Sign Language Interpreters provide the communication link between Deaf and Hard of Hearing and hearing individuals. Services of a sign language interpreter are used in a variety of situations. Corporate, medical, and educational settings are the most frequently requested.

Qualified sign language interpreters abide by the strictest code of ethics while providing sign language interpreting services. Many sign language interpreters obtain certification from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID) or National Association of the Deaf (NAD), both of which are national certifying organizations.

Hands On Sign Language Services’ interpreters are personally screened by the owners for reliability and professionalism, as well as their expertise in specialized fields. Certified interpreters are required to provide a resume and reference list that must include a recommendation letter from at least two previous Deaf clients for which they have provided services. All interpreters must meet our high demands in honoring confidentiality and cultural awareness. Nationwide agencies are used only if their selection policies meet those of Hands On.

From our Headquarters in Auburn, California, Hands On will dispatch freelance interpreters to provide reliable and professional assistance to its clientele. Hands On honors the deaf community’s wish to request an interpreter of their choice, one that is the most compatible with their signing style and language level, prior to scheduling a qualified professional from our pool of certified interpreters.

Hands On has been actively expanding throughout the nation since its inception in 1990. As a result, Hands On has a client-base of over 2000 companies in corporate, medical, educational and government agencies. Over 1,900 of these clients are within the Greater San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento Valley alone. Some of our clients include:

Cisco Systems - IBM - Kaiser Permanente - Liberty Mutual – Fremont Unified School district - GAP Inc. - Berkeley - Service Administration - California State University

Hands On contributes its success to five key elements:

• Our interpreters are continually adhering to, and improving on standards set forth by national and state certified sign language interpreting organizations
• We are one of very few services that have live operators (TTY/TDD or Voice) available on a 24-hour basis
• We accept last-minute and emergency requests, with a focus to minimize the arrival time for emergencies to be less than one hour from the time of the original request (Northern California only)
• Federal and state mandates have made sign language interpreters an essential part of daily communication
• We remain very active in local and national Deaf and Hard of Hearing organizations, and strive to maintain personal connections within the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities