The Office of Research Services and the Division of Events Management Services provides centrally funded American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting and real-time transcription (CART) services to Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals, including patients, employees, visitors, and job candidates, requesting an accommodation to perform their job duties, participate in a clinical trial, job interview, or other work-related events and activities, per sections 501 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
NIH Policy
2206 - Sign Language Interpreter Policy
2204 - NIH Reasonable Accommodation Policy
Services Include:
- ASL Interpreting (Basic and Scientific)
- Real-time
Transcription (CART)
- Other sign languages
All services can be provided onsite or virtually
How to Request Service
All service
requests must be entered in the
Interpreting Request Portal authorized to operate on the NIH network. The portal is accessible to active NIH email account holders after establishing a user profile to request service for themself or someone else who may not have access, i.e patients and visitors.
New Users: Click the portal button above and follow prompts to create a user account.
Exiting Users: Click the portal button to login, request service, check the status, edit, or cancel a service request.
Clinical Center Staff: Patients receive priority scheduling 24/7. ASL interpreting and CART services for Deaf or hard of hearing patients or family members must be entered into the portal. NOTE: ASL or CART requests in CRIS will NOT be transferred to the Request Portal.
- For URGENT patient requests or services after hours, weekends, and holidays call 571-730-4330.
Need a spoken language interpreter?
-
Spoken language interpreters for
patients and their families with limited English proficiency are available upon request from the Social Work Department at 301-496-2792.
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Spoken language and translation services are available from the
EEO Services. Learn more at LASTI.
Tips for Planning Events
- Services under this contract are for
individuals requesting an accommodation to perform their job duties or participate in an even, per section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act.
-
Services will NOT be provided to an event where no deaf person is in attendance to conserve limited resources, per NIH policy.
- When requesting service on behalf of someone else, enter the name of the person requiring services, the point of contact.
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Help interpreters prepare by uploading any of following: meeting agenda, talking points, speaker scripts, presentation slides, event flyers (draft formats are sufficient).
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Help interpeters join virtual events timely, by updating the meeting link in uSked at least an hour before.
General Reminders
- Request services
3-5 days in advance, when possible, to ensure availability.
- For events outside the DMV or normal business hours requests should be made at least 7-10 days in advance.
- Cancel services
within 2 days of your event, when possible, to avoid billable charges to NIH.
- Remember to include the Accommodation Statement in announcements and websites promoting the event.
Sign language interpreting and CART services are available upon request to participate in this event. Individuals needing either of these services and/or other reasonable accommodations should contact
[Event Coordinator's name, email, phone]. Requests should be made at least five days in advance. To access Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS), call 711.
Guidance for making events accessible.pdf
Community Resources
