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Nagish Acquires Sign.mt to Drive Research in AI and Sign Language. Read the announcement
User Spotlight
December 17, 2024
5min

User Spotlight: Meet Bob: 100-Years Young Nagish Power User

Bob, who is 100, found Nagish on his own. Now, he stays connected with friends and family. Proving tech has no age limit. Read his inspiring story here!

Author:
Laura Taylor
User Spotlight: Meet Bob: 100-Years Young Nagish Power User
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Meet Bob, a Nagish power user, sharp tech explorer, and a centenarian who’s living proof that age is just a number.

Bob's First Steps with Nagish

When Bob signed up for Nagish on October 30th, you might think his tech-savvy niece or grandson helped him out. Nope. Bob - 100 years young - found Nagish himself on the internet, downloaded it, and made his first call to tell his son about it.

Bob James
Bob James

A Call for Connection Since then, Bob has made many calls to connect with friends and family. He nailed the captions, figured out how to answer calls (after a brief hiccup - "I think I'm getting there now"), and continues to enjoy staying connected with the people he loves.

Bob James
Bob James

Oh, and did we mention Bob’s birthday? On December 6th, he turned 100! As he told Laura, our head of support:

“All my life, I used to tell people I felt 100 years old. Now I can say it legitimately.”

Bob’s Tips for Cheerful Life

Cheers to Bob’s Tips for Life! Bob shared a few of his secrets to living a full life:

Stay connected: Whether it’s calling loved ones or convincing his son (who also has hearing loss) to try Nagish, Bob knows the value of staying in touch.

Enjoy the little things: Bob loves a good martini ("It’s gin, not vodka - that’s not a martini!") and a glass of Beaujolais wine.

Stay curious: From military days in Texas to running a wine-tasting club since 1970, Bob’s always up for learning something new.

Bob James
Bob James

Why Nagish Works for Bob

Nagish Makes It Easy! Bob uses Nagish to catch every word - effortlessly and on the go. It’s not just about calls, it’s about independence, confidence, and showing the world that technology has no age limit.

Happy 100th, Bob! Here’s to more calls, more laughs, and more martinis. You’re an inspiration to all of us at Nagish.

Whether you're 18 or 100, staying connected matters—and Nagish is here to help.
Sign me up now!
Laura Taylor

Laura Taylor, Head of Engagement and Support at Nagish, on the mission to inspire, elevate, and empower others to reach their full potential.

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Nagish Acquires Sign.mt to Drive Research in AI and Sign Language. 
‍Read the announcement

User Spotlight: Meet Bob: 100-Years Young Nagish Power User

Key Findings

  • Workplace Impact: 62% of Deaf and 66% of Hard-of-Hearing individuals report that communication barriers hinder career mobility.
  • Healthcare Challenges: 62% of Deaf and 66% of Hard-of-Hearing individuals experience communication barriers in healthcare settings, contributing to delays in treatment.
  • Concerns About Emergency Communications: 20% of Deaf and 24.3% Hard-of-Hearing users also expressed serious concerns that communication barriers would prohibit them from contacting healthcare personnel in an emergency situation.
  • Independence Boost: Assistive technology nearly doubled rates of independence, with 60% of Deaf users and 63% of Hard-of-Hearing users reporting increased autonomy.
  • Emotional Strain: 55% of Deaf users and 83% of Hard-of-Hearing users reported emotional distress due to communication frustrations.
  • Social and Professional Opportunities: 46% of Deaf and 32.9% of Hard-of-Hearing users saw improved social and career prospects thanks to assistive technologies.

Empowering the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Through Technology: A New Era of Communication and Independence

At Nagish, we’ve seen firsthand just how much communication shapes daily life for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities. Our recent survey highlights the significant barriers they face in the workplace, healthcare settings, and in their social lives. But it also sheds light on a powerful solution: assistive technology. The results of this survey reinforce our commitment to empowering these communities and remind us why our mission matters: with access to the right tools, independence grows, opportunities expand, and well-being improves.

We collected data through a comprehensive survey involving over 300 individuals who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing and currently use hearing assistive technology. The survey included 179 Deaf and 140 Hard-of-Hearing participants, with data collected in an inclusive and accessible manner to ensure that everyone could participate and share their experiences without barriers.Communication Barriers in the Workplace: Limiting Career Mobility

Communication challenges in the workplace remain one of the most significant hurdles for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals, preventing them from fully realizing their career potential. Assistive technology offers a solution by removing these barriers and expanding access to a broader range of job opportunities and career growth.

Download the PDF Report

A majority of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing participants reported that communication barriers affected their career decisions, making it harder to pursue job opportunities or advance in their careers.

Deaf Participants

Hard-of-Hearing participants

65% of Deaf users rely on assistance from hearing individuals at least once a week to communicate effectively, which can limit their ability to fully engage in dynamic work environments.

Communication Barriers in Healthcare: A Matter of Public Safety
Communication challenges are not just a workplace issue — they extend into healthcare settings, where they can directly impact individuals’ health outcomes. Accessible communication tools are essential for ensuring that Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals can receive timely and accurate medical care, especially in emergency situations

Many Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users face communication barriers in healthcare settings, which can lead to missed appointments, misunderstandings about medical treatments, and delayed care.

Deaf users:

62%

Hard of Hearing users:

66%

Some Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users have concerns about reaching healthcare professionals in emergencies, highlighting serious public safety risks.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Empowering Independence Through Assistive Technology
One of the most encouraging findings from our survey is just how much independence is boosted with assistive technology. This improvement in independence is not just about doing things on their own; it’s about having the confidence and ability to engage fully in both professional and personal settings.

Assistive technology has significantly increased the independence of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users in managing daily tasks, showing clear improvements after adoption.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Expanding Social and Professional Opportunities
Beyond independence, assistive technology creates connection.By removing communication barriers that keep people from joining in socially or professionallyassistive technology allows users to engage more deeply in social activities and pursue career opportunities that were previously out of reach.

Assistive technology has helped Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users expand their social networks and professional opportunities, enabling new connections and career growth.

Emotional and Psychological Impact: The Hidden Toll of Communication Barriers
People often overlook the emotional and psychological toll of communication , but they can have a profound impact on the mental well-being of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals. Assistive technology can help alleviate this emotional strain, empowering users to communicate more effectively and reducing the anxiety associated with relying on others for basic communication.

A significant number of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users experience frustration and anxiety when communicating with family and friends, leading to isolation and stress.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Why This Matters: A Call for Widespread Adoption of Assistive Technologies
The findings from our survey are clear: communication barriers continue to limit the lives of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals in many areas, from the workplace to healthcare to their social lives. What’s also clear to us is that the question isn’t whether assistive technology helps—it’s how quickly we can make this powerful solution universally available.. By making these tools more accessible, we can open up new opportunities for individuals to thrive in their careers, maintain better health, and lead more independent lives.
At Nagish, we are committed to advocating for the integration of assistive technologies in all aspects of life. Whether it’s in healthcare, the workplace, or social settings, these technologies have the potential to create a more inclusive society where Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals can live fully empowered lives. 
Our hope is that these findings inspire not just awareness, but action. We hope this survey creates awareness and action in promoting accessibility and inclusion for these communities. Together, we can create a world where everyone, regardless of their hearing abilities, has equal access to opportunities and services.