Letters, Resumes, Grants, and Newsletters:
Deaf-owned company does it all in both English and ASL

Faribault, MN – For as long as she can remember, Trudy Suggs has edited letters or documents for friends and coworkers. “Many of my parents’ friends didn’t like writing or using English, and they often were too proud to ask for assistance. When I was little, I’d edit many things for them as a favor,” Suggs remembers. “Or I would translate something into American Sign Language (ASL), such as business letters. It was fun for me, but I never thought it’d become a career.”

T.S. Writing Services, founded in June 2003, offers services in both written English and ASL. Suggs, who is deaf and known for her work with deaf publications and community service, founded the business after many years of working freelance. “After I left my last full-time job, I was contacted by people I had written about or worked with in the past, and started doing different projects for them,” she says. “Demand began to build and I was soon working at full-time capacity. So I decided to make it official and started the company.”

Today, T.S. Writing Services works with a pool of writers, graphic designers, and other contractors. “We do almost anything that has to do with written English or ASL,” Suggs explains. “That makes for such a diverse schedule every day. For instance, one day I might focus on a publicity drive. Then the next day, I might do many different tasks, such as writing a grant proposal for a nonprofit agency, working on a newsletter, translating letters into ASL, and doing research for an article.”

One of the most common questions Suggs gets asked is how she can possibly operate a national, full-time business from her log house in Faribault, Minn., a rural area about an hour south of the Twin Cities. She has a quick answer: “Technology.” Internet access is taken from a specialized antenna that is located on top of the house. “We’ve had plenty of rainstorms and snowstorms, and so far, no problem with the service going out. But I’m keeping my fingers crossed!” she laughs.

The high-speed Internet service enables T.S. Writing Services to work with clients from all over the world. “Many of the clients that we work with prefer to communicate via ASL, so we use a web cam for these situations. In fact, I often talk with people in other countries, such as Italy,” she adds. “Usually, the clients and I will e-mail or fax each other files prior to our appointment, and work on them together. Really, if not for the Internet, I wouldn’t be able to run this business.”

The company also works with hearing clients. “Many of our clients come to us through word-of-mouth. I also teach nonfiction writing courses online, and some of my former students are now my clients, working with me on their articles and books. It’s been a great steppingstone.”

Some of the company’s other services include public relations, marketing, and training. “We do a lot of communications for corporations, and produce brochures, newsletters, and training manuals,” Suggs adds. “Many of our writers come from a corporate or nonprofit background and have an in-depth understanding of what companies or agencies need.”

The company promises quick but high-quality results, and most of their projects are completed within 24 to 48 hours. “We know all too well how sometimes projects need to be done now, without delay. It’s not a problem for us,” Suggs says. “But we never compromise quality for time. We make sure our clients are satisfied with the results, period. We also stress the guarantee of confidentiality, especially since the deaf community is so cohesive.”

Indeed, working out of a loft in a log house with beautiful scenery surrounding her, Suggs is leading what many consider to be a dream career. “I’m really fortunate that I’m able to do what I love the most, and that I can work with such talented people. Living and working where I do really puts everything into perspective for me. Writing is my way of giving back to the deaf community what I’ve been given.”

USA-L News, Nov. 20, 2003

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