Universal Language PatternIt may seem that all foreign languages are spoken at a rate that is just impossible for you to wrap head around, much less your tongue. However, this is more likely just an effect of your linguistic background. Preliminary researcher found that spoken languages produced sounds at roughly the same speed, however a more in-depth analysis revealed that there are some languages that are spoken faster than others. More specifically, silent pauses were similar across Spanish and English, while articulation and rate of speech was produced at a much higher rate in Spanish. Given the conflicting results, a new study led by François Pellegrino looked at the “average information density” of 17 Eurasian languages. They used linguistic “bits”, defined as the minimum utterance that cuts the possible final linguistic utterance by half. Once they took this approach and analyzed 240,000 syllables, they found a similar production rate of 39.15 bits per second across languages. Interestingly, when fast speech is a factor within languages, it ends up producing less informative content. Fast speakers tend to use more words yet they have lower average information content, than those who speak slower, lending credence to the adage “think fast, talk slow.” Growing up with Deaf parents never struck me as odd. I mean sure, my parents had plenty of things that annoyed me, but I imagine most kids can say that about their parents. I suppose however, that there were some issues that were unique to being a child of Deaf adults (CODA). One of these things was that my mother, who loves to chat, often complained about being left out of conversations. Since I was usually the only one who could bridge that linguistic gap, I was the one who had to interpret. As a child, this was pretty annoying since it’s very hard to both interpret and be a part of the conversation at the same time. It’s especially frustrating in large groups or when my mother would take over the conversation and convert me into a purely uninterested interpreter. Varying degrees of annoyance clashed with my desire to please my mother, but inevitably any effort made on my part was never enough, and an argument often arose. That was, until my first real stint abroad. Living in Spain, without speaking the language, was just the thing I needed to empathize with my mother. I often found myself at dinner tables where people would do their best to speak to me in English or interpret the conversation, but ultimately I was often left out. The feeling of loneliness is amplified by a crowd. I once gave up trying to participate in a dinner table conversation and left my girlfriend and her friends to chat one-on-one with someone at the bar. Needless to say, that didn’t sit well with her, but I just felt hopeless and needed a decent chance at interacting with someone. At some point it dawned on me that this was exactly what my mother was feeling. Deaf people experience much of the same loneliness and frustration in their own country as immigrants, who don’t speak the local language, do abroad. Take this recent article about a journalist working in France. Her brain was fried just after a month of trying to navigate in a foreign language. She even had 6 years of French lessons under her belt. You can imagine how challenging it is for a Deaf person to live their entire lives in a country where their native language is a tiny minority, and there is no natural chance of “learning” the language fully enough to seamlessly interact with the majority of the population. This is why Deaf communities form. These communities are the “ahhh I’m home” moment for many Deaf people. Deaf ‘bubbles’ such as Gallaudet in Washington D.C., Riverside or Fremont in California enable the Deaf to mingle with other American Sign Language (ASL) speakers just as a hearing person would in spoken English. This is often where they feel most at home and don’t feel like “the deaf person.” The experience of living abroad and being linguistically limited, was exactly what I needed to truly empathize with my mother. I now try harder and try to have more patience when she asks to be included. I’m not saying I’m able to fully satisfy her thirst for inclusion, but at least we get along more at the dinner table, which is important because it’s hard to eat when you’re angry. As a side note, this also stresses the importance of having an interpreter at these social gatherings. It doesn’t occur to many people to have an interpreter for a Deaf relative during Christmas or Thanksgiving, but this could be just what they need to be able to feel included. Providing an interpreter during a special event, so they could better get to know their own family, would be a much better present than anything you could find on Amazon. If you would like to book an interpreter or translator for any event, feel free to email spotoninterpreting@gmail.com or call 855-562-7768. Do I Have to Provide a Sign Language Interpreter?I am often asked to provide an interpreter and when the issue of billing comes up, clients are sometimes surprised to find out that the deaf person is typically not responsible for paying for the interpreter. I usually discuss their situation to find out if they are required by law to provide an ASL interpreter. I always advise them to double-check everything with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or an ADA attorney before making any decisions, but at least I am able to give them an idea of their legal obligations. The Simple AnswerAn overly simplistic answer is that if the deaf person