The bridge between worlds

Why Iris exists

There are over 500,000 deaf ASL users in the United States. There are fewer than 10,000 certified sign language interpreters — a ratio of roughly 50 to 1.

This means the vast majority of everyday conversations between Deaf and hearing people happen without professional support. Doctor's appointments, job interviews, parent-teacher conferences, casual conversations with neighbors — all of these moments rely on improvised communication, written notes, or simply not happening at all.

Iris was built to change that. Not to replace interpreters — their work is invaluable — but to fill the massive gap in between. To make spontaneous, everyday communication accessible to everyone.

Built with the Deaf community

Iris isn't built for the Deaf community from the outside. It's built with Deaf input at every stage — from feature design to sign accuracy to interface testing. Our signing avatar, dictionary content, and UX decisions are all shaped by feedback from Deaf users and advocates.

We believe that accessibility tools should be created in partnership with the communities they serve. That's not just good practice — it's the only way to get it right.

About Lonia AI

Iris is built by Lonia AI, a company focused on building AI-powered tools that are accessible, compliant, and secure. We believe technology should serve everyone — not just those who can afford interpreters or who communicate in the dominant language.

Lonia AI was founded by Mary Leriche, a UX designer and developer with over a decade of experience building accessible, compliant software for government and enterprise. She holds a Master of Business and Science from Rutgers University and has led accessibility-first redesigns for state government agencies.

Questions or feedback? Reach us at support@lonia.ai.