Home - Sign Language Interpreters, RID certified network across the United States

Sign Language Interpreting Services

Details: Category: What we do; Published on Saturday, 02 May 2009 12:31; Written by Daryl Crouse; Hits: 5315

We provide service in a variety of situations, the Sign Language interpreters we work with are RID certified. Clients are able to use our online scheduling tools to indicate the type of service they require. When an interpreter is found, the Deaf or Hard of Hearing consumer is notified by email so that both the client and the consumer are aware that arrangements have been made.

We also provide state-of-the-art video interpreting and remote video conferencing. By beaming the interpreter into a workplace or other setting, we are able to save our clients money while still providing the best sign language interpretation for our Deaf and Hard of Hearing consumers.

We have provided interpreting for both Deaf and Hard of Hearing professionals and their clients in the following settings:

Medical and dental appointments
Legal appointments
College, university, and continuing education classes
Courtroom assistance for attorneys, defendants, and jury members
News conferences and public announcements
Mental health treatment
Driver’s license testing assistance
Workshops, meetings, lectures, and conferences
Long-term assignments working side-by-side with Deaf and Hard of Hearing professionals in an office environment.

When a job is expected to run longer than the typical one or two hour appointment, or will have complicated requirements in terms of the level of interpretation required, two or more interpreters will be provided.

To request services please submit your date and time of your meeting online. We will reply with a quote or follow up usually within the hour.

Coverage Area

Details: Category: What we do; Published on Tuesday, 08 September 2009 10:25; Written by Daryl Crouse; Hits: 1438

This map represents the number of interpreters available in our network. The dark red areas are where we know the greatest number of interpreters. We do not know or have a relationship with available interpreters in the other areas at this time. Please understand that we do not make any guarantee of availability until a client has confirmed the appointment and interpreter has also confirmed their acceptance.

Video Interpreting via the iPad 2

Details: Category: News; Published on Wednesday, 09 March 2011 13:07; Written by Daryl Crouse; Hits: 1512

Are you interested in using video remote interpreting services? This Friday Apple launches the second generation iPad, "iPad2". Ask us about how you can take advantage of this revolutionary product to create new opportunities for accessibility.

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Department of Justice Updates the Definition of Qualified Interpreter

Details: Category: News; Published on Monday, 24 January 2011 05:56; Written by Daryl Crouse; Hits: 1629

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), physician offices are places of public accommodation that must comply with the requirements in Title III of the Act. In July of 2010, the Department of Justice (DOJ) finalized rule updates that change many of the requirements related to places of public accommodation. Click here to review the DOJ Fact Sheet that highlights changes to Title III requirements.

The requirement that is likely to be of most interest to physicians pertains to the use of devices or services to provide effective communication to hearing impaired patients.

What are the new requirements for effective communication?

According to the DOJ ADA Fact Sheet:

The rule includes video remote interpreting (VRI) services as a kind of auxiliary aid that may be used to provide effective communication. VRI is an interpreting service that uses video conference technology over dedicated lines or wireless technology offering a high-speed, wide-bandwidth video connection that delivers high-quality video images. To ensure that VRI is effective, the Department has established performance standards for VRI and requires training for users of the technology and other involved individuals so that they may quickly and efficiently set up and operate the VRI system.

The rule also adds exchange of written notes, real time captioning, voice, text and video-based telecommunications products and systems, including text telephones (TTY), videophones and captioned telephones as examples of permitted auxiliary aids. The rule also more precisely defines effective communication and specifically states that the means of communication may vary with the individual and the complexity and nature of the communication involved. The rule also states some specific dos and don’ts.

Access the full text of the Title III regulations here.

The 2010 Standards take effect 18 months from the publication date, likely making the “compliance date” around January 2012. Until the compliance date, covered entities can choose whether to comply with the prior standards ("1991 Standards") or the 2010 Standards.

Sec.36.104 Definitions.
Qualified interpreter means an interpreter who, via a video remote interpreting (VRI) service or an on-site appearance, is able to interpret effectively, accurately and impartially both receptively and expressively, using any necessary specialized vocabulary. Qualified interpreters include, for example, sign language interpreters, oral transliterators, and cued-language transliterators.

