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…

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…

1505, 2023

Why Healthcare Providers Need Interpreting Services

Hearing and Deaf individuals alike need—and deserve—complete access to their diagnoses and treatment options. Nevertheless, without appropriate accommodations, the Deaf community faces accessibility barriers to the information physicians and medical staff describe. Moreover, the medical field’s technical complexity necessitates ASL interpreting services familiar with the terminology and knowledge to deliver accurate information. Yet by hiring qualified providers, medical professionals can reduce miscommunication and misdiagnosis, facilitate patients’ awareness, mitigate anxiety, and…

1904, 2023

How to Improve Deaf Accessibility in the Workplace

All employees and attendees should feel welcome to participate in meetings or conferences, regardless of their ability. Accessibility is thus vital to creating an inclusive environment for everyone, yet the Deaf community’s needs are easy to overlook. Still, thanks to recent efforts for inclusivity and the rise of remote jobs, interpreters for the Deaf and other accessibility measures have become sought after. Therefore, business owners should learn how to improve…

1403, 2023

Benefits and Applicable Settings of CART Services

While planning a significant public event—such as a graduation or professional conference—Hearing people may neglect to seek resources for those requiring hearing, vision, or speech accommodations. Yet Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) individuals can benefit from CART services in numerous environments, including courtrooms, workplaces, doctor’s offices, sports arenas, classrooms, and more. This technology helps increase the accessibility of such events by encouraging comprehension and expanding the potential audience. Therefore,…

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…

1611, 2022

The “Deaf President Now” Movement

When they hear “civil rights advocacy,” most people think of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his peaceful protests for African American equality. However, the civil rights struggle extends to all marginalized groups, including disabled people’s communities. The Deaf community has a long history of advocacy work, such as its late-1980s activities referred to as the “Deaf President Now” movement. Throughout such efforts, interpreters for the Deaf have played a…

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…

1409, 2022

4 Types of Interpreter Specialization

Seeking certification or sharpening their craft represents a part of ASL interpreters and translators’ professional journeys. Often, they also pursue a degree or in-depth exposure to an industry or field, such as education, performing arts, law, or healthcare. Doing so can better serve the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) communities in these fields. Sign language interpreting services can also match these interpreters’ skills and knowledge to clients who require…