The Definitive Guide to Using Sign Language Interpreting Services

 

To comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), your business must make sign language interpreting services available on request to deaf consumers. The only question is, how does this work in practice? 

Here, we’ll look at how you as a small to medium-size business can comply fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act. More importantly, we’ll look at how you can do so as cost-effectively as possible.  

 

In-House vs Outsourced Sign Language Interpreting Services

At present, it is estimated that 1 in 20 Americans are deaf or have some form of hearing impairment. However, not all hearing-impaired Americans will require an ASL interpreter when conducting business with you. For this reason, it will not always be in your interest to offer in-house sign language interpreting services. 

That said, there are exceptions to this rule.   

• Schools that cater specifically to deaf students are expected to offer in-house ASL interpreters. 
• Law enforcement agencies and medical care facilities will often benefit from hiring one or more in-house ASL interpreters. 
• If your business caters exclusively to the deaf community, your consumers will expect access to in-house ASL interpreters. 

How to Engage with Third-Party ASL Interpreters

Are you a small to medium-size business that does not provide an essential public service or cater specifically to the deaf community? If so, the easiest way for you to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act will be to use third-party ASL interpreters when necessary. 

At Languagers, we can provide face-to-face and remote ASL interpreters to organizations all across the United States. We can also connect you with interpreters in a matter of minutes. However, in most cases, it will be in your interest to carefully plan how you will cater to members of the deaf community. 

 

Let Your Consumers Know How to Request an Interpreter

In every case, your business or organization should let consumers know in advance how to request an ASL interpreter when doing business with you. This can be done by making it clear that ASL interpreters are available in your marketing collateral and all official correspondences. 

It is also perfectly reasonable for most businesses to ask people with hearing impairments to reach out 5 to 7-days in advance of when they might need an interpreter. (However, this will depend on the nature of your business.) 

 

Assign Someone in Your Organization to Handle ASL Interpreter Requests

To expedite and streamline requests for ASL interpreters, most businesses assign specific people to handle requests.  

When members of the public make requests, a request handler should confirm receipt of requests. A time should then be scheduled for a face-to-face meeting or video call where an ASL interpreter will be present.  

• A person handling ASL interpreter requests should schedule preliminary meeting times with members of the public, before reaching out to an agency like ourselves at Languagers. 
• Once we can confirm that an ASL interpreter will be available, meetings should be confirmed with consumers and business associates. 
• People handling interpreter requests should liaise with ASL interpreters individually before meetings take place, to discuss the context of meetings. 

 

What is the Best Way to Work With a Sign Language Interpreter?

 

Ideally, the person who handles ASL interpreter requests will also be the person who conducts final meetings. In either case, though, there are a few simple rules which anyone conducting meetings should follow. 

• If conducting meetings remotely, always make sure that all parties involved are aware of what video conferencing tools will be used and how meetings will be conducted. 
• Always conduct a system check a couple of hours before meetings.
• During meetings or interviews, never look or talk directly to interpreters. Instead, always talk directly to a hearing-impaired person like you would anyone else. 

 

What if I Need to Hire an ASL Interpreter Quickly?

In most cases, having a specific employee handle ASL interpreter requests and following our above guide, will make it easy for you to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, if you need to make use of sign language interpreting services more urgently, our team at Languagers can help. 

At Languagers, we can connect you with ASL interpreters quickly all across the United States. All you need to do is call or contact us directly to discuss your specific requirements.