As much information as you possibly can. The more information we can provide to the interpreters the more prepared and organized the interpreters can be for your event.

As soon as you know about your event, contact us, The more notice we have the better we are able to get the right interpreter for your event.

There is a lot going on during any given event and a lot of information is being shared while simultaneously being interpreted into another language with different grammatical structure. Interpreting is mentally draining and having a team of two or more interpreters allows for the ‘off’ interpreter to refresh, have some water and also team with the ‘on’ interpreter. Working in a team helps to ensure that all the information is getting across without interrupting the speaker.

Firstly, lipreading is a skill that is learned but not all D/deaf can, and those that can are still only getting some of the information. It is a very unreliable form of communication. Secondly, at an event or meeting there are typically many participants and they don’t usually take turns speaking. On top of those challenges there are many other barriers to lipreading such as; accents, facial hair, a speech impediment, etc. The best and most effective way for clear and concise communication is to hire a trained and professional interpreter. Lipreading also doesn’t allow the same access to what is going on around the room at an event like an interpreter would.

No, each country has its own sign language. Best way to think of it is, just like spoken language, there are differences in each country, and just like a spoken language there are ‘slangs’ that vary depending on where you are in the country. For instance, here in Canada we have 3 recognized sign languages; American Sign Language, La Signe du Quebecois, and Indigenous Sign Language.

If you are interested in learning sign language there are courses offered through various colleges as well as some community centres. To become an interpreter, there are several colleges across Canada that offer the interpreting program. It is a 3-4 year program that will teach you how to effectively communicate between American Sign Language and English.

According to the AODA; The Employment Standard under the AODA requires employers to accommodate workers with disabilities. Employers can make the workplace accessible for workers who are deaf or hard of hearing if they learn about the kinds of accommodations workers might need.