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How do I find a
Sign Language Interpreter?
Please see our directory of California Sign
Language Services. Most Community Based Agencies that provide services for individuals
who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing can direct you to local-area Sign Language
Interpreters.The national Registry of Interpreters for the
Deaf, Inc. (301-608-0050 Voice/TDD) can also direct you to Registered Sign language
Interpreters in your area.
Note: Generally, sign language interpreters are
paid by the hour plus travel costs. Often, there is a minimum 2-hour charge.
Also, if their services are required for more than 1 hour, you will likely need
to hire 2 interpreters - who will take turns interpreting. (It is very taxing to
interpret for long periods without a break, so it is necessary for interpreters
to team up for services of longer duration.)
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Using How do I contact a Deaf person
by telephone if I don't have a TTY/TDD?
Relay services establish communication between hearing people who use voice phones and
hearing or speech impaired people who use Telecommunication Devices for Deaf (TDD).
If you wish to contact a deaf person using your local relay service, call
711 (from anywhere in the US) and give the operator the deaf person's TDD number. If you are deaf and trying to
contact a voice number with your TDD, call the TDD number and give the operator the voice
number.
The relay operator will be using both the telephone and the TDD
while relaying communications between the deaf person and the hearing person. The hearing
person needs to speak at a slower than normal pace in order for the operator to be able to
keep up while typing. The hearing person also will need to say "GA" or (Go
Ahead) to inform the operator to let the deaf person know it is their turn to speak. There
may be periods of silence while the operator waits for the TDD user to finish a complete
thought before the operator speaks it into the phone. It is important to be patient and to
recognize that typing takes longer than talking. If you are unaccustomed to using a
telephone relay service, the relay operator will be most happy to assist you in using this
service.
Further information on
using 711
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How Do I Use A TTY/TDD telephone device?
Use a TTY/TDD as you would a regular telephone - using typed messages instead of
voice communication (much like "real time chat" on a computer). On TTY/TDD, the
following protocol is usually followed:
GA - When you talk with another person by TTY, you type while the other
person reads. When you want the other person to respond, type GA for "Go Ahead."
GA or SK - To say goodbye, type GA or SK. This gives the other person a
chance to say any last words before ending the conversation.
SKSK - Type SKSK to end the conversation.
Q - Some people prefer to type Q instead of a question mark because it
saves time and is easier to type.
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Free Equipment for Deaf employees of
small businesses.
Small businesses may not be able to afford adaptive communications devices for Deaf
employees - to enable them to communicate by telephone in the workplace. Deaf employees of
small businesses in California can be eligible for free
loaned equipment.
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Directory of California Sign
Language Services
(Please email us if you know of additional services.)
| Locale |
Name: |
Contact: |
| Los Angeles |
Accommodating Ideas
|
5032 Lankershim Blvd. Suite #1
North Hollywood, CA 91601
818-752-3320 Voice/TDD |
Interpreter Network
|
P.O. Box 2163
Venice, CA 90294
310-573-5040 |
Caroline Preston - Preston Interpreting
Services
|
P.O. Box 8643
Northridge, CA 91327
818-363-4293 Voice
818-360-1645 TDD
818-366-2625 FAX |
| Special Task Interpreters for the
Deaf |
714-953-3503 Voice/TDD |
Dayle McIntosh Center
|
714-772-8285 Voice
714-772-8366 TDD |
| The Renaissance One Co. |
Pasadena, CA 91106
1-866-581-6741 (vm)
Ph/Fax: 626-564-9186
Website |
| Sacramento |
Eaton
Interpreting Services |
916-721-3636
T
916-722-8377 F
Email
Website |
| San Diego |
Communication Access Network |
843-763-3890 Voice
843-763-3944 TTY
843-571-6325 Fax
Visit Web Site - online reservation system! |
| Network Interpreting Service |
1666 Garnet Ave. PMB 410
San Diego, CA 92109
1-800-284-1043 Voice
815-425-9244 Fax
1-800-284-5176 TTY
nis@aslnis.com
Visit Web Site |
| San Francisco |
BAY AREA
COMMUNICATION ACCESS(BACA)
|
973 Market Street, #280
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 356-0405 Voice
(415) 356-0376 TTY
(415) 356-0495 Fax
BACATERP@AOL.COM |
HANDS
ON
|
P.O.Box 550
Rocklin, CA 95677-0550
1-800-900-9478 Voice
1-800-900-9479 TTY |
| Silicon Valley |
Project HIRED |
1270 Franklin Mall
Santa Clara, CA 95050
(408) 557-0880 Voice/TTY
(408) 557-1089 FAX
info@projecthired.org |
Successful Meetings which Include Interpreters
By Phil La Barbera, Oracle Inc.
Email
Interpreters are one more dynamic to consider when you plan meetings.
However, most of what you need to do to hold successful meetings with
interpreters is exactly what you do already to orchestrate successful meetings.
Effective Meeting Protocol:
- Start and end meetings on time. (Often interpreters cannot stay late.)
- Choose a moderator and someone to take notes for the meeting.
- Distribute an agenda ahead of time and stick to it as much as possible.
(Be sure interpreters have copies of printed materials and Power Point
presentations.)
- Remind participants to speak clearly and loudly enough for the room.
- Take turns talking during the meeting and be sure that everyone has a
chance to speak up according to his or her
role.
- Periodically summarize progress you make during the meeting.
- Record action items in the minutes. Distribute meeting minutes promptly.
Additional Things to Consider
Small informal meetings which are not longer than an hour can usually be
handled by a single interpreter working alone. Large meetings where discussion
is heated require an interpreting team. Work with interpreters and referral
agencies ahead of time to decide what is best for your meeting.
- Position interpreters where they can hear and see as well as where they
can be seen and heard. Often a seat beside the moderator or presenter
is ideal.
- Interpreters are not meeting participants. Do not include them in
ice-breakers at your meetings. Give interpreters the option of
introducing themselves to the group or not.
- Please do include interpreters in planning meals and snacks.
- Consider recording your meetings (often very easy when you have dial in
participants). Deaf participants (and others) can review parts of the
meeting which might have been missed (with an interpreter).
- Check in privately with Deaf participants about meeting dynamics.
Understanding Lag Time
Interpreters (and real time captioners, for that matter) are always at least
a fraction of a second behind both speakers and signers because they cannot know
what will be said in advance. Lag time makes it difficult for Deaf participants
to smoothly join in group conversation. A moderator can be certain that Deaf
participants have a chance to contribute. Allow for lag time when asking posing
a question to a Deaf participant.
Interpreters Need Context
Context is especially important for interpreters in technical settings. Their
understanding and so their ability to interpret in your meetings will improve
with exposure to your workplace. Use certified interpreters and establish an
ongoing relationship with them. Ask for interpreters who work well with your
employees by name when you contact your referral agency. Reliable agencies will
send the individual professionals you ask for when they can.
Additional Information about Interpreting:
The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) is a national certifying
organization.
www.rid.org
The Northern California chapter of the RID includes Silicon Valley.
www.norcrid.org
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