A Show Of Hands – FAQs

Q: Why must I provide Sign Language Interpreting Services?

A: American Disability Act: Title III

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires public and private services and employers to be accessible to all people, regardless of disability. When dealing with people who are Deaf, Deaf- blind, or Hard of Hearing, this means that communication must be accessible. In many cases, the best way to ensure this is to have an interpreter.

• www.ada.gov
• (800) 514-0301 (Voice)
• (800) 514-0383 (TTY)

Q: How many interpreters do I need?

A: It depends on the length of time that services are needed and the types of services that are provided.

A Show of Hands can assist you in determining how many Interpreters will be required for your request. A good rule of thumb is that two (2) Interpreters are generally required for an assignment lasting longer than an hour. However, two (2) Interpreters may be required for shorter assignments where the interpreting needs are more intensive.

Q: Why do you have a two (2) hour minimum?

A: A two-hour minimum is an “industry standard” when working with Independent Sign Language Interpreters.

Q: Why is it necessary to contract two interpreters for any assignments over an hour and what are the exceptions, if any?

A: The “industry standard” requires team interpreting for anything longer than one hour of continuous Interpreting. This is to prevent repetitive motion injury or carpel tunnel. Research shows that the mental process of interpreting can be fatiguing and strenuous. The processing time and accuracy diminishes if Interpreters are not allowed breaks. A Team Interpreter allows relief of actual interpretation, but also provides a back-up for each other to ensure that all information is disseminated accurately.

Two Interpreters may not be necessary for all assignments. This is determined on a per assignment basis.

Q: Is there a charge for late cancellations?

A: Yes. A 24-hour notice is required from the time of our service agreement to cancel without charge. If you cancel a request within less than a 24-hour notice, you will be billed for the scheduled time. The interpreters who work through A Show of Hands are all Independent Contractors and when the required 24-hour notice is given, no charges will incur. Cancellations with ample notice allows the Interpreter to schedule other work for that time frame.

Q: How do I submit a Request for an Interpreter and what information do I need to provide?

A: Here is a basic checklist:

• DATE YOU NEED THE INTERPRETER
• LOCATION ADDRESS, SECURITY INFORMATION, SUITE #, ETC.
  EVENT START AND END TIME
• CLIENT(S) COMPLETE NAME(S)
• TYPE OF EVENT (ie; Concert, Meeting, Medical Appointment, etc.)
• BILLING INFORMATION

Q: Do you provide CART or Real Time Captioning services?

A: Yes. CART is an acronym for Communication Access Realtime Translation, often referred to as RTC or Real Time Captioning. It is a speech-to-text interpreting service that provides equal communication access for those who have a hearing loss, are Deaf, and others who have different language and learning needs.

The CART Provider has the capability to provide a copy of the transcript. CART Providers are Certified individuals and their charges range between three and four-hour minimums with the same 24-hour cancellation policy.

Q: What is RID Certified?

A: The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) is the national membership organization of Sign Language Interpreters. RID certifies interpreters through its National Testing System, provides professional development opportunities through its Certification Maintenance Program, and promotes professional standards through its Professional Code of Conduct and its Ethical Practices System. For more information, please click on the following link.