Here's the scenario: Your new hire is brilliant. Their resume was impressive, the interview went great, and you're excited to have them on the team. But on day one, you realize you're not just onboarding an employee—you're navigating an entirely new dimension of workplace communication. Who schedules the interpreter? Do you need one for every meeting, or just some? What about those casual hallway conversations where half the real work gets done? And wait—do you need two interpreters for that three-hour training session?

If you're feeling slightly overwhelmed, you're not alone. Most companies stumble through their first experience with workplace interpretation because nobody tells you how complex it actually is.

What's actually at stake

Think about everything that happens beyond formal meetings. The after-meeting debrief where decisions actually get made. The lunch conversation where someone mentions an upcoming project. The quick "got a minute?" that turns into crucial feedback. For hearing employees, this is just... work. For your Deaf employee without consistent, quality interpretation? They're constantly operating with partial information and being left out of the informal networks that determine who gets promoted.

We've worked with Fortune 500 companies like Apple, Amazon, Marriott, and UPS, plus government agencies including the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. The companies that get workplace accessibility right aren't the ones with the biggest budgets—they're the ones who understand that interpretation quality directly impacts whether a Deaf employee can actually do their job well, or just survive it.

ASL Hands is a boutique interpreting service built on a radical idea: the right interpreter matters more than just an interpreter. We don't play scheduling Tetris with whoever's available. Instead, we carefully match interpreters to assignments based on cultural understanding, specialized skills, and the unique dynamics of each situation.

Planning a sensitive medical consultation? We'll connect you with an interpreter experienced in healthcare settings who understands patient privacy and complex terminology. Hosting a corporate event where brand presentation matters? You'll get someone who can navigate professional environments with polish and discretion.

Need interpretation for a creative performance or high-stakes business meeting? We consider the tone, audience, and cultural expectations that will make your event succeed.

When high-profile clients need expert interpretation, they trust ASL Hands. Our 20+ years include clients from Fortune 500 companies like Apple, Amazon, and Marriott; actors including Mindy Kaling, Padma Lakshmi, and Simu Liu; Deaf celebrities like Oscar-winner Troy Kotsur, CJ Jones, and Ryan Lane; government agencies such as the Department of Homeland & Security, the CDC, and the Orange County Sheriff's Department; hospitals and churches including CHOC Children's Hospital, Hoag Hospital and Saddleback Church; plus live performances of bands and entertainers ranging from major venues such as the Toyota Arena to the Improv to cruise ships.

The Workplace Partner

You hired a talented Deaf employee. Now what?

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Why "just book an interpreter"  doesn't work

Here's what usually happens: HR calls an agency, explains they need an interpreter for a Deaf employee, and the agency sends whoever's available. That interpreter might be great at medical appointments but has never worked in a corporate environment. Or they might be fine for a casual meeting but completely wrong for a high-stakes board presentation.

Most agencies treat this like a scheduling problem. Find an available interpreter, fill the slot, done. But workplace interpretation isn't about filling slots—it's about enabling a Deaf employee to show up as their full, competent, professional self. When the interpretation is wrong for the context, it doesn't just create awkward moments. It undermines credibility, creates information gaps, and makes your Deaf employee work twice as hard to prove they belong.

And here's the thing nobody tells you upfront: you can't just call an interpreter the day before. Quality interpreters—the ones with corporate experience who understand professional dynamics—book out weeks in advance. The "we'll figure it out as we go" approach leaves everyone frustrated and your Deaf employee without reliable access.