Microsoft Teams makes it easy to host sign language meetings

It's now much easier to join a Microsoft Teams meeting if you have hearing issues. Microsoft has introduced a sign language view that allows people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and their interpreters, to be prioritized in meetings. These video streams will remain in consistent locations, at sizes large enough for sign language to be visible. You'll see up to two other signers throughout a meeting, and the video will stay great even when slides or screen shares are visible.

View also makes preferences "sticky" thanks to a new accessibility settings pane, Microsoft says. You won't have to worry about pinning performers or turning on captions every time a Teams call starts. You can go directly to a meeting instead of changing the options.

Sign language view and accessibility pane are currently only available through a public preview available on a user-by-user basis. They will be rolling out to all commercial and government customers in the "coming weeks," Microsoft said. It may take some time before everyone can use the feature. Still, it promises to greatly simplify meetings for anyone with limited hearing — and could make Teams more viable if alternatives like Zoom (which only recently added support for interpreters) fall short. .

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