiabank's ongoing commitment to accessibility is further
demonstrated through ScotiaRISE, the Bank's 10-year $500 million initiative to promote economic
resilience among disadvantaged groups. By working together to
remove barriers to advancement and increase access to
opportunities, Scotiabank aims to create a more inclusive and
resilient world for everyone, as demonstrated through charitable
support of:
- CNIB's Come to Work Program
- The Rick Hansen Foundation School Program
- ScotiaRISE and Easter Seals
Canada's Supporting Students through Accessible Technology
and Mentorship Program
Learn more about ScotiaRISE at:
https://www.scotiabank.com/scotiaRISE
About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our
purpose: "for every future", we help our customers, their families
and their communities achieve success through a broad range of
advice, products and services, including personal and commercial
banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and
investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of over 90,000
employees and assets of over $1.3 trillion (as
at April 30, 2023), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock
Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For
more information, please
visit http://www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter
@Scotiabank.
About the Canadian Administrator of Video Relay Services
(CAV), Inc.
The Canadian Administrator of Video Relay Service (CAV), Inc.,
or CAV, is a not-for-profit telecommunications services company
with a mandate from the Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to design, implement and
oversee the delivery of Video Relay Service (VRS) in Canada.
Canada VRS enables Deaf, Hard of Hearing or speech-impaired
Canadians who use American Sign Language (ASL) and langue des
signes québécoise (LSQ) to make telephone calls via Internet-based
videoconferencing technology.
CAV and its Board of Directors are responsible for Canada's
national VRS, Canada VRS which was launched September 28, 2016, and is available 7 days a
week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
SOURCE Scotiabank