As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses around the globe, healthcare organizations have had to find ways to adapt in order to help prevent further spread of the virus. While your organization may still need many essential employees to work on site, you can quickly shift language interpretation services to a remote platform with phone and video … Continued
Approximately one million people in the US are functionally deaf, and 6 million people report that they are hard of hearing. How they prefer to communicate depends on their education, the age they became Deaf, and the severity of their deafness. We’ll cover some of the ways the DHOH would prefer to use to communicate: American Sign … Continued
Interpreting is a highly specialized profession that requires training and practice. Professional-level interpreters acquire and develop many skills beyond being merely bilingual. Here are five skills that quality, professional interpreters possess: LANGUAGE SKILLS An interpreter needs extensive, high-level knowledge and vocabulary in both their native and secondary languages in order to be effective. They also … Continued
Interpreting is a well-established profession with many protocols and standards. These protocols might seem a little perplexing or startling for those who may have never used an interpreter before. Here are the answers to some questions you may have about how an interpreter conducts an interpretation session. Q: Why is my interpreter speaking in the … Continued
In its short, 200-year history, American Sign Language (ASL) has seen both incredible advancements and survived intense controversies. To share why, we’ve compiled some of the most significant events that have impacted the development and use of ASL today. Early Sign Language in the United States In the early 1700’s, Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts had … Continued
A video interpreter is essential for a successful remote video consultation with limited-English proficient patients or customers. Health systems and hospitals across the country have adopted telehealth solutions as an alternative to meeting patients in person. Many businesses and other organizations have also adopted video teleconferencing technology to comply with social distancing guidelines from the … Continued
On January 13, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a statement encouraging financial institutions to make their products and services more accessible to limited-English-proficient (LEP) customers. By releasing these guidelines, the CFPB aims to “promote access to financial products for all consumers; facilitate compliance by providing clear rules of the road; and educate and empower consumers … Continued
There are roughly 6,500 languages and dialects spoken worldwide, so the possibilities, especially if the language your patient or customer speaks is not a commonly spoken one, can be endless. To make things more confusing, sometimes there are multiple spellings or names for the same language. For example, the language Zomi is also known as Jo, … Continued
Being tasked with selecting a language services provider (LSP) for your organization may seem daunting. Before you start, it is important to assess and identify your organization’s specific requirements for language access, such as which services you need. Once you’ve identified your main requirements, you’ll be ready to start crafting an RFP. We’ve created a … Continued
Members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHOH) community sometimes feel misunderstood or overlooked when receiving healthcare and other vital services. It’s crucial to provide appropriate accommodations and abide by federal protections—but we can’t stop there. Embracing differences, learning more about other cultures, and going beyond basic obligations is the first step toward a … Continued
