NIH strives to be an inclusive workplace free from barriers to access for all.
The Office of Research Services partners with Access Interpreting to provide centrally funded sign language interpreting and CART (real-time transcription) services to the NIH Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
Services are provided upon request as a reasonable accommodation to D/HH individuals, including employees, contractors, patients, and visitors, to participate in NIH related events and activities, per section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
All service requests must be entered in the secure Access Interpreting (usked.com) portal or emailed to the scheduling team at mailto:nih@ainterpreting.com.
All NIH email account holders have access to the portal and can enter requests for themselves or on behalf of others who may or may not have access.
NIH Policy:
2206 - Sign Language Interpreter Policy
2204 - NIH Reasonable Accommodation Policy (Section J)
Services Include:
- American
Sign Language (ASL) Interpreting (Basic and Scientific)*
- Real-time
Transcription (CART)*
-
Virtual Interpreting for popular meeting platforms
How to Request Service
New Users: Click on the uSked Portal button and follow prompts to create a user account.
For technical support or request a login ID, email
nih@ainterpreting.com,
Exiting Users: Login to the uSked Portal to request a service, check the status, edit, or cancel a service request.
Clinical Center Staff: ASL interpreting and CART services for patients and families must be entered into the uSked Portal (not in CRIS) during normal business hours.
Patients receive
priority scheduling 24/7. For
URGENT requests or services after hours, weekends, and holidays, email
nih@ainterpreting.com or call 571-730-4330.
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.
Spoken language and translation services are available from the Office of Equity Diversity and Inclusion (ED). Learn more at LASTI - About | Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (nih.gov).
Tips for Planning Events
When entering a request on behalf of someone else (including a patient), enter the
name of the person requiring services, short description of event and
media link to connect to event. Also include agenda, slides and any other information beneficial to our service providers.
Email the Access scheduling team at
nih@ainterpreting.com with scheduling and technical questions or concerns.
Request services
3-5 days in advance, when possible, to ensure availability
Cancel services
within 2 days of event, when possible, to avoid billable charges to NIH
NOTE: Service will not be provided for open events without at least one identified D/HH person planning to attend.
Reasonable Accommodation language to include in announcements and websites promoting your event, per NIH Policy 2206:
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
FedRelay Services Transition to FCC - Nov 2021
Are You Really 508 Compliant? ORS News2Use, Summer 2021 Edition
Disability Etiquette:What We Say, How We Say It Matters
NIH Office of Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)
Deaf in Government (DIG)
#IAmHHS: David Rice’s (NIH) Story of Service, Dedication & Discovery
Deaf News /Stories Worth Sharing
Deaf-Owned Pizzeria in DC
First Deaf-Owned East Coast Brewery
Starbucks Opens First “Signing Store” for Deaf and Hard of Hearing in DC!
BuzzFeed.com - Deaf News
iDeafNews.com