American Sign Language interpreters are highly skilled professionals that facilitate communication between hearing individuals and the Deaf or hard of hearing. They are a crucial communication tool utilized by all people involved in a communication setting. Interpreters must be able to listen to another person’s words, inflections, and intent and simultaneously render them into the visual language of signs using the mode of communication preferred by the deaf consumer. The interpreter must also be able to comprehend the signs, inflections, and intent of the Deaf consumer and simultaneously speak them in articulate, appropriate English. They must understand the cultures in which they work and apply that knowledge to promote effective cross-cultural communications.*

ASL interpreting has been a recognized profession since 1965. The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) is the governing body of the profession. RID is responsible for testing and certifying ASL Interpreters.

Since 1991, Deaf Services Center’s Interpreting Services has provided high quality Interpreting services in order to address the communication needs for the communities we serve. Whether you need American Sign Language Interpreting, Spoken Language Interpreting, Speech-to-Text Captioning, Video Remote Interpreting or on-site interpreting, we are able to provide services as needed with consideration given to the specifics of your unique setting and communication needs. We interpret for any type of setting including but not limited to medical, dental, business, trainings, legal, mental health, educational, artistic and any other type of setting needed.

At DSC, we want to be your partner in communication. After all, DSC is “Where Communication Happens”. Need an interpreter? Click here [insert link to request form]

Deaf Services Center (DSC) is the largest provider of American Sign Language Interpreting in Ohio. With 3 locations to serve you, DSC is ready to meet all of your interpreting needs.

LOCATIONS

DSC Main Office – Columbus
Located in Worthington, OH and Serving 16 counties in central Ohio, our Columbus office offers ASL Interpreting, Spoken Language Interpreting, C-Print Captioning, and Video Remote Interpreting. Need an interpreter? Click here.

DSC – Portsmouth
Located in Portsmouth, Ohio, this location serves 6 counties in southeast Ohio. Our Portsmouth office offers ASL interpreting for a multitude of settings. Need an interpreter? Click here.

DSC – NW Ohio
Located in Toledo, Ohio, this location serves 13 counties in northwest Ohio. Our northwest Ohio office offers ASL interpreting for a multitude of settings. Need an interpreter? Click here.

No. Did you know that American Sign Language (ASL) is a language all of its own? It’s true! ASL is a beautiful visual-manual language with a structured syntax and grammar completely different than English. That’s why using an ASL interpreter when communicating between hearing and Deaf individuals is the best choice for clear communication.

No. Sign Language Interpreters undergo extensive training to become fluent in ASL as well as the interpreting process. They learn how to effectively assess communication preferences and manage the flow of information as well as navigate the nuances of cultural differences between those they are interpreting for. Interpreters also undergo ethical training to be sure that all information is interpreted in a neutral, unbiased way while also maintaining confidentiality.

Did you know people whose primary language is ASL may not understand the grammatical nuances of written English? Because ASL is a manual-visual language it doesn’t follow the same rules or sentence structure of English. Relying on written English may not be conveying the full intent of your conversation. What you feel is clear in written English may not be fully understood by the ASL user.

Need an interpreter? Click here.

Reading lips may not be as effective as you think. Did you know that only 30% of speech is understandable through lip reading? That leaves 70% for the lip reader to guess or try to fill in. Lip reading is a skill and not all Deaf or Hard of Hearing people know how to lip read. Your best bet is to have a qualified interpreter interpret the conversation.

Need to schedule an interpreter? Click here.

Any place of business (regardless of for profit or non-profit status) cannot discriminate against those who have communication disabilities according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In many cases, when working with a Deaf or Hard of Hearing individual, this means hiring a qualified interpreter. For more information about the ADA and your responsibilities, click here to help you make an informed decision. The same goes for the medical profession. When seeing a Deaf or Hard of Hearing patient or anyone with a limited English proficiency, you may need to hire an interpreter for effective communication. For more information, you can check out the link for the Department of Health and Human Services here.