ASL Interpreter and CART Referral
Toll-Free: 800-826-3700 (v/tty)
Local: (603)228-9680 (v/tty)
Email: Interp@gsil.org
Deaf Culture
Culture results from a group of people coming together to form a community around shared language, experience, common interests, shared norms of behavior, and survival techniques, the Deaf Community is no different. For more information on the values, traditions, and agendas of the American Deaf Community visit the National Association of the Deaf’s website www.nad.org
Interpreter/CART Reporter Profile
If you are a licensed or certified Interpreter or CART Reporter and would like to receive requests from GSIL, please complete the confidential online profile or contact the Interpreter Referral Specialist for more information.
Use this form to update your profile at anytime: Interpreter Profile
Deaf/Hard of Hearing (HOH) Profile
Coming soon
Making a Request through GSIL
- At least 2 weeks prior is preferred.
- Making a request does not guarantee an Interpreter/ CART reporter will be available.
- GSIL does not accept requests that have been submitted to other agencies.
The Request:
1. Gather Information:
- Date, time, location, and duration of assignment
- Name(s) of Deaf/HOH person(s) (and other participants if applicable)
- Known preferences and communication style
- Contact and Billing information
- Brief summary of the assignment
2. Contact GSIL via phone, email, or complete the online form. Please note, the request will not be processed through to Interpreters/Cart Reporters until the specialist has been in direct contact with the person making the request to verify the assignment information.
3. GSIL will then seek out and ideally confirm appropriate Interpreter(s)/ CART reporter to fill the assignment. The Referral Specialist will keep you updated of the progress through your preferred mode of contact (email/phone).
The Confirmation:
4. Once an Interpreter/CART Reporter has been confirmed, the Referral Specialist will contact the hiring entity through a phone call and an emailed or faxed confirmation letter. This letter will outline the responsibilities of the hiring entity and provide the Interpreters/CART reporters’ name and contact information.
5. At this point, all further correspondence regarding the assignment should be between the hiring entity, the Interpreter(s)/CART reporter, and the consumer(s).
However, GSIL is always looking to keep up-to-date information, feel free to contact GSIL with preference updates and any post-assignment feedback.
Toll -Free 800-826-3700 (V/TTY)
Local: (603) 228-9680 (v/tty)
Email: Interp@gsil.org
GSIL Referral Fee
GSIL will bill the address provided $35 per assignment for the referral and confirmation service.
Cancellations
To cancel, you are responsible for directly contacting the Interpreters/CART Reporters; the referral specialist will not cancel them for you. Leaving a message at GSIL also does not qualify.
Contact information can be found on the confirmation letter.
To avoid the Interpreters/CART Reporter’s bill, you must cancel with appropriate notice. If you do not cancel prior to the time frames listed below, you will be billed for the entire scheduled time.
General assignments: 48 hours (2 business days)
Legal assignments: 72 hours (3 business days)
Trials: 120 hours (5 business days) is required.
In the event an Interpreter or CART Reporter needs to cancel, they are to directly contact you with the name and contact number of the qualified person that will replace them. GSIL is not responsible for providing substitutions.
Rates and Fees
Each Interpreter/CART Reporter is, in essence, self-employed and charges his or her own hourly rates, mileage reimbursement rates, and fees. These rates and fees reflect the level of certification achieved and years of relevant experience. They may also vary depending on assignment content, intensity, and timeliness of the request.
If you would like to discuss rates and fees specific to your assignment, it is your responsibility to do so with the Interpreter/CART Reporter prior to the assignment. If you choose not to do so, your consent will be assumed.
It is standard practice for Interpreters/CART Reporters to charge a 2 hour minimum. You should expect a bill directly from the Interpreter/CART Reporter for the services rendered.
For the State of NH recommended rate and fee schedule, click here.
Grievance Procedures
If you are dissatisfied with the professionalism, quality of services, or ethical behavior of an Interpreter, you may contact NH Board of Licensure of Interpreters for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at licensurebord@ed.state.nh.us or (603)271-3471 (V/TTY).
What is an Interpreter?
An Interpreter often makes meaningful communication between people who use sign language and people who use spoken English possible. Sign Language Interpreters are bilingual, with fluency in both English and American Sign Language (ASL). Please note, ASL is not a signed form of English; it is a separate language with its own grammatical rules, sentence structures, idioms, historical contexts, and cultural nuances.
Requirements:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires qualified Interpreters to be provided in a variety of settings. These include, but are not limited to, doctor visits, hospitalizations, town meetings, staff meetings, job interviews, educational settings, and parent/teacher meetings. Contact GSIL for more information about ADA requirements.
Qualifications:
While certification is not a federal requirement, it remains the best way to provide the quality assurance necessary to meet the ADA’s Communication Access requirements. National Certification of Interpreters and State Screening practices ensure that those who are providing interpreting services are meeting particular levels of skills and professional behavior. These Interpreters are not only “qualified” under the American’s with Disabilities Act, but are also committed to a strict code of professional ethics, subject to nationally administered grievance resolution processes, and required to maintain a high level of continuing professional skill development. In fact, Interpreters and CART Reporters should always be willing and able to provide proof of their credentials.
The Interpreters and CART Reporters referred by GSIL are fully qualified and meet ADA requirements.
Preferences:
Often Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals, Interpreters, and hiring entities have specific interpreters they prefer to work with for specific situations and settings. These preferences may be based on factors such as: communication style, mutual understandability, personality compatibility, business practices, and conflicts of interest, among others.
GSIL keeps preference information on file so that the best possible matches can be made. Preference and profile updates and changes are always welcome.
Tips for communicating through an Interpreter:
- Speak directly to the Deaf person (do not say to the interpreter: “tell him…” “can she…” )
- Make eye contact with the Deaf person, not the interpreter
- Speak at your natural pace; do not worry about pausing for the Interpreter to catch up unless the Interpreter asks you to do so.
- Remember that the Interpreter is there as a linguistic and cultural mediator, not as a helper, or assistant to you or the Deaf person
- If you feel uncertain of what to do, ask the Deaf person.
Toll -Free 800-826-3700 (V/TTY)
Local: (603) 228-9680 (v/tty)
Email: Interp@gsil.org