10 Societal Benefits of ASL Interpreters
The Profound Benefits of American Sign Language Interpreters to Society In a world that is becoming increasingly diverse and interconnected, the importance of effective communication cannot be overstated. For the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, communication can present unique challenges due to the differences in auditory perception and linguistic access. American Sign Language (ASL) has emerged […]
Legal Interpreting: Sign Language (ASL)
As a certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter with over a decade of experience, I have had my share of legal assignments. I have seen the field of legal interpreting continue to grow and adapt, especially since COVID. After the major shift to online interpreting, even in court houses, I have seen things slowly start […]
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. […]
8 Ways to be a Lousy ASL Interpreter
Whether it’s working with a team or flying solo, you can ensure that you’ll leave a bad taste in your team or client’s mouth if you follow these simple steps: 1) Show up Late No one likes to be left waiting, especially if they’re paying you. If you want to start off on the wrong […]
Appropriate Deaf Terms
As a professional American Sign Language interpreter and a child of Deaf adults (CODA), I have been exposed to all sorts of phrases surrounding the deaf. Some phrases like “deaf and dumb”, though uncommon, make me cringe, while others such as “hearing impaired” are more innocuous and widespread. When I hear these phrases that are […]
Interpreting Amidst the Coronavirus
As of today (April 1st) there are almost 900,000 cases and 45,000 deaths. It is peaking in Italy and Spain and growing exponentially in the United States where the number of infected people is over 190,000 which is nearly twice that of the next most infected country (Italy 110,000). In the midst of this pandemic, […]
Young Deaf Girl “Sings” in Sign Language
Savannah 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 […]