is applying for a job and your company has more than 15 employees, then you will be responsible for providing an interpreter for the interview or any job-related communications that are essential to the hiring process or performance of the job. If a deaf person goes to your place of business and you are not able to effectively communicate without an interpreter (e.g., via writing) with the person in order to provide services available to the general public, or the communication is expected to be very important or complex (e.g., medical visit), then you are responsible for providing an interpreter. There are few exceptions which the ADA discusses, such as if it is an undue financial burden or if it fundamentally changes the same service offered to the public. Private companies or “Commercial Facilities”, are typically the ones who are confused as to whether they should provide an interpreter, as it is clear in Title II of the ADA pertaining to all state and local government organizations which states that the government is required to accommodate the deaf “…in all services, programs, and activities provided to the public…” – ADA Title II Title III deals with Public Accommodations and Commercial Facilities, which is what I typically review with the company to see if they are obligated. In general, regardless of company size, section 36.201 of Title III states that: “No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any private entity who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation.” Effective Communication for the DeafRegarding deaf people, the law enables them to receive “effective communication” in order to participate as any person from the general public would. This is often unclear, so here are a couple examples. EXAMPLES OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION1. A deaf person who sign language to communicate enters a car dealer looking for a new car. The salesperson may be able to communicate basic information about the cars using printed materials, writing back and forth with pen and paper, or typing to each other via phone or computer. If the deaf person becomes serious about making a purchase, a qualified interpreter may be required to go through the details of the contract and for any in-depth communication about finances, since it can be difficult to understand all the contractual complexities of buying a car. 2. A deaf person checks in with their doctor for regular blood pressure and basic follow-ups with the staff. Writing back and forth and/or gesturing/pointing are likely all that is needed for this type of visit. However, if the deaf person has a mild stroke and returns to their doctor for a full exam and tests and asks for a sign-language interpreter then the doctor should arrange for a qualified interpreter because this type of visit has serious consequences and the details are not likely to be effectively communicated in writing or by gesturing. In the case that using what you have on-hand doesn’t lead to effective communication, then the following are some ADA recommended aids and services that can help. § 36.303 Auxiliary aids and services.
Deaf People and Employment
36.307 (Title III) Accessible or special goods.
TAX CREDITS for Providing ServicesSmall businesses can get tax credits for the expense of an interpreter. A small business is one with 30 or fewer employees OR with $1 million or less in gross receipts for the preceding tax year. For More InformationI hope you have found this information useful, however it’s not a substitute for reading the law or having it interpreted by an attorney. You can contact the ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 if you are still unsure about deaf people’s rights and/or your obligations under the ADA law. To Hire an ASL InterpreterIf you would like to go ahead and book an on-site ASL or Video Remote Interpreter (VRI), then give us a call at 855-562-7768, fill out this form, or email us at spotoninterpreting@gmail.com The Dangers of Interpreting for Family MembersAs a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), I experienced my fair share of interpreting for my parents. Growing up, I was involved in conversations between my parents and lawyers, shady mechanics, doctors, waiters, other family members and just about everything in between. Most of these situations were benign, however many left me feeling very uncomfortable. Here are a few reasons why you should have a professional interpreter or translator instead of using a family member. 1. Avoiding Psychological HarmChildren are especially vulnerable to the effects of interpreting during stressful situations. Studies have shown long-term negative effects on children growing up interpreting for family members. Bad news is often unpredictable, so don’t let your child be blindsided along with you when it comes. Avoid involving them in serious medical or legal matters. Professional interpreters and translators are not emotionally involved in the outcome of the clients, so they are less affected by what transpires. Plus, they are adults who have experienced these issues in the past and are often aware of coping mechanisms that children are unaware of. Even mundane situations can turn stressful for a child. Arguments can pop up anywhere. So even though you may think having your family interpret mundane situations is okay, they may be prematurely exposed to adult arguments. These days there are many resources and apps that do well enough translating for these everyday situations, so consider using those when appropriate before using a family member. 