Video remote interpreting (VRI) service means an interpreting service that uses video conference technology over dedicated lines or wireless technology offering high-speed, wide-bandwidth video connection that delivers high-quality video images as provided in § 36.303(f).

Sec.36.303 Auxiliary aids and services.
(a) General. A public accommodation shall take those steps that may be necessary to ensure that no individual with a disability is excluded, denied services, segregated or otherwise treated differently than other individuals because of the absence of auxiliary aids and services, unless the public accommodation can demonstrate that taking those steps would fundamentally alter the nature of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations being offered or would result in an undue burden, i.e., significant difficulty or expense.

(b) Examples. The term "auxiliary aids and services'' includes:

(1) Qualified interpreters on-site or through video remote interpreting (VRI) services; notetakers; real-time computer-aided transcription services; written materials; exchange of written notes; telephone handset amplifiers; assistive listening devices; assistive listening systems; telephones compatible with hearing aids; closed caption decoders; open and closed captioning, including real-time captioning; voice, text, and video-based telecommunications products and systems, including text telephones (TTY's), videophones, and captioned telephones, or equally effective telecommunications devices; videotext displays; accessible electronic and information technology;, or other effective methods of making aurally delivered information available to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing;

(2) Qualified readers; taped texts; audio recordings; Brailled materials and displays; screen reader software; magnification software; optical readers; secondary auditory programs (SAP); large print materials; accessible electronic and information technology; or other effective methods of making visually delivered materials available to individuals who are blind or have low vision;

(3) Acquisition or modification of equipment or devices; and

(4) Other similar services and actions.

(c) Effective communication. (1) A public accommodation shall furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities. This includes an obligation to provide effective communication to companions who are individuals with disabilities.

(i) For purposes of this section, "companion" means a family member, friend, or associate of an individual seeking access to, or participating in, the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of a public accommodation, who, along with such individual, is an appropriate person with whom the public accommodation should communicate.

(ii) The type of auxiliary aid or service necessary to ensure effective communication will vary in accordance with the method of communication used by the individual; the nature, length, and complexity of the communication involved; and the context in which the communication is taking place. A public accommodation should consult with individuals with disabilities whenever possible to determine what type of auxiliary aid is needed to ensure effective communication, but the ultimate decision as to what measures to take rests with the public accommodation, provided that the method chosen results in effective communication. In order to be effective, auxiliary aids and services must be provided in accessible formats, in a timely manner, and in such a way as to protect the privacy and independence of the individual with a disability.

(2) A public accommodation shall not require an individual with a disability to bring another individual to interpret for him or her.

(3) A public accommodation shall not rely on an adult accompanying an individual with a disability to interpret or facilitate communication, except --

(i) In an emergency involving an imminent threat to the safety or welfare of an individual or the public where there is no interpreter available; or

(ii) Where the individual with a disability specifically requests that the accompanying adult interpret or facilitate communication, the accompanying adult agrees to provide such assistance, and reliance on that adult for such assistance is appropriate under the circumstances.

(4) A public accommodation shall not rely on a minor child to interpret or facilitate communication, except in an emergency involving an imminent threat to the safety or welfare of an individual or the public where there is no interpreter available.

(d) Telecommunications. (1) When a public accommodation uses an automated-attendant system, including, but not limited to, voicemail and messaging, or an interactive voice response system, for receiving and directing incoming telephone calls, that system must provide effective real-time communication with individuals using auxiliary aids and services, including text telephones (TTYs) and all forms of FCC-approved telecommunications relay systems, including Internet-based relay systems.

(2) A public accommodation that offers a customer, client, patient, or participant the opportunity to make outgoing telephone calls using the public accommodation's equipment on more than an incidental convenience basis shall make available public telephones, TTYs, or other telecommunications products and systems for use by an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing, or has a speech impairment.

(3) A public accommodation may use relay services in place of direct telephone communication for receiving or making telephone calls incident to its operations.

(4) A public accommodation shall respond to telephone calls from a telecommunications relay service established under title IV of the ADA in the same manner that it responds to other telephone calls.

