Signs of an Effective and Qualified ASL Interpreter

Signs of an Effective and Qualified ASL Interpreter

To create visual communication access and promote inclusivity, many companies hire ASL interpreters for events or general presentations at workspaces with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Ensuring your organization provides qualified and effective interpreters is one step in creating an accessible organization or company. Federal disability rights law, as stated by the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), requires organizations to make workplaces, programs, and resources accessible to all, and hiring qualified and effective ASL interpreters is an effective accommodation for many deaf and hard of hearing individuals.   

Additionally, making your resources accessible through ASL interpretation makes it easier for information or services to reach a wider population. A significant percentage of Americans are deaf or hard of hearing and are often at a disadvantage because organizations’ services, programs, and spaces are not accessible. An organization that is mindful that ASL interpreters are reasonable and effective accommodation positions your company ahead of your competitors have an advantage over your competitors because the true talents and contributions of deaf and hard-of-hearing stakeholders are finally leveraged. 

While it is excellent to have visual communication access within your workspace, it is advisable to include your deaf and hard-of-hearing stakeholders in the conversation of securing the most effective qualified interpreters or communication access accommodation they see fit. Read on to learn some signs of a qualified and effective ASL interpreter:

1. Ethical and Professional

Like any other workforce member, nationally certified interpreters are upheld to ethical standards set forth by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. A qualified interpreter will uphold the values and mission of your organization or company while also upholding the values of culturally equivalent communication, respecting colleagues and consumers, and conducting themselves in a professional manner. As all employees you hire, you want to hold interpreters to the same professional standards your organization values: accountability, reliability, and honesty.

2. Excellent Interpersonal Skills

An effective interpreter needs to be adaptable to many different people and personalities. Interpersonal skills are a core competency to being an effective interpreter since all stakeholders of communication interactions have different personalities the interpreter’s duty is to represent each of those people’s communication and intent.  This ability to adapt to different people and personalities is not only critical during an interpreted interaction, but also during negotiations of creating accessible spaces.  An effective interpreter with excellent interpersonal skills will navigate these dynamics with professionalism and kindness as their Code of Professional Conduct upholds respect for colleagues and consumers as a core value.

3. Flexibility

Flexibility is another great skill to look out for in an effective ASL interpreter. The interpreter is likely to work in different workplace situations, such as an event or a work-related presentation. Flexibility is critical as workplace dynamics change all the time. An effective interpreter will adapt to different situations within a given space or situation while self-advocating to ensure that the conditions that have changed to not impede on their ability to continue to provide effective interpreting services. 

4. Nationally Certified

National Certification (RID or NAD) is an excellent way of establishing and ensuring you work with standard professionals. A qualified interpreter should hold national certification as the certification indicates the interpreter has been vetted by a reliable and valid national exam to ensure the interpreter has the core competencies, language fluency, cultural awareness, and capacity to offer effective interpreting situations in common interpreting situations.  This does not indicate that an interpreter will be effective for all people in all situations.  This is why it is critical for organizations to ask their deaf and hard-of-hearing stakeholders what accommodation is effective if there is a specific knowledge base or specialization for an interpreter to possess prior to making a hire or engaging in a contract with an interpreter or another communication access service. National Certification and including the deaf or hard of hearing individual(s) in identifying what communication access accommodation(s) is effective protects your organization as providing unqualified and ineffective interpreters or other communication access accommodation is a liability.  

5. Experienced with the Nature of your Organization 

A qualified and effective interpreter will understand the nature of your business or services.  If your organization specializes in technology, you will want to ensure you hire an interpreter who has a background in studying and interpreting in technology-related fields.  If your organization specializes in botany, you’ll want to ensure that the interpreter has experience in that field.  Accuracy in interpreting is critical for all parties involved to experience a successful interpreted interaction.  

Work with Applied Development for ASL Interpretation Services 

At Applied Development, we ensure reasonable accommodations are met through 504/508 compliance, policy, and complaint resolution. Our Strategic Communications services help to ensure your message is communicated and received as intended.

We also offer qualified and effective diversability services such as sign language interpreting services, CART services, reader services, advocacy, outreach, and training which aim to create communication access in various contexts.  

Call us today at 410.571.4016 or contact us online for more information about ADA compliance.