50 Years Of Innovation: Chris Soukup, CEO Of Communication Service For The Deaf (CSD) Investing In Accessibility podcast

50 Years of Innovation: Chris Soukup, CEO of Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD)

5d ago 44:14

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In this inspiring episode of Investing in Accessibility, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher sit down with Chris Soukup, CEO of Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD), for a powerful conversation about advocacy, innovation, and the future of accessibility.

Chris shares his family’s remarkable legacy—from his grandfather’s struggles with discrimination as a deaf farmer in South Dakota to his father founding CSD with a $15,000 grant and a vision for equal rights and access. Over the past 50 years, that grassroots effort has grown into a pioneering organization transforming life for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Listeners will hear how CSD evolved from early telecommunication services to nationwide video relay technology, its role in shaping access before and after the ADA, and the exciting innovations on the horizon—including AI and emerging communication tools designed to create greater independence and inclusion.

This episode is both a journey through history and a look ahead at how technology, advocacy, and entrepreneurship are shaping a more accessible world for all.

Links & Resources:

Chris Soukup: LinkedIn

Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD): Website

COMING SOON!

American Sign Language (ASL) and Captioning for each episode will be provided on our YouTube channel. Go to handle @SamaritanPartners.

Chapters

1. 50 Years of Innovation: Chris Soukup, CEO of Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) (00:00:00)

2. Introduction to Investing in Accessibility (00:00:06)

3. Chris Soukup's Family Story (00:03:39)

4. Birth of CSD: From $15,000 Grant (00:06:28)

5. Evolution of Technology and TTY (00:14:02)

6. ASL vs English Communication Challenges (00:21:18)

7. CSD Today: Services and Impact (00:28:54)

8. Thoughtful Technology Transitions (00:36:57)

9. Closing and Contact Information (00:41:31)

19 episodes