Frequently Asked Questions

Fill out the free client setup form on this website. It only takes a few minutes and tells us who you are, where you are located, and how you plan to use interpreting services. We take care of the vendor paperwork from there, and setting up never obligates you to request anything.

Nothing. There is no setup fee, retainer, subscription, or minimum. You only pay for the services you receive, at the rates in your service agreement.

No. Being set up simply means you are ready when a need comes up. Many of our clients set up and do not request an interpreter for months, and that is exactly how it is meant to work.

Unspoken Language Services is happy to assist you Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM Pacific Time. You can send us a request through this website at any time.

We ask for at least 72 hours' notice for standard requests. The more notice you give us, the more choice we have in matching the right interpreter to your assignment. If you need someone sooner, send the request anyway. Urgent requests go straight to our team.

Existing clients can request through the request form on this website or through the client portal. Both come straight to our team, so your account history stays in one place. New to Unspoken? Start with the free client setup.

To help your interpreter meet the overall communication goal, please have the following ready:

• Your name, phone number, email address, and the organization requesting services
• The date, time, and length of the appointment
• The location of the assignment (address, building, floor, room, and any directions)
• The nature and format of the meeting, such as a medical appointment, lecture, staff meeting, or therapy session
• The names of the Deaf and hearing participants, when it helps
• The name of your on-site contact person
• Any materials for the assignment, such as an agenda or presentation slides

Our request form walks you through each of these, step by step.

Yes. If you would like the same interpreter, just tell us when you book. We schedule them whenever they are available, which makes a real difference in medical, mental health, and educational settings.

Yes. Let us know when you book and we will honor the preference whenever availability allows. The Deaf consumer's comfort comes first, especially in medical and personal settings.

We tell you right away, and honestly, so you have time to make other arrangements. We will never leave your request sitting without an answer.

Yes. We match qualified, certified interpreters to each setting. Court assignments are matched to the credentials the court requires, and medical, mental health, and DeafBlind requests go to interpreters who specialize in that work.

If working with Deaf people through a sign language interpreter is new to you, not to worry. A few simple guidelines will help you feel prepared, avoid awkward or uncomfortable moments, and keep the focus where it belongs, on the Deaf consumer. Start with our guide: 20 Good and Bad Ideas While Working with Sign Language Interpreters.

Interpreting a spoken language into a visual one is physically and mentally demanding. After about an hour of interpreting alone, even the best sign language interpreters begin to tire, and the quality of the interpretation drops. A team of interpreters takes turns and supports one another, so your Deaf consumers receive high-quality language access from the opening remarks to the very last session. The same is true for any long or intensive assignment.

Not usually. For most settings you will need a hearing sign language interpreter, someone who speaks English and interprets for Deaf people using sign language.

The two are easy to confuse. A Deaf Interpreter, or Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI), is Deaf and works alongside a hearing interpreter to connect with a Deaf person who has limited ASL or minimal language skills. CDIs are often called in for critical medical situations and police interviews, and they can make all the difference for Deaf immigrants whose first language is not ASL. When you hire a CDI, you also need a hearing interpreter, who interprets between the CDI's signing and spoken English.

Not sure which you need? Tell us about the situation and we will help you decide. Learn more about Certified Deaf Interpreters

Our interpreters follow professional codes of conduct that require strict confidentiality. In healthcare settings they respect HIPAA privacy rules, and in legal settings they keep the confidentiality the matter calls for.

Yes. Video remote interpreting is available by appointment and on demand. Learn about virtual interpreting

Virtual interpreting works well for short appointments, teams spread across locations, and remote areas. On-site is the better choice for long or emotionally heavy appointments, procedures involving sedation, DeafBlind consumers, young children, and meetings with many people speaking at once. We will always tell you when we think a request should be on site.

We provide interpreting nationwide, on site and virtually. Coverage for a specific place and date depends on interpreter availability, and we will give you a straight answer quickly.

Yes. Organizations with several locations can request under one account, with records and billing together, while each location still requests on its own.

Your rates are set out in your service agreement before anything is booked. You are invoiced only for services delivered, in the format your accounts payable team needs, with no hidden fees.

Unspoken believes in providing exceptional interpreting services. All services are final, but in the rare case that you are not satisfied with our services, please contact us and let us make it right.

Yes. Several federal laws help Deaf and Hard of Hearing people access their education, employment, and the world around them. These are a good place to start when making sure your organization provides reasonable accommodations:

• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)

We are happy to explain how interpreting services are usually provided. For your organization's specific obligations, please check with your legal counsel or compliance team.

Much like civil and human rights, Deaf rights include the laws that protect Deaf people from disability prejudice, or "audism", a word used alongside the other common "isms" to describe a negative attitude toward people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Read more in our Knowledge Center: Deaf Rights in the United States

The history of Deaf education is rooted in sign language. If the language is lost, so goes the culture, and so goes Deaf people's education. It is a long history, and it is told best by Gallaudet University, the world's only university designed entirely for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students.

We do not recommend it. Relying on a family member puts accuracy and privacy at risk, and many organizations have policies against it, especially in healthcare. A qualified interpreter protects everyone involved. For your specific obligations, please check with your legal counsel.

Not for everyone. Captions serve many people well, but for many Deaf people whose first language is ASL, English is a second language. A qualified interpreter, or a recorded ASL translation, communicates far more directly.

Apply through our interpreter application. We look at your credentials, experience, and specialties, and we are upfront about rates and expectations from our very first conversation.