2. Omissions & MisinterpretationsInterpreting and translating are in some ways forms of art. There can be several ways to carry the meaning from one language over into another. It’s not just a simple word-for-word substitution, which is why it’s been difficult for machines to interpret as well as humans. Professional interpreters and translators are trained to carefully carry that meaning over, and stop to ask questions whenever anything is unclear. Family members often aren’t so diligent. They often leave details out, believing that the “gist” is good enough. This may be harmless if you’re ordering a meal, but probably not so much if you’re discussing your case with a doctor or a lawyer. Family members may often think they know what is meant by what they hear, but are much less likely to stop the conversation and ask for clarification. It’s not easy to admit that you don’t know something, so they will often just go on interpreting guessing what was meant. Professionals are trained to realize that this is not a flaw, but a strength. No one interpreter is an expert in all fields, so they’re bound to ask for clarification and should be used to doing so. Their main goal is to make sure the full message has been faithfully conveyed, and this cannot be done if there is doubt as to the meaning of the source message. Furthermore, misinterpretations may be intentional. A family member may say something inappropriate, or even self-incriminating, and a non-professional interpreter may take it upon themselves to modify that message. This may sound like a benefit of having a family member there, however that’s not always the case. If it’s a legal matter, the “lie” may eventually be exposed subjecting the interpreter or the family member to further trouble. Additionally, the family member may be fully aware of the consequences of their intended message and want it to be faithfully conveyed, even though the “interpreter” thinks it’s inappropriate. 3. Negatively Affecting the RelationshipBoth of the reasons listed above can stress the relationship. A family member inadvertently exposed to personal problems, or feeling stuck between conveying a potentially uncomfortable or self-incriminating message or editing that message. These negative situations can carry over into the personal relationship causing tension or avoidance. Familial relationships already have enough challenges without adding interpreting or translating to the mix. If you need a professional interpreter or translator, we’d be glad to help. Just click here to fill out a form, email us at spotoninterpreting@gmail.com or call us at 855-562-7768.Young Deaf Girl “Sings” in Sign LanguageSavannah Dahan’s favorite singer is Carrie Underwood and it shows in this video of her sign-singing “Unbreakable”:
While she does have some hearing, she comes from a Deaf family and can identify with the lyrics “I am invincible, unbreakable, unstoppable, unshakeable. They knock me down, I get up again. I am the champion.” A great lesson for anyone facing obstacles at a young age. Her enthusiasm is definitely inspiring! Artificial InterpretersArtificial InterpretersArtificial intelligence (AI) has been toyed with since the automatons of Hephaestus in Greek mythology, and in today’s modern age, artificial intelligence is no longer just an idea or for chess players. It is being used for transportation, finance, medicine, music, agriculture, and more. Of interest to us, is AI in the field of interpreting and translating. AI is improving, but still isn’t reliable enough to bet your life on. A recent study from the University of California at San Francisco showed that Google Translate correctly translated 594 medical sentences from Spanish to English out of 647. This may not sound too bad until you read that 15 out of the 53 translation errors were determined to possibly cause serious injury. An even higher rate of potential harm was reported when translators read through the Chinese translation. If you’re an employee in the medical field and are thinking that it’s good enough, you may want to think again. Your patients may not feel the same way if they realize that they have a 1 out of 50 chance of suffering significant harm due to a mistranslation. Especially since these errors are not as likely to happen if a professional translator had completed the task. Skimping on hiring a certified translator or interpreter may just end up costing you significantly more than any savings via AI translations. What about Sign Language?Sign language is much trickier for AI to recognize, but that’s not stopping people from trying to make it happen. Trying to help bridge the communication gap between the Deaf, who rely on Sign Language and hearing people is a noble cause. Some approaches use gloves as sensors that feed the movements into the program, but this can be uncomfortable for the user. Michigan State University’s approach replaces the gloves with a camera that senses the hand movements. A “deep learning algorithm” then process the movements and tries to pair it with American Sign Language (ASL) signs. It is able to interpret full sentences and doesn’t require the signer to stop between words. Zhang, the inventor, has applied for a patent and expects to have it on the market in about a year. The Leap Motion capture device is expected to sell for around $80. One issue brought up by Christian Vogler from Gallaudet University, is that it may not capture all grammatical expressions used by the Deaf. Modifiers delivered via facial expressions to indicate questions, quotes, speakers…etc