Susan B. Anthony House to offer artificial intelligence ASL interpreting for guests

How often do we consider the invisible barriers that prevent some from fully experiencing our cultural heritage? Historic sites, designed to preserve and share stories, can inadvertently exclude entire communities. In Rochester, a city with one of the world's largest Deaf populations, the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House is confronting this challenge head-on, transforming how its powerful narratives are shared.

Revolutionizing Access with AI-Powered ASL

The museum is partnering with Sign-Speak, a cutting-edge, locally developed artificial intelligence platform, to provide on-demand American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation. This collaboration is set to make the museum's profound history accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors in an unprecedented way.

Sign-Speak's founder, Nikolas Kelly, who is deaf, identified a critical gap: the absence of ubiquitous sign language technology comparable to voice recognition. His vision birthed a tool designed for independence and seamless communication, bridging the divide between deaf and hearing individuals, especially when immediate human interpreters aren't available.

A Comprehensive Interpretation Toolkit

Sign-Speak offers a versatile array of features:

• Speech to Sign: Translates spoken narratives into ASL.
• Sign to Text & Speech to Text: Facilitates communication from sign or typed text to spoken or written words.
• Animated Avatar: A digital signing person for visual interpretation.
• Video Remote Interpreting (VRI): Provides access to human interpreters for complex interactions.

Visitors will access the platform by scanning a QR code with their phones, bringing the museum's compelling stories directly to them in their preferred language.

Beyond Technology: Fulfilling a Legacy of Inclusion

This initiative goes beyond mere technological adoption; it deeply aligns with the museum's mission. President & CEO Deborah Hughes emphasizes that the museum seeks to open and advance conversations from Susan B. Anthony's era to the present, embracing diverse perspectives. The fundamental questions Anthony championed—civil rights, justice, and personal freedoms—echo strongly today. This partnership ensures a wider audience can engage with these vital historical and contemporary dialogues.

A cornerstone of Sign-Speak’s success is its development alongside the Deaf community, ensuring the technology genuinely addresses user needs. This collaborative approach underscores the principle that effective solutions for disabled communities are built with them.

A Blueprint for an Accessible Future

The Susan B. Anthony Museum & House, by embracing Sign-Speak, establishes a powerful model for cultural institutions globally. It demonstrates how innovative technology can dismantle historical barriers, empowering individuals with greater independence and ensuring that every invaluable lesson from the past is universally accessible. This venture prompts a crucial question for us all: How can we apply such intentional innovation to create truly inclusive spaces in every aspect of our lives?