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American Sign Language (ASL) is a complex visual-spatial language that is used by the Deaf community in the United States and other English speaking parts of the world. It is a linguistically complete, natural language. It is the native language of many Deaf men and women, as well as some children born into Deaf families.
ASL shares no grammatical similarities to English and should not be considered in any way to be a broken, mimed, or gestural form of English. Some people have described ASL and other sign languages as "gestural" languages. This is not absolutely correct because hand gestures are only one component of ASL. Facial features such as eyebrow motion and lip-mouth movements are also significant in ASL as they form a crucial part of the grammatical system. In addition, ASL makes use of the space surrounding the signer to describe places and persons that are not present.
Who is an interpreter?
A professional sign language interpreter:
- is fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and English
- acts as an auditory/linguistic link and cultural bridge between Deaf and Hearing
- ensures that Deaf and Hearing have equal access to needed information
- has several years of experience with Deaf culture, ASL, interpreting ethics and effective speaking strategies
- participates in professional seminars and workshops to enhance skills
- maintains a valid certification
- follows a strict code of ethics as mandated by RID
A professional intermediary/relay interpreter:
- is a licensed interpreter who is deaf or hard of hearing
- facilitates communication between a deaf person and sign language interpreter both linguistically and culturally
Reasons to have a qualified and certified ASL interpreter:
- In the school system, classrooms and lectures. Following the passage of a number of laws concerning the education of deaf children, educational interpreting has become more common in elementary and secondary schools. This is a growing need and can be one way of making school programs and services more accessible to children who are deaf.
- In legal or judicial settings Texas law stipulates the usage of an interpreter holding BEI Court Certification.
- In the doctor's office, emergency room, or during a hospital stay. Emergency medical interpreting is available 24 hours a day. We offer comprehensive emergency services to ensure that interpreters are available when needed most.
- Cultural accessibility. We provide interpreter services for musicals, theater, museums and other cultural events.
- Any other setting where accurate and clear communication is of the utmost importance.
- Compliance with the ADA and other federal laws and regulations.
Capabilities
As one of the foremost agencies in Houston, we have an extensive pool of over 100 employees and contractors to choose from to meet your interpreter needs.