at the American School for the Deaf
At Source Interpreting, we take the time understand our clients’ needs. We provide quality sign language services in a variety of settings, including conferences, job interviews, professional development trainings, medical and legal appointments, and much more. Our knowledge and experience allow us to provide accurate interpreting services while fostering a positive image of accessibility.
Since 1817, the American School for the Deaf has been a pioneer in meeting the needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students and adults across the country. From our early beginnings as the birthplace of American Sign Language to our groundbreaking educational philosophies, ASD continues to rise in meeting today's pressing challenges. In September 2016, the American School for the Deaf launched Source Interpreting in response to the closure of Connecticut’s Department of Rehabilitation Services Interpreting Unit. Source has grown steadily, while earning the trust and confidence of deaf, hard of hearing and hearing consumers throughout Connecticut and surrounding areas. Source Interpreting plans to expand its service area to help eliminate existing service gaps throughout the Northeast.
What Stands Source Apart?
Organizational Advantage
Source Interpreting is committed to excellence. Our team of highly qualified interpreters are nationally-certified, state-registered and dedicated to confidentiality and professionalism. We are available 24/7/365 to provide reliable interpreting services in a variety of settings, including conferences, job interviews, trainings, medical/legal appointments, and educational settings. Care is taken to ensure that assignments are matched with appropriate interpreter(s). Source is a deaf-operated program and all staff are bilingual in American Sign Language and English. We also specialize in Certified Deaf Interpreting (CDI) and virtual remote interpreting services.
Requesting an Interpreter
Requesting an interpreter is simple! A client may contact Source to make a request by phone, fax, e-mail, or through our website. Requests may also be made through our secure online portal. The following information is required at the time of request:
-
Client name
-
Assignment location
-
Assignment classification (i.e. medical appointment, conference, etc.)
-
Requested start/end times
-
Assignment duration
-
Contact information
-
Interpreting services requested (i.e. ASL interpretation, CDI, CART captioning, virtual interpreting, DeafBlind, etc.)
-
Interpreter preference
Last Minute / Emergency Requests
Clients may contact Source to request immediate interpreting services. Because of our extensive team of interpreters, Source makes every effort to accommodate short notice requests, with the understanding that it is more difficult to secure interpreting services with minimal lead time.
Technological Advantage
Source uses state-of-the-art scheduling software that allows for clear communication between clients and interpreters. Customers and clients may request interpreting services by phone, e-mail or automatically through our online form. Confirmation e-mails are sent to both the client and the assigned service providers, which ensures clients and interpreters are informed about service appointments.
Corporate Sensitivity and Awareness Training
Many businesses and non-profit organizations do not understand how to effectively communicate and work with deaf and hard-of-hearing customers, clients and employees. To help close this gap, Source Interpreting provides sensitivity and awareness professional development training for these community partners on a variety of topics, including accessibility requirements/recommendations, exposure to Deaf culture, best practices for using interpreter(s), etc. Source is a proud partner in promoting accessibility throughout our community.
Compliance Management
The federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires public agencies and certain public accommodations (such as physicians, lawyers, libraries, daycare centers, and hotels) to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, including sign language interpreting. Source remains current on all ADA compliance regulations, state regulations for the deaf and hard of hearing, and publications from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID).
Meet The Team
Emily Gerrish
Manager
Emily Gerrish is a nationally certified interpreter, has a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Montserrat, has a TESOL (Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificate, and has a certificate in Human Resources from the University of Maryland. Prior to her hire, Emily worked in the D.C. metropolitan area as an interpreter for 9 years. She primarily worked at government agencies, but she was also a staff interpreter at Hagerstown Community College in Hagerstown, Maryland. There she worked closely with the reasonable accommodations supervisor to ensure accessibility was provided and that accessibility met the highest standards. She helped to screen interpreters and to educate college staff about how to work with an interpreter, as well as advocated for other accessibility services to be provided.
Shana Gibbs
Source Interpreting Director
Shana Gibbs has over 10 years of experience as a Deaf Interpreter specializing in higher education, theatre, and platform as well as coordinating interpreting services. She is also a former Interpreter Educator in several interpreting programs, both undergraduate and graduate. In addition to her role as a director of Source Interpreting, she is also the director of Diversity at American School for the Deaf.
Janna Oshman
Schedule Coordinator
Prior to joining Source Interpreting, Janna worked at Convo and Purple as a scheduling coordinator. She also worked as a customer success manager and account executive, demonstrating her commitment to high-quality interpreting services being provided to ensure customer satisfaction. Those skills, along with her experience working at the Texas School for the Deaf, make her a perfect fit for Source. She is currently pursuing her Deaf Studies Degree and will graduate the Spring of 2023.