The American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters are the communication lifeline service for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.
ASL interpretation services offer access to information, communication, and participation in communication on a daily basis—especially in business, hospitals, schools, and government offices.
United States businesses, even Idaho, have realized the importance of providing ASL interpreting services in recent years to comply with federal and state laws.
ASL interpreting is performed by professionals interpreting sign to English and English to sign.
Interpreters don’t just know ASL, they know how to interpret tone, emotion, and technical data in a manner that’s culturally and linguistically appropriate.
To businesses, providing certified ASL interpreters isn’t providing a service—it’s accessibility, inclusion, and compliance.
Why Compliance is Necessary in Idaho
In Idaho, as in all the U.S. states, there are also federal laws to which companies must adapt in order to ensure the protection of the disabled individuals’ rights.
The most commonly applied of these is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a 1990 civil rights act.
Under the ADA, businesses, especially those that are public or have more than 15 employees, are legally obligated to provide reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.
A sample accommodation is arranging ASL interpreters for deaf or hearing-impaired staff or customers as and when needed.
Failure to meet such needs can result in lawsuits, fines, damage to business reputation, and even business closure.
More significantly, failure to meet the requirement would disenfranchise a segment of society and keep them from getting basic services.
For example, if a Boise doctor’s office does not offer an interpreter to a walk-in deaf patient, this can lead to misdiagnoses, misunderstandings, or even medical errors.
If a department store equally refuses to serve a deaf customer for a sales transaction, this would be discrimination.
The Need for Statewide ASL Services
Statewide ASL interpreting service enables Idaho businesses to meet without having to do it all internally.
The services can be run independently of the businesses or have lists of interpreters who can be easily deployed.
Businesses, through VRI or on-site interpreting, are able to provide deaf clients with services in real-time no matter where they are.
One of the best things about hiring a national provider is gaining access to veteran interpreters who are experts in a variety of fields.
Your company, whether healthcare, education, law, finance, or retail, can utilize these services to have them find interpreters who are familiar with your company’s jargon and environment.
That simplifies communication so that it can be cleaner, faster, and more efficient.
These national services also benefit from the added feature of 24/7 service, which comes in handy in an emergency situation or for 24-hour operations.
A Twin Falls hospital emergency room need not search high and low in town for an in-town interpreter at midnight. They can summon a VRI provider in a matter of minutes and begin communicating.
Providing ASL interpreting services isn’t merely a means of avoiding legal trouble—it is a means of better serving your customer. When deaf and hard of hearing consumers shop at your business and are greeted with excellent communication assistance, it shouts loudly and clearly: that your business appreciates all consumers.
For instance, when a deaf consumer visits an Idaho Falls car dealer and buys a new car, and the dealer offers an ASL interpreter with which to communicate, then that type of consumer can readily ask questions, get information about the car, and sign documents. That is a positive experience that fosters trust and repeat business. That type of customer will also be likely to return and send other deaf community members to the business.
By investing in interpretation services, businesses also exhibit corporate social responsibility. That too in this day and age, when customers want businesses to do more than merely maximize profit and contribute to the cause. Diversity, inclusion, and accessibility are not buzzwords—these are brand values that make or break a business.
The Employee Side of Compliance
It’s not just customers who benefit under ASL interpretation—your employees do as well. If you are hiring, or will be having deaf or hard of hearing employees, interpreting service is equal opportunity and productivity, which you are obligated to provide by law.
Let’s say you are an employee at a Coeur d’Alene tech company and one of your brightest interviewing prospects just so happens to be deaf. To make him or her comfortable, you will have to have an interpreter ride with him or her to interviews, induction, team meetings, and even training. It makes the employee feel like they can do their job to the best of their ability and become a part of the team.
National interpretation services are simple to implement with minimal cost and learning curve. There even are small business packages provided by some vendors, so it is not nearly as expensive as most employers think. Ultimately, making accessibility tools available to workers leads to greater morale, better productivity, and less turnover.
Remote Interpreting: A Game Changer for Small Idaho Businesses
The majority of Idaho’s small businesses are based in rural towns where there is not a locally present on-site interpreter from the community. This is where video remote interpreting (VRI) truly shines. With an uninterruptible internet connection, laptop, or even cell phone, companies can be matched with skilled ASL interpreters in real time.
Remote interpreting is saving time and money on travel costs, and thus it is a very appropriate alternative to both on-demand and scheduled interpreting. The dental clinic in the small town does not have to keep appointments waiting because the interpreters do not necessarily have to physically show up. Instead, they can participate in a remote session with an expert, and the patient receives the quality of care that all other patients receive.
This is most useful to those businesses who only sporadically need interpreting services. Rather than having an in-house full-time interpreter on their payroll, they can buy as and when they need it, sharing resources to maximum advantage without compromising at all.
Setting Up with Interpreting Services
If you are an Idaho business owner or manager and have not yet offered ASL interpreting services, today is the day. It usually begins by determining your business needs. Do you have frequent deaf customers with whom you communicate regularly? Do you have deaf employees? Are there certain departments—such as HR, customer service, or law—who would require interpreting services?
After you determine your needs, then choose a professional national interpreting vendor. Choose a vendor with a reputation, experienced interpreters, and a business-to-business presence in your sector. Some vendors even offer consulting services to help you design an integrated accessibility plan, staff training, and policy development.
After partnering with a provider, you’ll want to educate your team on how and when to request an interpreter. Creating a simple protocol for booking services ensures smooth operations and reduces stress when the need arises.
Conclusion
From reducing risk of a legal nature to improving customer satisfaction and facilitating multiculturally diverse groups, the benefits of ASL interpreting go far beyond a box-ticking exercise. By embracing access, your business not only complies with the law, but it also makes a commitment to equity and respect. Something that all customers and employees will appreciate.
For those who are looking for additional support, Unspoken Language Services offers interpreting services to help bridge the communication gap between the deaf and hearing communities.
Thumbnail Photo by Werner Pfennig
