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…

1708, 2022

How Educational Interpreting Can Assist You

Educational interpreters are a crucial part of any collegiate classroom or setting that hosts Deaf individuals. Specifically, interpreters use Hard of Hearing or HoH teaching strategies to make classroom information accessible for Deaf students, spurring them to get involved in academic activities. In doing so, educational interpreters work with mainstream Hearing teachers and Deaf educators to afford equal educational opportunities. HIS Sign is an industry-leading provider of sign language interpreting…

1506, 2022

Impacting an Industry: Subcontract Interpreters

While my past articles have focused on influential individuals in the interpreting industry—from VQAS Coordinator Elaine Zehl to HIS Sign owner and president Christina Hammrich—this piece concentrates on an impactful group! What group has had the greatest impact on the interpreting industry? The Deaf community is the obvious answer—HIS Sign and the interpreting industry at large could not exist without it—but in this context, subcontract interpreters (SIs) are the clear…

1605, 2022

ASL Interpreting 101 for Hearing People

Before employing the services of an ASL interpreter, Hearing individuals should learn the best practices for interpreted interactions and events: careful event preparation, social expectation delineation, and the incorporation of demonstrative communication behaviors. These procedures serve as standards of conduct while also reflecting Deaf culture values. They help make for smooth interactions between Hearing, Deaf, and Hard of Hearing individuals. To ensure your interpreted event turns out successfully, engage ASL…

1404, 2022

Impacting an Industry: Associate Feature

When a drop of water falls into a pond, it ripples outwards and changes the water around it…forever! So, what happens when someone decides to teach a SEE (Signing Exact English) class at a community center? Although it may seem like an insignificant event, the impact of that one class—taught in 1991 in San Mateo, CA—continues to impact the lives of Deaf students in Northern California and beyond. Julie N.,…

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…

0401, 2022

2021 Team Reflections

Christina and Brian Hammrich We keep thinking that life is going to slow down and every year we keep being proven wrong…2021 was no different. We gained a second granddaughter, but lost two family members. We strengthened relationships with our children, created new relationships with nieces, nephews and friends and we grew even closer to each other. We travelled around the country, visiting new places for the first time and…

0812, 2021

Impacting an Industry: Associate Feature

Mrs. Elaine Ziehl—a fixture of the Northern Virginia Deaf community—retired on September 30th, 2021. For over 20 years,  Elaine worked at the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH), where she was a Virginia Quality Assurance Screening (VQAS) Coordinator. To commemorate her crucial role in the DMV’s interpreting community, this ‘Impacting an Industry’ piece will reflect on Elaine’s legacy. Influence on the Community As a VQAS coordinator,…