American Sign Language is its own unique and distinct language. There are several laws in place governing accessibility services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Providing a Sign Language Interpreter allows Deaf students to communicate in their own language, gain independence, be included in decisions surrounding their educational journey, and access instructional materials in a language most accessible to them. The classroom is a complex communication environment with a variety of speakers. For a student who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing, a typical classroom environment can be quite challenging. Hiring a sign language interpreter allows the student to access classroom instruction, communication, and peer interaction. It also provides non-signers in the space (teachers and other students) with access to Sign Language and the means to communicate with the Deaf individual. Contact us to hire an interpreter today!

The appropriate auxiliary aid depends on multiple factors, such as the communication method used by the individual and the context in which the communication takes place. An auxiliary aid that is suitable for one person or in one context might not be effective in another setting or for someone with a different type of hearing loss. It's essential to ask the Deaf or Hard of Hearing individual about their service preference and the specific scenarios they have in mind. While someone might use interpreting services in one situation, they may prefer captioning in another. Some consumers like to use both services together for a more comprehensive experience. Reach out to us today, and we can help determine which services will benefit you and your team best!

Interpreting is both mentally and physically demanding. If an assignment entails more than one hour of continuous lecture, it might be necessary to hire a second interpreter. The two interpreters will collaborate to ensure accuracy, giving each other time to rest while continuing to support their partner in interpretation. Depending on your interpreting needs, a single team or multiple teams of interpreters might be required. Events, like conferences, typically necessitate at least one team of interpreters. Contact us today, and we can assist in coordinating interpreters for your event!

Cirrus Interpreting strives to accommodate all requests, regardless of the timeline. Generally, the earlier we receive a request, the more straightforward it is for us to fulfill it. We recommend requesting services at least two weeks in advance when possible. Contact us today with your questions and needs!

Several factors influence the cost of interpreting services. Typically, services are billed with a two-hour minimum for each interpreter engaged. Certain events, like conferences, may require multiple interpreters and, given the complexity of the content, may be charged at a higher hourly rate. For educational interpreting services, we provide monthly bulk pricing, which comes at a discount compared to hourly rates. Reach out to us today for a quote.

We recognize that you have numerous options when selecting language solution agencies. At Cirrus Interpreting, we take pride in our outstanding customer service, exceptional interpreters, and competitive rates. All our interpreters are specialists in educational and academic interpreting. Through our in-house training program, TerpAcademy, we prepare our interpreters to excel in educational settings. Our variety of workshops, covering subjects like "Interpreting Material with Scientific/Medical Terminology" and "Signs of Technology," ensure our interpreters are versatile, well-rounded, and primed to deliver top-tier services for your students. By equipping them with expertise in technological signs, scientific terminology, and medical language, we cater to the full spectrum of your interpreting needs. Prioritizing your students, we connect them with the foremost professionals in the interpreting domain. Contact us today to see why we stand out.

The legal right to an educational interpreter is firmly established by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA). IDEA acknowledges the educational interpreter as a "related service provider." Typically, a student's right to an educational interpreter is outlined in their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan. For many students who are deaf or hard of hearing, having an interpreter is crucial for ensuring a free and appropriate public education.

State and local government agencies and service providers are obligated to ensure effective communication with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This federal law encompasses all state and local government agencies, including schools. It governs activities directly administered by these agencies as well as those executed by private subcontractors. The ADA mandates that state and local agencies provide equal access and equally effective services to individuals with disabilities. Such entities cannot deny these individuals the opportunity to participate in their programs, nor can they offer them an inferior opportunity compared to what others receive. Often, to guarantee effective communication, public entities must provide qualified interpreters, captioning, and other auxiliary aids for deaf or hard of hearing individuals.

Both public and private entities that receive federal financial assistance are bound by obligations to ensure effective communication with the deaf or hard of hearing under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This act stipulates:

‍"No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States... shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance…" (29 U.S.C. § 794(a)).

‍The "No Child Left Behind" act categorizes numerous deaf and hard of hearing students as also being English Language Learner (ELL) students. This means they fall under both Disability Rights and ELL rights, ensuring that ELL students receive an equal opportunity to participate in all programs, ranging from pre-kindergarten, magnet, gifted and talented, to career and technical education, arts, athletics, AP and IB courses, clubs, and honor societies.

Cirrus Interpreting provides a range of interpreting services, from K-12 to conferences. In addition to interpretation, we offer captioning services and video remote interpreting tailored to specific situations and needs. To determine the best service for you, contact us today.