Center on Vicimization and Safety: Language, Justice, Access, Logo. Tips for Working with Remote Sign Language Interpreters Securing Interpreters •While one sign language interpreter can be used for short and simplemeetings, most meetings require two interpreters. Two interpreters areneeded for meetings that are longer than one hour and/or those withcomplex interpreting needs, including meetings covering densematerial, meetings that are highly interactive, and meetings withmultiple Deaf attendees. •To find qualified interpreters: oAsk any Deaf attendees for names of their preferred interpreters. oReach out to your state’s “for Deaf, by Deaf” victim services agencyfor recommendations. oContact us at cvs@vera.org. •Schedule interpreters as soon as possible (at least two to three weeksin advance) because qualified interpreters book quickly. •Give potential interpreters basic information about the content of themeeting and confirm that they have the necessary skill & experiencebefore booking them. Preparing Interpreters •Send information about your event and any materials that will beshown or disseminated during the event to interpreters a few daysbefore your event. This includes any scripts, PowerPoint slides, andhandouts. •Meet with the interpreters before your event to orient them to the event. •Share the purpose of the meeting, information about the audience(including the names of any Deaf attendees), the format (webinar, panel, town hall, etc.), the design (who will be speaking and for how long, if a presentation or other visuals will be shared and when, if the audience will be in “listen-only mode” or participating and when, etc.), and the agenda. •Provide interpreters with a list of common names (people and organizations) that are likely to come up during your event, as well as a list of acronyms that may be used during the event. •Discuss the interpreting approach that will be used during the event. oWill both interpreters have their cameras on during the duration of your event, or will they switch on and off? oIf the interpreters are switching on and off, which interpreter is going first?And, when will they be switching? oHow will the interpreters handle Q+A? •Agree upon a way to communicate with one another if the video conferencing platform, audio stream, or internet connection fails during the event. Text messaging is a great option. Preparing Panelists/Trainers •Let them know the event will be interpreted. •Ask them to speak at a steady pace (not too fast and not too slow), avoid acronyms, and pause when the interpreters need to switch. •If they are using visuals, such as presentation slides, during the event, ask them to pause after advancing each slide to give Deaf participants an opportunity to read the slide before moving their eyes to the interpreter. •If there is more than one facilitator/panelist/trainer, when switching between speakers, have everyone state their name first. This allows the Deaf attendees to keep their focus on the interpreter and still know who is now speaking. Attendees asking questions should also be given this instruction. •Let them know you will gently interrupt during the event with reminders if needed. During the event, the presenter-only chat box is a good place to share reminders or make specific requests such as "slow down" or "pause for interpreter switch". Setting-Up and Testing Technology •Ask interpreters to join the event 30 minutes early to test technology and finalize plans. •Be sure to set-up your virtual room to allow for the interpreters’ videos to be large and prominent on the screen. oAs a general principle, limit the number of videos streaming to no more than nine at a time. oIf you have more than nine attendees: oStream the video of the interpreters and facilitators/panelists/ trainers throughout the duration of your event. oTurn the cameras of other attendees on when they are commenting and off when they are finished. oIf you are using a platform where video bandwidth may be an issue, always prioritize sharing the video of the interpreter, even if it means turning off video for the presenters. •Some platforms, such as Zoom, have the capacity to pin or spotlight an individual’s video so it is prominent on everyone’s screen. If you platform offers this feature, consider using it for interpreters. •Test the technology set-up in advance of the event. During Your Event •Pause the meeting every twenty to thirty minutes (as agreed upon with interpreters) to allow for the interpreters to switch. •If your event has a question and answer session, start that portion of the event by first asking if any of the Deaf attendees have questions and offer them the ability to stream their video and ask their question on camera and in sign language. •At the start of your meeting, let the audience know the event is being interpreted and that they should see the interpreter(s) on the screen. oIf you have any questions about attendees’ view, ask a team member to join as an attendee and report back what they see. oAsk them to let you know if they cannot see the interpreter by raising their virtual hand or using the chat box. oReach out to Deaf attendees directly using the chat function to make sure they can see the interpreter. •If there is a tech problem that impacts the video or audio of the interpreter, pause the meeting until the issue(s) is resolved. •Be mindful of the meeting end time. It’s tempting to go over the established end time, especially when presenters are providing great content or participants are engaged in meaningful discussions. oGoing over - even by a few minutes - can result in significant cost increases, as many interpreters bill in increments of 30, 60 or even 90 minutes. oAdditionally, the interpreters may have another job to go to immediately following your event. After the Meeting •Check in with the Deaf person to make sure the interpreter was effective. Make adjustments as needed for the next meeting. •Check in with the interpreters to get and give feedback and make necessary adjustments for the next meeting. This resource was supported by Grant No. 2016-TA-AXK068 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this program are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.