Hamilton Relay Scholarship support for deaf and hard of hearing students

Hamilton

Which Hamilton Relay communication services will you find most beneficial to you in your college career (and how could this service be changed to meet your future needs)?

The transition from high school into college requires adaptation for all students. But for one such as myself, who is hearing impaired or has difficulty speaking in my secondary education, this transition is uniquely challenging. I'm excited to take this next step in my education but I know that in order to achieve my maximum potential. This is why I am applying for the Hamilton Relay Scholarship and why I'm so grateful for the full line of specialized communication services offered by Hamilton Relay. I can say with great certainty that many of these services will be directly beneficial to me as I further my educational career.

Specifically, the Hamilton Web Relay service is one that I anticipate using on a daily basis to remain in touch with family and friends at home, to remain in contact with my classmates and to reach out to professors and others in the campus community. The Hamilton Web Relay will open a lot of doors to a student with my unique set of needs. Your technology ensures that I don't have to feel isolated by these sensory distinctions. Instead, I have the benefit of communication that seamlessly integrates into my computer, works in coordination with my instant messenger program and allows me to remain in contact with others while using all other computer applications freely.

Also, because Hamilton's Web Relay service is fully customizable, I can manage outgoing calls, incoming calls and messages all with one easy-to-use desktop and web application. One of the features that I find most useful is that which allows the user to differentiate between real-time and Instant Messenger style conversation. This will allow me to communicate either in direct coordination with my conversational partner or at a delay which lets me attend to other matters simultaneously. As one who enjoys socializing but always finds ways to balance this with responsibility, the ability to conduct my conversations around my research and class-work is critical.

One feature that I'd be very interested in seeing in the future from Hamilton Relay is a Web Video Relay service that integrates with Real Time Web Relay. If the refresh rate can be optimized to make sign language communication or even lip-reading possible, this innovation could be especially valuable in helping to channel the experience of a Real-Time conversation. Additionally, by incorporating the potential for sign language into the relay service, the possibility exists to reach a wider set of user needs. For me, the benefit would admittedly be more social and personal than professional, but it would bring me great support and comfort during my college career to be able to make video contact with loved ones who are otherwise far away.

In any event, I already consider the Hamilton Web Relay service and the host of other services offered by your firm to be incredibly valuable resources as I make my way to the next level in my education. Additionally, I appreciate the opportunity to apply for a scholarship which, if awarded, I intend to use to enrich myself educational and, consequently, to lend my abilities to others with my unique set of needs.