| When you realize that 1 in 1000 people in the world is | | | | interpreters; they set up a video camera that allows |
| deaf, it can easily be seen why American Sign | | | | the deaf individual to sign to an interpreter, who then |
| Language interpreters fill such a needed role in society. | | | | relays the communication onto a third party. There is |
| American Sign Language, or ASL, is a unique language | | | | also a market for medical interpreting, where an |
| with its own grammar and vocabulary, and interpreters, | | | | interpreter works almost exclusively with a hospital. |
| which are in short supply, are desperately in a variety | | | | You'll also find that educational interpretation is a field |
| of different capacities. | | | | on its own, with opportunities ranging from working with |
| ASL interpreters fill a much needed role in bridging the | | | | small children to working with university students. As an |
| deaf and the hearing communities. Many Americans | | | | educational interpreter, you might be called upon to |
| do not understand that deaf culture is an entity that | | | | explain different customs to either hearing students or |
| differs greatly from the hearing community, despite the | | | | deaf ones, thus establishing a rapport between the |
| two existing side by side. As an ASL interpreter, you | | | | two communities. |
| will learn that it is more than just language that | | | | As an ASL interpreter, you will be breaking down the |
| separates the two communities; deaf culture has its | | | | barriers between two communities which have grown |
| own customs and attitudes which are very different | | | | apart. As people are becoming more educated about |
| from that of the hearing community. Remember that | | | | deaf culture and the deaf themselves, the need for |
| as a bridge between these two communities, you'll be | | | | interpreters is very strong and still rising. More and |
| doing a great deal to foster understanding between | | | | more companies are hiring ASL interpreters in order to |
| two different groups of people. | | | | provide excellent service to their customer base. |
| There are many venues of employment open for | | | | When you become an ASL interpreter, you are |
| ASL interpreters, and where a position did not | | | | becoming a part of a cultural exchange that will |
| previously exist, people are very often creating them. | | | | eventually benefit everyone. |
| Video relay companies are prime employers of ASL | | | | |