are likely to be lost in interpretation via AI. Zhang admits that the technology is only capable of basic communication and has not been tested on people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. He does hope to keep working to remove the limitations and add facial expression recognition in order to improve DeepASL’s accuracy. Vogler is skeptical that any AI device will ever be able to really meet the Deaf’s real-world communication needs. He suggests that efforts would be better spent in working with people in the community and interpreters in order to better provide the Deaf with better access to communication. Vogler does suggest that the technology, which would turn hand signs into audible speech, may be a good way to interact with voice recognition devices, such as Alexa. Grandmaster HumansUnlike in chess, humans still rule the interpretation and translation world. AI is approaching human quality translations, but isn’t quite as accurate as we are. Unfortunately, these inaccuracies can do harm. Mistranslations are especially common in Sign Language, where additional challenges make it more difficult for AI to render a faithful interpretation. Until things improve with AI translations and interpretations, it may be in your best interest to book a professional in-the-flesh interpreter. If you have questions or would like to book a translator or interpreter, visit our website, email us at spotoninterpreting@gmail.com, or call us at 855-562-7768 and we’d be glad to help. Top 5 Challenges Facing InterpretersTop 5 Challenges Facing Language Interpreters & TranslatorsAs an interpreter, I can name 5 challenges that have made my job harder. Feel free to add to the list. Jokes/PunsThis is especially true for American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, where the client is not exposed to the auditory component of the pun. Take this pun for example: “Don’t trust atoms, they make up everything.” The tricky part here would be “make up.” The english version combines the meanings “compose” and “invent” which have two different interpretations in ASL as well as Spanish. In ASL you may try to sign it as literal as possible signing “make” then spelling “up” and you may get lucky and relay the joke, otherwise you might just get stuck explaining away the joke. Even though this is not the optimal way to convey the meaning, it is sometimes the only way. It will also help the client understand why people are laughing, avoiding any feelings of being left out. Technical Presentations Without Prep MaterialIn a perfect world, this wouldn’t happen. Interpreters would have access to the material beforehand in order to get familiar with terms, names, concepts…etc. in order to have an idea of how best to interpret the material. In reality this is practiced much less than it ought to be. From an ASL interpreter point of view, this is especially difficult since we often have to resort to spelling technical words and new names. This often causes undue physical and mental stress. The physical stress comes from spelling let’s say 10 letters, versus having one pre-established sign that conveys the same meaning as those 10 hand shapes in one single hand shape. Names are even more difficult, since English provides sounds that can be spelled in various ways. I was once working as a Video Remote Interpreter (VRI) for an ancient art class chock full of Roman and Greek names (e.g., Callikrates or Praxiteles). I was not given the slides, nor could I even see them as I was interpreting. To top it off, the professor was speaking at such a fast pace that it seemed as if he was intentionally toying with the interpreters. Spanish language interpreters have the benefit of repeating the name with a Spanish accent. Technical words, on the other hand, present the same challenges to spoken language interpreters. Not Knowing How to Work With InterpretersThis often happens simply out of not being exposed to the proper way of working with interpreters, and can often be remedied simply through education. Some people who haven’t worked with interpreters before may keep saying things like “Tell them…” or “What did he say…” referring to the client in third person, when they should actually be talking directly to them. They may also make side comments intended just for the interpreter, not knowing that it is the interpreter’s duty to communicate everything that is said in the room. Regarding ASL interpreters, placement can sometimes be an issue. Some presenters are resentful of having interpreters on stage or even in front of the stage, so sometimes we have to educate them about the Deaf preferring a line of sight to the presenter with the interpreter just off-center, so as to minimize their gaze shift between interpreter and presenter. Unclear Speakers or Accents (Or A Bad Connection)When a speaker mumbles, has a heavy accent, or a bad connection (in the case of VRI) then this can really stress out an interpreter. We thrive on context, so even if we are catching 90% of what is said, it can result in only 75% of the message being accurately interpreted. Taking one or two words out of a sentence can cause us to lose the whole meaning of the sentence. It’s helpful to have a team, who may or may not have caught the missing words or a lapel microphone feed (VRI). Ideally we would stop and ask for clarification, but in reality this is not often feasible especially if the speaker is too far on stage somewhere, or there is a large audience where it may not be appropriate to stop the entire presentation to ask for