Download Hiring an ASL Interpreter

Types of Sign Language Interpreters
There are several different kinds of interpreters:
Sign Language Interpreters

Interpret messages signed by someone who is Deaf, DeafBlind or has a hearing
loss into spoken English for people who are hearing.

Interpret spoken messages into ASL for a person who is Deaf, DeafBlind or has
hearing loss.
Interpreters for Individuals Who are DeafBlind

Interpret spoken messages through the sense of touch for individuals who are
DeafBlind. This is also known as tactile interpreting.

Interpret for individuals who are DeafBlind through close signing.

Interpret environmental information, such as explaining visuals and sounds.
Oral Interpreters

Facilitate communication between hearing people and people with hearing loss
who rely heavily on speech reading to communicate.

Enunciate, repeat or rephrase what a speaker is saying using natural lip
movements and gestures.
Cued Speech Transliterators

Translate spoken messages into Cued American English

Translate the cured message into spoken English.
Certified Deaf Interpreters

Deaf individual who helps another deaf individual communicate when the
person’s communication style is so unique that it can’t be interpreted by a
hearing ASL interpreter.
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