TED Health How AI can bridge the Deaf and hearing worlds | Adam Munder | from TED Tech
Mar 3, 2026
Adam Munder, a Deaf software engineer and founder of OmniBridge, builds AI that translates American Sign Language into English in real time. He shares personal stories about communication barriers and demonstrates tech that aims to restore nuance and dignity. The conversation covers interpreter shortages, on-device AI models, and making everyday conversations accessible.
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Doctor Tells Child To Interpret For Deaf Parents
- Adam Munder describes being told at a pediatrician visit that his seven-year-old would interpret for him when no interpreter was available.
- This moment illustrates routine indignities Deaf parents face when systems assume family members can substitute for professional interpreters.
Professional Success Still Hinges On Interpreters
- Adam explains his professional success still depends entirely on having two qualified interpreters in meetings and presentations.
- He highlights that equal degrees and responsibilities don't equal equal access when language support is scarce.
Interpreter Shortage Creates Communication Survival Mode
- Adam points out there are about 1.1 million people with hearing loss in Arizona but only ~400 licensed interpreters, creating systemic scarcity.
- This gap forces Deaf people into survival modes using limited tools like pen, paper, or texts that lose ASL nuance.