Meet the interpreters for Oneida County press briefings

Meet the interpreters for Oneida County press briefings

Signing alongside anthony picente during his coronavirus briefings - but who are they?

News channel 2's caitlin irla joins us live here in the studio to introduce us to the unsung heroes who are making sure everyone has access to critical information.

These two faces have become very familiar in oneida county over the past few months as we have been dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

And - during this challenging time, they are making a different to those who struggle to hear.

"good afternoon im onieda county exectuive anthony picente."

You may have noticed them during oneida county executive anthony picente's daily press briefings.

Vicky stockton and gloria broadbent have played a key role in making sure the deaf community knows what is going on.

"i had contacted the office and just mentioned that it would be great to have an interpreter for all of the presentations so deaf people know what's going on.

So that there's this equality that happens, this is an emergency situation, everybody should know what's happening."

And just like that... on march 15th... vicky and gloria were called to the county office building... from there on out... they would be there for every single briefing.

"its been an interesting experience.

I remember talking with vicky and saying how i wanted to help out and i wasn't sure how i wanted to help out."

Normally an interpreter is a paid position... but- both vicky and gloria decided to volunteer their time as their way to help during the pandemic.

"this came up very, very quickly.

Gloria and i made a decision its an emergency and we decided this was kind of our part of helping the emergency situation."

"i've really enjoyed volunteering i'm glad i had this opportunity."

Both women work at the school for the deaf in rome... and both have a different path..

But the same passion for the hearing impaired community.

Gloria's parents are deaf and she had to interpret for them at a young age... so she knows how important her role has been.

"my parents both graduated for the deaf and i always wanted to work there my siblings and i all learned how to sign it was our first language."

Vicky and gloria say they are happy to get on stage because everyone should have equal access to information.

"that's the biggest thing.

Its not about the interpreter its about the audience.

That they have that equal access to information at the same time that everybody else is hearing that information."

They tell me that roughly one percent of the population has some sort of hearing loss.

Jason, back to you.

The governor signed an