1309, 2023

5 Guidelines to Make the Best Use of ASL Interpreters

The Americans with Disabilities Act ensures that Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) individuals receive equal access to events and programming that their Hearing counterparts enjoy. As a result, organizations throughout Northern Virginia and DC may need a certified ASL translator or interpreter. But what specific responsibilities does an interpreter have? How can you ensure accessibility through an interpreter’s work? An ASL services provider can answer all these questions and…

1708, 2023

3 Types of Educational Interpreting and Their Benefits

Educational interpreters are mandatory in any classroom with students who require hearing accommodations. However, numerous professional interpreting services are available, and each offers unique value and support for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. Comparing or combining these interpretation types can ensure Deaf students have the same access to academic lessons and resources that their Hearing counterparts enjoy.  HIS Sign Interpreting offers helpful ASL services to schools throughout Ashburn, VA.…

1907, 2023

How to Become a CART Services Captioner

The everyday communication access challenges that Deaf individuals face inspire many people to seek ways of supporting equal communication channels. Some pursue American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting to fill this need, while others follow a CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) services captioning career. The latter involves a distinct skill set from the former; specifically, CART captioners assist Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals by typing the words spoken at events such as…

1406, 2023

How CART Services Can Benefit Courtrooms and Law Offices

CART services can function as a Deaf individual’s direct link to the Hearing world. It allows Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) folks to follow along with conversations in real time, broadening accessibility across the board. This effect includes courtrooms, where events and decisions can have life-altering consequences for all involved. In such settings, CART services can encourage comprehension, reduce anxiety, and promote a sense of pride amongst Deaf and…

1412, 2022

How Do CART Services Work?

1 in 8 people in the United States ages 12 and over have hearing loss in both ears. Given this proportion of the overall population, Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HOH) individuals should have access to the resources necessary to flourish in social settings. Yet many Deaf/HOH individuals report feeling ostracized in public. CART services help address this gap by accommodating Deaf/HOH people to involve them in presentations and well-attended…

1210, 2022

Impacting an Industry: Walking the Talk – Challenged by COVID

HIS Sign’s mission statement for hiring is “We want you to work here for the rest of your career!” However, that mission was tested on Monday, March 16th,  2020, when the world shut down! Enjoying a Vacation During the week of March 9-13, 2020, my wife, Christina, and I were up in Maine on vacation. Things were going well, and Jen Ilgenfritz, our Finance Manager and a member of the…

1602, 2022

The Purpose of CART & TypeWell Services

Speech-to-text services provide tremendous value to Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals. These technologies—including Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) and TypeWell—help create equal communication access for Hearing and Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing individuals through verbatim translation and concept transcription. Improve accessibility at your business/organization today by seeking professional CART and TypeWell services from HIS Sign. HIS Sign specializes in onsite and virtual ASL Interpreting, TypeWell, and CART services. Our real-time speech-to-text services are available for…

2001, 2022

The History of Sign Language and Deaf Communication

For centuries, Deaf people faced harsh oppression and were denied fundamental rights. Some of the earliest discourse on Deaf individuals comes from the Greek philosopher Aristotle, who claimed that Deaf people were incapable of learning and critical thinking. This false and ill-informed belief contributed to the view that the Deaf were “non-persons,” discrimination that prohibited them from buying property, marrying, or securing a job. Fortunately, the tide turned during the…

1011, 2021

7 Situations In Which ASL Interpreting Can Help

The hearing population tends to overlook many circumstances that present difficulties to Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. Job interviews, professional conferences, sports games/practices, and traveling may pose challenges for non-Hearing folks. Nevertheless, accessibility options–such as an English to ASL Interpreter or Translator–can help Deaf/HOH individuals overcome barriers and receive equal footing. Organizational leaders, then, should turn to a local provider of interpreting services. Businesses and individuals around Leesburg, VA,…

2710, 2021

How to Help Make Entertainment More Deaf-Accessible

Television, movies, and theater are great platforms for universal messages of friendship, kindness, and acceptance of others. However, these media–and other forms of entertainment–have historically lacked accessibility for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing population. Although there have been efforts to amend this oversight, Deaf advocates continue working for improvements. Professional organizations–such as Cart Service Providers–seek widespread captioning and assistive technology use, content featuring Deaf/HOH actors, and more.  Such an…