COVID-19 pandemic boosts visibility of sign language, increases accessibility for deaf community Sign language interpreters said that they hope increased use of interpreters during major events helps increase accessibility for the deaf community. Author: WBIR Staff Updated: 4:44 PM EST January 23, 2021 The COVID-19 pandemic changed daily life for people across the world. With new safety guidelines requiring people to wear masks and practice social distancing and companies changing how they do business, people are having to adapt. However, some of those changes could increase accessibility for the deaf community in Tennessee. As a result of more events being held virtually, officials said that sign language's visibility has increased.