At ASD Community Interpreting, we take the time understand our clients’ needs. We provide quality sign language services in a variety of settings, including conferences, job interviews, professional development trainings, medical and legal appointments, and much more. Our knowledge and experience allow us to provide accurate interpreting services while fostering a positive image of accessibility.
Since 1817, the American School for the Deaf has been a pioneer in meeting the needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students and adults across the country. From our early beginnings as the birthplace of American Sign Language to our groundbreaking educational philosophies, ASD continues to rise in meeting today's pressing challenges. In September 2016, the American School for the Deaf launched Source Interpreting in response to the closure of Connecticut’s Department of Rehabilitation Services Interpreting Unit. Source has grown steadily, while earning the trust and confidence of deaf, hard of hearing and hearing consumers throughout Connecticut and surrounding areas. Source Interpreting plans to expand its service area to help eliminate existing service gaps throughout the Northeast.
What Stands Us Apart?
Organizational Advantage
Source Interpreting is committed to excellence. Our team of highly qualified interpreters are nationally-certified, state-registered and dedicated to confidentiality and professionalism. We are available 24/7/365 to provide reliable interpreting services in a variety of settings, including conferences, job interviews, trainings, medical/legal appointments, and educational settings. Care is taken to ensure that assignments are matched with appropriate interpreter(s). Source is a deaf-operated program and all staff are bilingual in American Sign Language and English. We also specialize in Certified Deaf Interpreting (CDI) and virtual remote interpreting services.
Requesting an Interpreter
Requesting an interpreter is simple! A client may contact Source to make a request by phone, fax, e-mail, or through our website. Requests may also be made through our secure online portal. The following information is required at the time of request:
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Client name
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Assignment location
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Assignment classification (i.e. medical appointment, conference, etc.)
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Requested start/end times
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Assignment duration
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Contact information
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Interpreting services requested (i.e. ASL interpretation, CDI, CART captioning, virtual interpreting, DeafBlind, etc.)
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Interpreter preference
Last Minute / Emergency Requests
Clients may contact Source to request immediate interpreting services. Because of our extensive team of interpreters, Source makes every effort to accommodate short notice requests, with the understanding that it is more difficult to secure interpreting services with minimal lead time.
Technological Advantage
Source uses state-of-the-art scheduling software that allows for clear communication between clients and interpreters. Customers and clients may request interpreting services by phone, e-mail or automatically through our online form. Confirmation e-mails are sent to both the client and the assigned service providers, which ensures clients and interpreters are informed about service appointments.
Corporate Sensitivity and Awareness Training
Many businesses and non-profit organizations do not understand how to effectively communicate and work with deaf and hard-of-hearing customers, clients and employees. To help close this gap, Source Interpreting provides sensitivity and awareness professional development training for these community partners on a variety of topics, including accessibility requirements/recommendations, exposure to Deaf culture, best practices for using interpreter(s), etc. Source is a proud partner in promoting accessibility throughout our community.
Compliance Management
The federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires public agencies and certain public accommodations (such as physicians, lawyers, libraries, daycare centers, and hotels) to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, including sign language interpreting. Source remains current on all ADA compliance regulations, state regulations for the deaf and hard of hearing, and publications from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID).
Meet The Team
Kat Northup
Coordinator
Kat was born and raised as a southern girl in Arkansas. She is a child of a Deaf adult (CODA) and grew up in the Deaf community with several Deaf, DeafBlind, and hearing family members. She holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's in Teaching ASL.
Kat has been a certified interpreter for 20+ years and a mentor of up and coming interpreters for 10+ years. She has state certifications of QAST 5/5 and BEI: Master, as well as her national certification (NIC-Advanced). She has worked in various settings as an independent contract interpreter for two-thirds of her career. The other part of her experience was as a staff interpreter - 7 years at the Texas School for the Deaf and 3 years at the American School for the Deaf (ASD).
Kat is now enjoying the challenge of transitioning into a new phase of her career at ASD, serving in her role as Coordinator for ASD Community Interpreting. She is excited at the opportunity to serve the Deaf Community of Connecticut and provide communication access in ALL WAYS ABLE.
Madelyn Corey
Scheduler
Madelyn was born and raised in Southington, CT . She is a recent graduate of Central Connecticut State University, holding a bachelor's degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management. She is coming to us with a background in customer service, HR and payroll experience for the last 5 years. She is the daughter of a sign language interpreter as well as the granddaughter of two deaf grandparents - all with years of experience within the ASD community. She has been exposed to and has known sign language since birth. She is comfortable communicating in ASL and is eager to leverage her experience and skills with the support of ASD. She is confident and excited to be a part of the ASD Community Interpreting team!
Julie Colbert
Community Interpreter - Staff
Julie lives with her husband of 27 years. She has a 24 year old daughter, a 21 year old son and a 15 year old rescue dog. She has been interpreting for over 25 years, a career whose foundation began at ASD as a TA and RC after graduating from UCONN. She loves UCONN men’s basketball, reading and the free games on the New York Times app.
Julie Sharp
Community Interpreter - Staff
Julie grew up in West Hartford, CT, where her connection with and love of sign language and the Deaf community began, 38 years ago! Prior to becoming an interpreter, she worked as a paramedic in NYC, where her frequent interactions with deaf patients reconnected her with her real passion. This inspired her to go back to school to study ASL Interpreting.
Julie comes to ASD Community Interpreting with 16 years of ASL interpreting, most of those in a freelance capacity. She's explored working in a variety of settings, and has been able to bring her experience together in medical settings, while also having the opportunity to experience many arenas beyond that. She is thrilled for the opportunity to be a staff interpreter with ASD's Community Interpreting, to serve the Deaf community, and excited to be a part of this team!
When not interpreting, you can find Julie spending time with her 3 boys, family, friends, and her dog Ollie, practicing yoga, or in the woods.