clarification, just as it would be for a regular attendee to stop the speaker for the same reason. Language VariationsOccasionally I am hired by attorneys for a deposition, trial witness, or medical appointments and face real difficulties understanding the client. In one case the client had a degenerative disease and could not move their fingers, which as you can imagine made it very difficult to understand her. In another case the client had recently moved from another country and barely spoke even the sign language from her country, much less ASL. These are extreme cases, but the truth is that there may be even more variation in sign language than spoken English, which can present quite a challenge for the interpreter. Furthermore, the hearing client may not understand why you, as a certified ASL interpreter, cannot understand what the Deaf person is trying to say. At this point if you think it would be beneficial, then you could ask for a Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI), who can often facilitate communication in such difficult situations. In many circumstances, the hearing clients are aware of the difficulty and are appreciative of the effort to facilitate any communication. Of course, if you just find yourself way in over your head, you should probably state so and have them bring in other resources for their purposes. It is the agency’s job to flesh out the situation and have enough information to send out the best interpreter(s) for the job. If they send you out unprepared for a difficult assignment, then you have the right to tell them you weren’t aware of the special needs of the client, and that you don’t feel able to effectively interpret for them. It’s not your fault you were put in that situation, but it will be your fault if you know you aren’t getting the job done, but pretend to be. This is also true for spoken language interpreters. Spanish has quite a few varieties such as Castillian, Mexican, Central American, Caribbean, Rioplatense (Argentina & Uruguay), Andean-Pacific Spanish (Chilie, Columbia, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Venezuela & Bolivia), and Chilean Spanish. German, Chinese and French also have several major varieties that can pose challenges for some interpreters. For all your professional linguistic needs such as document translation, simultaneous or consecutive interpreting, conference equipment, over the phone interpreting, video interpreting, entertainment industry, depositions, trials, court reporters, and more then don’t hesitate to request an interpreter, email us at spotoninterpreting@gmail.com or call us at 855-562-7768 and we’ll be glad to help out in any way we can.Tagged with: Anaheim, ASL, burbank, deaf, interpreter, interpreting challenges, long beach, los angeles, san diego, sign language, spanish interpreter, spanish translator
Tips for Working with the DeafTreat Deaf People Just As You Would Like To Be TreatedWhen in doubt, just follow the golden rule. Deaf people are people that just speak a different language, so one way to treat them would be just like someone who simply doesn’t speak the same language as you. You can help them out when it comes to access to communication, but don’t engage in hand-holding or making decisions for them. Give them information and a choice. Access To CommunicationDeaf employees working in retail can be just as helpful as their hearing counterparts. In order to facilitate their success, they should be equipped with some way to communicate with hearing customers either via a notepad or an app on their phone to name a couple of examples. They should also have some way to show that they speak sign language e.g., a name tag. It may also be helpful to have something on their back as well. This is just to avoid the impression that the Deaf employee is ignoring any verbal communication from hearing customers. Some Deaf people are comfortable voicing for themselves, which may be an option to aid in communication. You can check to see what they are comfortable with and if it may help them on the job. Deaf employees should also have access to emergency messages. For example, flashing lights should accompany any alarms. Emergency messages should be conveyed via text and coworkers should be mindful during an emergency to try and make sure everyone is aware of the emergency. Provide InterpretersInterpreters bridge the language gap for the Deaf and make things go very smoothly, which can be crucial during training and important meetings. If your company has more than 15 employees, then you are likely required to provide an interpreter during trainings and meetings. If training videos are used, then make sure they have closed captioning (subtitles) for the Deaf. Providing an interpreter can be done with an onsite interpreter (preferred by most Deaf people) or if it is a quick meeting then a Video Remote Interpreter (VRI) may be just what you need. Onsite interpreters charge a 2-hour minimum, so if it’s just a quick conversation, then it may make more sense to use a VRI. All you’ll need is Skype, FaceTime or some other similar video calling app and a good internet connection. You just connect with the interpreter so the Deaf employee and the interpreter can see each other. Then the interpreter will sign what is being said and voice what is being signed by the Deaf employee. This is also a great option if you are in a rural location with little access to onsite interpreters. You aren’t expected to provide a full-time Sign Language interpreter as part of the regular course of their job. There are ways to