Language Solutions Team is a company that actively participates with our American Sign Language community. We have more than 20 years’ experience interpreting ASL in Pennsylvania and have expanded our presence to 18 States in the US in the past three years.  

In 2021, we expanded our ASL interpretation support by acquiring Sign Language Professionals, a Virginia based company specialized in legal, educational and healthcare ASL interpretation. 

Our interpreters are certified by or members of RID. Our organization encourages students and new interpreters to improve and develop the necessary skills to achieve the highest standards.  

The most widely-recognized certifications that attest to an interpreter’s knowledge and skill are: National Interpreter Certification (NIC), Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI), National Association of the Deaf (NAD IV & V), Certificate of Interpretation (CI), Certificate of Transliteration (CT), the Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L), and various state credentialing systems such as the Virginia Quality Assurance Screening (VQAS). Other valid certifications include MCSC, CSC, RSC, IC, TC, K-12 (for schools) among others. For more information, please visit RID web site: https://rid.org/certification/available-certifications/# . 

Interpreters are expected to conduct themselves professionally, demonstrating cultural awareness, sensitivity and the ability to cope with stress.  

At LST we select interpreters for an assignment based on their expertise and credentials. The rigorous selection process in combination with the requirement to hold interpreting-related credentials help ensure that LST provides the most qualified interpreters. 

For more information, please visit RID web site: https://rid.org/certification/available-certifications/# . 

Sign language interpreting is a physically and mentally intensive task. Interpreters need to be deeply focused at all times while using their hands, arms, facial expressions, and body movements to communicate. Two ASL interpreters often work as a team to interpret for one event or meeting to reduce the impact of fatigue on the interpretation. In high stakes environments, such as in legal proceedings, interpreters always work in a team in order to act as a monitor, ensuring the most accurate interpretation.   

In some situations, a member of the interpreting team is a native ASL specialist who is also Deaf (often called a Certified Deaf Interpreter, or a CDI). These interpreters often specialize in working with Deaf consumers who are non-native signers or are DeafBlind. They also work where native ASL usage is a priority (such as at public events).  

There are many special circumstances where your situation may require more than one interpreter. For example:  

• Interpreting long periods: When an interpreter will need to work for 1.5 hours continuously or with little break, a team will typically be required. This often includes conferences, all-day trainings, or intense meetings.  
• High-stakes situations: There are times when the usual high-level of accuracy offered by interpreters is not sufficient. For example, a person testifying in court, someone defending their Ph.D. dissertation, a competency hearing, or others, require a second qualified interpreter to actively monitor and correct any errors that occur in the moment.  
• Highly Technical Vocabulary: Environments where participants are highly-trained and use specialized language are a particular challenge for interpreters who do not hold that educational or technical background. For example, interpreters working with an aerospace engineer will typically work as a team to assist each other in ensuring the greatest possible accuracy.   
• Conferences – Presentations – Theaters – Concerts: Complicated presentations with multiple speakers, musical performances, and complex presentations may require a team to ensure the Deaf consumer has a similar experience as other attendees.   

  LST’s scheduling team will ensure that the correct number of interpreters are assigned for your appointment to both maximize accuracy of the service, and your bottom line. 

Consecutive interpretation takes place when the speaker talks for longer periods of time and then stops. The speaker is followed by the interpreter’s translation of what was said to the audience. During these sessions, there are pauses between sentences when each party speaks. 

Simultaneous interpreting, when interpreters convey what is said in real-time on an ongoing basis. There are virtually no pauses in conversation between the speaker, the interpreter, and the audience. 

Generally speaking, ASL interpreters all do both and will decide when on the job which to do. 

• On-site interpretations also known as face-to-face or In-person interpretation. We offer highly qualified, experienced, credentialed interpreters who will come to your site. Having the interpreter in the same room with you ensures they will be able to hear and see what’s going on, and produce the most accurate interpretation possible. On-site interpreters are recommended for complex, high-stakes, and/or long situations. 

It is perhaps the most common type of interpretation, and particularly useful when a meeting takes place, for business trips and to interact with associates from other countries. 

• Video remote interpreting (VRI) is also part of the Remote Interpreting Services. 

We offer the same high-quality interpreters remotely around the clock. VRI is easy-to-set up, easy-to-use, economical, consistent, and cost effective. A high-speed, stable internet connection is necessary to ensure high quality work and avoid gaps. 

VRI is usually recommended for short, incidental communication, where in-person interpreters are unfeasible, and in emergency situations while an on-site interpreter is dispatched. However, it is becoming increasingly common and with better results.