About Sign Language Resources, Inc

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Job & Assign't Opportunities

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Deaf Council

There are many opportunities for people entering the field as a  Sign Language Interpreter. Currently there is a high demand but not enough skilled and credentialed resources to go around. Information on how to become an interpreter, different opportunities to learn American Sign Language, and programs to learn the techniques of interpretation are more widespread now than ever before.

However, with that said, we must tell you that the road ahead will not be an easy one. Being a Sign Language Interpreter is not a matter of memorizing a zillion handshapes from a book, one for each word in the English language, or attending a semester or two of non-credit "Basic American Sign Language" classes at the local college or church.  American Sign Language is a language, and the learning process can be compared to learning Spanish, German, or Yugoslavian. You must first attend classes in American Sign Language, not signed English, which may be found by consulting your local phone directory and calling the colleges in your area. You may also find classes by going to the local RID chapter meetings. See RID. Then you must spend time with Deaf members of the community, just as you would speak with native French-speaking persons in order to learn French. To obtain fluency in the language it will depend on your ability to learn languages and the dedication you put into it. After that, attending an accredited "Interpreter Training Program" with qualified instructors to learn how to effectively communicate between the two languages is essential. The qualifications of the instructors should include certification by Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., National Association of the Deaf, or both, as well as many years in the field themselves as a professional interpreter. See the link below for Interpreter Training Programs in this area. 

So, being serious in your endeavor, and willing to spend a few years becoming fluent in American Sign Language as a "signer", and then adding to that another few years to get the proper training to be an "interpreter", you will most likely be a huge success. Good luck!

One more thought; we at SLR often see or hear of situations where signers who are in the process of learning the language are often persuaded by employers to act as the interpreter when a Deaf person comes in for services (as in a hospital, court, or a corporate environment.) We highly discourage this, as we would not encourage a first-year medical student to do surgery. Please don't practice your newly acquired signing talents on Deaf people's important life events!

For more information see:

RID

RID Affilitated Local Chapters

Deaf Resource Library

List of colleges accepting ASL for credit

Other links related to learning ASL

Basics About the Deaf Community

What is a Sign Language Interpreter

Interpreter Training Programs