make the workplace more accessible to reduce dependence on interpreters. If possible, have the Deaf employee exchange cell phone numbers with coworkers and management so they can text for easy access to communication. This will help to avoid misunderstandings and provide them with quick feedback in order to help them succeed on the job. They can also carry a pen and notepad in order to communicate as needed. Video Relay ServiceIf the employee is going to be making calls for work, then you should make sure they are set up with a Video Relay System at their desk. This will enable them to place calls to coworkers (as long as they are in a separate room) and outside customers as part of their normal job function. Should you have any more questions, we’d be glad to help. Just email us at spotoninterpreting@gmail.com or call us at 855-562-7768. If you’re ready to book an interpreter just click here. Lack of interpreters among the barriers to justice in California Rina Palta | March 4th, 2014, 5:54pm
commonwealth.club/FlickrCalifornia Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye says breaking down barriers to court access for non-English speakers is among her top priorities.When talking about language diversity in California, most think Spanish. But Californians speak over 200 languages — and courts need people who can translate into all of them.A large shortage of translators was amongst the many issues discussed by a language-access working group that met in Los Angeles Tuesday. The group, spurred by California’s Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, seeks to improve court access for non-English speakers. California has about 7 million people who speak English “less than very well.” Riverside County Deputy CEO Angie Murphy said she’s short on everything except Spanish interpreters. For instance, 17 percent of Riverside County’s population is hearing impaired. But there are only four sign language interpreters working in the courts. “Which makes it very difficult to provide interpreters not only in the courtrooms and the clerk’s office, but also for our jurors,” Murphy said. “Because we have a great population who want to serve as jurors.” Murphy said that, statewide, there are only four interpreters certified in Tagalog, a language popular among Filipinos. In San Diego, the court lacks interpreters to serve one of the largest Iraqi immigrant communities in the country. Amy Fitzpatrick, executive director of the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, works with indigent clients. She’s seen the inability to find a translator in family court lead to a male family member stepping in to translate for the court. “We’ve seen cases, particularly in the Iraqi Chaldean population, where women are typically kept in the home, there’s a high incidence of domestic violence,” Fitzpatrick said. “And a family member was coming in to do the interpretation because the court didn’t have anyone else.” That situation is fraught with issues, she said. “We had social service providers who are linguistically competent in the audience who observed that often the male family member was not interpreting what was being said,” Fitzpatrick said. “They were trying either to resolve the situation or were not saying what the witnesses were testifying to.” That situation is terrible for the courts and terrible for the parties involved, she said. San Bernardino’s Presiding Judge Marsha Slough said that generally, when the court can’t find an interpreter in cases (like criminal cases) that require the court to provide a translator, cases get delayed time after time while they look for someone. “It’s terrible and it’s expensive,” she said of the continual postponements. Another issue is which kinds of cases even get court-funded interpreters. While counties provide them for criminal cases, they generally don’t for things like child custody hearings and divorce proceedings. “We provide an interpreter for someone who ran a red light, but not someone who’s losing their children,” Murphy said. Yet expanding services would mean expanding budgets for interpreters. If the state is truly serious about providing good language access in its courts, it’s going to cost a lot of money, said Alan Carlson, CEO of Orange County’s courts. He said he doesn’t want to be involved in yet another well-meaning project that ends with a year or two of funding and then disappears. “Let’s not let the Legislature and the governor get away with it,” Carlson said. “Put it to them that this costs money if you want to provide this service, tell them how much it is, and let’s see if they’ll put up the money to do that.” The working group has already met in San Francisco. Next month, they’ll hold their final hearing in Sacramento before submitting the first draft of a language access improvement plan in June. Rina Palta, Crime and Safety Reporter Add Comment
The family of a deaf-blind world cup spectator uses sign language to bring him joy as his team Brazil comes from behind to beat Croatia 3-1. The next time you would like to remove communicative barriers and make others feel just as included give us a call. We specialize in certified Sign Language and Spanish interpreters and serve Los Angeles, Long Beach, Anaheim, Irvine, Riverside, and surrounding areas. To celebrate the world cup we are offering a 15% discount for our Spanish and Sign Language interpreters. Discount must be mentioned at the time of purchase and is for new customers (maximum discount of $250) in the Los Angeles and Long Beach area. Give us a call to find out more.
