American Sign Language

Career information for Interpreters and translators who convert information from one language into another language.

ATA was established to advance the translation and interpreting professions and foster the professional development of individual translators and interpreters.

CCHI offers an independent, national, comprehensive certification program to medical interpreters of all languages since 2009.

The International Association of Conference Interpreters is the only global association of conference interpreters, and brings together over 3,000 professionals from every continent.

NAJIT was created in 1978 to promote the highest ethical and performance standards in the profession. Part of that was the development of educational activities to further these standards among judiciary interpreters and translators whose field experience ranged from completely inexperienced novices to fully-vetted professionals. Also part of the mission was creating an instrument designed by active members of the profession and validated by competency assessment experts to measure and certify the performance of judiciary interpreters and translators.

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is the nation’s premier civil rights organization of, by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America. Established in 1880, the NAD was shaped by deaf leaders who believed in the right of the American deaf community to use sign language, to congregate on issues important to them, and to have its interests represented at the national level. These beliefs remain true to this day, with American Sign Language as a core value. The advocacy scope of the NAD is broad, covering a lifetime and impacting future generations in the areas of early intervention, education, employment, health care, technology, telecommunications, youth leadership, and more – improving the lives of millions of deaf and hard of hearing Americans. The NAD also carries out its federal advocacy work through coalition efforts with specialized national deaf and hard of hearing organizations, as well as coalitions representing national cross-disability organizations. On the international front, the NAD represents the United States of America to the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), an international human rights organization. Individual and organizational membership makes it possible for the NAD to ensure that the collective interests of the American deaf and hard of hearing community are seen and represented among our nation’s policy makers and opinion leaders at the federal level. The NAD is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by the generosity of individual and organizational donors, including corporations and foundations.

The mission of the National Board is to foster improved healthcare outcomes, patient safety, and patient/provider communication, by elevating the standards for and quality of medical interpreting through a nationally recognized and validated certification for medical interpreters.

The NCIHC is a multidisciplinary organization whose mission is to promote and
enhance language access in health care in the United States.

The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID), a national membership organization, plays a leading role in advocating for excellence in the delivery of interpretation and transliteration services between people who use sign language and people who use spoken language. In collaboration with the Deaf community, RID supports our members and encourages the growth of the profession through the establishment of a national standard for qualified sign language interpreters and transliterators, ongoing professional development and adherence to a code of professional conduct.

Learn Basic ASL for Free
Free introductory videos and interactive lessons.

The Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center is a federally funded center that provides information, training, and technical assistance for families of and professionals working with deaf or hard of hearing children.

Deafness-Related Resources and Links

The ASL Interactive: Online Course is an opportunity for families and professionals to learn American Sign Language (ASL) through an online video chat room setting. While learning vocabulary, grammar, and culture, each individual’s specific signing needs will be met through online surveys and weekly correspondence. This experience is structured as an eight-week course built around each participant and can range from beginner to intermediate levels.

The NIDCD supports research on ASL, including its acquisition and characterization. Funded research includes studies to understand sign language’s grammar, acquisition, and development, and use of sign language when spoken language access is compromised by trauma or degenerative disease, or when speech is difficult to acquire due to early hearing loss or injury to the nervous system.

How to Find a Certified/Qualified Interpreter in Florida

"Hello :)
Welcome!
I encourage sign language students to find a qualified local Deaf tutor or American Sign Language (ASL) instructor to help you learn ASL or fingerspelling. This ASL fingerspelling site is a little tool I put together to help my college ASL students get some receptive fingerspelling practice. It isn't perfect, but it seems to help so I figured I'd share it with the world. If it is of use to you, great!
I wish you the very best!
Cordially,
- Dr. Bill Vicars " -- from site