ASL Interpreter Services in Atlanta Made Accessible

 

Looking for ASL interpreter services in Atlanta shouldn’t be a scavenger hunt, but for most schools, workplaces, health care facilities, and event planners throughout Atlanta, accessibility remains an afterthought rather than the norm. Atlanta is rapidly growing and has one of the most diverse populations in the country, but unless action is taken to implement communication accessibility, that type of accessibility will remain just a discussion.

Finding communications equity is important; if you are serious about wanting communications equity, choosing the right resources is a necessity.

Demand for ASL Interpreter Services in Atlanta

Atlanta isn’t just the largest city in Georgia; it is also a center for education, technology, hospitality, entertainment, and health care, with greater emphasis on accessibility through the enforcement of regulations regarding the accessibility of services. Organizations have come to realize:

• Knowing ASL” does not equate to having the ability to correctly interpret ASL

When you are looking for ASL interpreter services, make sure that you hire professionals who have a strong working knowledge of the Deaf culture, interpretative context, ensure confidentiality, and understand the setting where they will be providing ASL interpreting, which may include courtrooms, college/university lecture halls, conventions, or healthcare appointment contexts.

• Interpreters Shouldn't Be Expected to Know Multiple Situations

The most common mistake made by many organizations is hiring one ASL interpreter to provide services in multiple environments. Each environment requires a unique skill set for an interpreter, and you should not hire a person who only has experience in providing services in one of these environments:

The Role of Interpreters in the Education Domain

Schools and universities can be a source of significant access gaps; thus, these organizations need to utilize qualified ASL interpreters to assist students with accessing their education. Because students must not only understand what is being taught but also must be able to participate actively in class, there should not be any delay due to a lack of interpreters or access to learning resources, such as transcripts. The level of understanding and participation in educational settings affects a student’s ability to realize his or her potential.

To help students achieve their educational goals, qualified ASL interpreters provide the following services to students:

Help students to actively participate in classroom discussions

Give students equal access to lectures and exams and allow for equal participation in developing presentations, class participation, and advising/counseling/meeting with faculty members.

Ample opportunity for real-time clarification during class discussions. 

Confidence to learn in an accessible environment. Equitable access to education through the availability of education translation services should not be dependent on luck; the availability of interpreters should be coordinated systematically.

Different Formats of ASL Interpreter Services 

One format of ASL interpreter services Atlanta is not superior to the other; each will have its own particular strengths and weaknesses. Many organizations now use both formats to provide ASL interpreter services to their clients, depending on the setting (classroom, legal environment, etc.). On-site interpreting generally provides the most benefit in high-interactivity environments (classrooms, legal settings, etc.) and live performance situations.

Utilizing remote interpreting services in a video format is advantageous in many situations, including when time constraints exist due to an emergency or when multiple appointments are booked consecutively.

Support provided through a hybrid model allows organizations to expand their interpreting resources depending on demand.

Having flexibility contributes to increased consistency, which is essential for providing accessible services to consumers.

Selecting the Right Provider

When selecting a provider, be sure to ask the following questions that many potential clients often do not think to ask:

Are their interpreters trained/certified for the type of setting for which you will be using interpreting services?

1. Do they have documented evidence of their previous experience?

2. Are they able to maintain confidentiality, and are they able to work with sensitive information?

3. Is cultural competence part of the interpreters’ skillset?

4. Do they have the ability to provide emergency or last-minute interpreting services?

If a provider cannot answer the above questions with confidence, they are probably not a good choice for your organization.

Final Thoughts

ASL interpreter services in Atlanta do not exist just to meet ADA compliance; they represent how serious an organization is about supporting inclusion. Communication access is not determined by whether it is available on demand/will be available with advance notice. Communication access is to be embedded into each environment where information is shared, regardless of when the information is received.

Providing accessible services is not an act of kindness; it is a standard, and choosing the right interpreter ensures that everyone can participate in conversations equally.