We want to give our appreciation to all of our hard-working spanish and sign language interpreters by inviting our top 5 interpreters (by hours worked) to join us this summer on a day-sail around Long Beach (Date TBA). For our clients in the SoCal area (Los Angeles, Long Beach, Anaheim, Irvine, and surrounding areas), we’d also like to show our appreciation by giving you a 10% discount off of our already highly competitive rates when you mention this blog. We’re committed to providing professionally certified court and medical interpreters at great rates. As a family-owned and operated business we have the flexibility to meet whatever needs you may have, and provide the best customer service in the industry. Give us a call today!
The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach will be hosting the festival of human abilities from January 25-26th. Sign Language interpreters will be present for all major shows. There will be plenty of activities for all, so come out and support their efforts to educate the public on adaptive skills used people with disabilities.
Currently this South African Sign Language interpreter is the most infamous of them all after his “interpretation” of an event honoring Nelson Mandela. The fact that his skills were completely fabricated is just the beginning…Apparently he also has a violent past! I guess you get what you pay for: “Bogopane-Zulu pointed out that most qualified sign language interpreters charge $125 to $165 per hour in South Africa and speculated that a junior official might have opted for the cheapest quote.”-NBC News
Here at Spot On, you’ll never have to suffer this kind of embarrassment as we always provide experienced professionals. Whether it be Spanish, Sign Language, or any other spoken language interpreter, you can trust everyone will have their communicative needs met. Serving Long Beach, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Riverside, and surrounding areas, our interpreters are just a phone call away.
Watch the video above as a popular song is performed using American Sign Language (ASL) by Azora Telford for deaf viewers, with help from director Julia Dameron and costar Terrylene. Really Entertaining to watch regardless of if you are a professional interpreter, just learning, or have no idea what they are signing. An addictive song which has inspired many versions. Two of my other favorites are the Star Wars version andhow people react these days to a great song that has been played over and over and over and over…. If you’d like to know what they’re saying, contact Spot On Interpreting for professional, certified interpreters in American Sign Language, Spanish, as well as 70+ other languages. We’re right here in Long Beach in Los Angeles county. Call 855.562.7768 for more information on how to book your medical, legal, educational, or entertainment interpreter. Department of Justice Updates the Definition of Qualified Interpreter 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. 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. (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. If you are looking to comply with these changes, we can help. We provide certified Spanish and Sign Language Interpreters (For The Deaf) as well as interpreters in many other languages, to help businesses around Long Beach, Los Angeles, Anaheim, as well as other parts of Southern California comply with federal ADA requirements. Our Sign Language interpreters are certified and can meet you at your location to help with medical, legal, educational, business, or any other issue where communication is important. By Tony Hanson PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A judge has sentenced a South Philadelphia man to up to five years in prison for violating probation in an endangering a child case, based on the extraordinary testimony of a 63-year-old man who can’t hear or speak, read or write, and who has minimal sign language skills. Defendant Dwayne Young allegedly violated probation by locking victim Willie Richardson in his basement and stealing his money (see related story). And prosecutor Noel Ann DeSantis proved her case with the help of four sign-language interpreters working together, who interpreted Richardson’s sounds, gestures, facial expressions, even eye movements, used picture boards and engaged in role playing demonstrations with each other and the witness to demonstrate words and concepts. “Basically it’s the sheer determination of everyone coming together to give him a voice and to really work with him and learn over those 60 hours and four months what he was trying to say, to basically hear someone in their own deaf world,” DeSantis said. Authorities have now dropped the kidnap case in part to spare the victim further trauma. The defense attorney, who called the courtroom theatrics “legal charades” still denies Richardson was kidnapped, saying the alleged victim was in love with the defendant’s now deceased wife and was lying to get him in trouble. ——— |
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Professional Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters & Spanish Translators
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Professional Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters & Spanish Translators
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