(5) This part does not require a public accommodation to use a TTY for receiving or making telephone calls incident to its operations.

(e) Closed caption decoders. Places of lodging that provide televisions in five or more guest rooms and hospitals that provide televisions for patient use shall provide, upon request, a means for decoding captions for use by an individual with impaired hearing.

(f) Video remote interpreting (VRI) services. A public accommodation that chooses to provide qualified interpreters via VRI service shall ensure that it provides --

(1) Real-time, full-motion video and audio over a dedicated high-speed, wide-bandwidth video connection or wireless connection that delivers high-quality video images that do not produce lags, choppy, blurry, or grainy images, or irregular pauses in communication;

(2) A sharply delineated image that is large enough to display the interpreter's face, arms, hands, and fingers, and the participating individual's face, arms, hands, and fingers, regardless of his or her body position;

(3) A clear, audible transmission of voices; and

(4) Adequate training to users of the technology and other involved individuals so that they may quickly and efficiently set up and operate the VRI.

(g) Alternatives. If provision of a particular auxiliary aid or service by a public accommodation would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations being offered or in an undue burden, i.e., significant difficulty or expense, the public accommodation shall provide an alternative auxiliary aid or service, if one exists, that would not result in an alteration or such burden but would nevertheless ensure that, to the maximum extent possible, individuals with disabilities receive the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations offered by the public accommodation.

Lawsuit: California fails to accommodate deaf workers

Details: Category: News; Published on Sunday, 23 May 2010 13:54; Written by BROOKE DONALD (AP); Hits: 2262

Deaf and hard-of-hearing state employees in California are regularly denied sign language interpreters for meetings and have been left behind during emergency evacuations because of a failure to accommodate their disability, according to a lawsuit filed Friday.

"Our investigation reveals a systemic breakdown," said Joshua Konecky, a lawyer for the plaintiffs. "Deaf employees describe a haphazard and patchwork environment for requesting and securing accommodations, if they get them at all."

The problems have resulted in workplace "isolation, exclusion, prejudice and overall pervasive discrimination," the suit says.

The lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court cites problems at the Department of Rehabilitation, Department of Justice, California Public Employees Retirement System and Department of Social Services.

It seeks class action status and includes seven named plaintiffs, including a woman who works in the Office of Deaf Access for the Department of Social Services.

There are about 1,500 state workers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.

Rachel Arrezola, a spokeswoman for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a defendant in the case, said the state is committed to accommodating disabled employees to ensure they are able to fulfill their job responsibilities.

"We are always looking for ways to improve access and the Department of Rehabilitation will continue to work with these individuals and their representatives, and we are hopeful this will be resolved soon," Arrezola said.

Evan Westrup, a spokesman for Attorney General Jerry Brown, said his office was reviewing the lawsuit and could not immediately comment.

The lawsuit alleges the state has violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

It claims deaf employees are often denied sign language interpreters for work-related events, including staff meetings, job training, performance reviews and meetings with the public and clients.

It also says the state frequently substitutes insufficient or ineffective forms of communication — lip reading, e-mail, videophones and interpretations by co-workers unskilled in sign language — rather than provide qualified interpreters.

The state often fails to caption videos shown to employees and cites budget limitations as a reason for denying interpreter requests, the lawsuit states.

"On paper, the state recognizes the need for sign language interpreters and other forms of reasonable accommodations, but in practice, the state has no reliable systems in place to ensure that its deaf employees have effective communication with their clients, co-workers and management," said Laurence Paradis, executive director of Disability Rights Advocates and a lawyer for the plaintiffs.

The lawsuit seeks improvements to state procedures and attorney fees.

Paradis said inadequate emergency procedures are the most disturbing example of the state's failure to accommodate deaf employees.

"We have had numerous reports of employees being left behind in buildings during evacuation drills and actual emergencies," he said.

State employee Melanie Thao Nguyen said her ability to serve the deaf community is hampered by the state's failure to provide her with sufficient interpreters in her position as associate governmental program analyst at the Office of Deaf Access.

The lawsuit claims the interpreting position at her workplace has been vacant for more than three years, and no one is due to be hired because funds had dried up.