FAQs

About AccessBridge

AccessBridge is a California-based communication access company providing ASL interpreting, CART captioning, tactile interpreting, spoken language interpretation, certified translation, Braille transcription, and large print production for legal, education, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations. We prioritize RID-certified ASL interpreters, match all professionals to assignments based on credential level and subject-matter experience, and provide compliance documentation for every engagement. Remote and virtual services are available nationally.

On-site interpreting, CART captioning, tactile interpreting, and alternative format services are currently centered in California with expanding national coverage. Over-the-phone interpretation, video remote interpreting, remote CART, and document translation are available nationally. Contact us to discuss coverage for your specific location.

The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) is the national professional association that sets certification standards, a Code of Professional Conduct, and ongoing continuing education requirements for sign language interpreters. RID certification requires demonstrated ASL and English language proficiency, formal interpreter education, and a rigorous written and performance examination. It is the credential recognized by the Deaf community and required or strongly preferred by courts, school districts, healthcare systems, and government agencies for ASL interpreting assignments. AccessBridge prioritizes RID-certified interpreters for all ASL assignments and discloses interpreter credentials to clients before every engagement.

Our Services

Translation is the written conversion of a document from one language to another — performed by a qualified translator working from a source document. Interpretation is the real-time rendering of spoken or signed communication — performed by a qualified interpreter in a live setting or via phone or video. They require different skills, different training, and different professionals. A qualified interpreter is not automatically a qualified translator, and vice versa. AccessBridge provides both services and can coordinate them together for assignments requiring both — such as an IEP meeting where documents need translation and the meeting itself requires an interpreter.

Both services provide communication access for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, but through different modalities. ASL interpreting provides access through American Sign Language — appropriate for individuals who are fluent ASL users. CART provides access through real-time verbatim text — appropriate for individuals who are oral communicators, use English as their primary language, or for whom text provides more reliable access than visual signing. Some individuals prefer both simultaneously in complex settings. The appropriate service depends on the individual’s communication background and preference — AccessBridge can advise on which modality or combination is appropriate for your specific situation.

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) is a service in which a trained captionist transcribes spoken content into verbatim text in real time, displayed on a screen or personal device as it is spoken. CART is used by Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who prefer text-based access over sign language interpretation — including late-deafened adults, oral communicators, and cochlear implant users — as well as individuals with auditory processing disorders. CART is also used alongside ASL interpreting in complex settings where a second access channel improves comprehension. It is a documented compliance solution under the ADA, Section 504, and Section 508.

Tactile interpreting provides communication access for DeafBlind individuals through touch. The interpreter signs into the hands of the DeafBlind individual, who reads the signs through tactile contact rather than sight. It is a specialized skill distinct from visual ASL interpreting and requires specific training. AccessBridge places qualified tactile interpreters for legal, education, healthcare, and nonprofit settings, and coordinates Support Service Provider (SSP) services for DeafBlind individuals who also need environmental access support.

AccessBridge produces Braille transcriptions and large print versions of documents for blind, DeafBlind, and low-vision individuals. Braille services include contracted (Grade 2) and uncontracted (Grade 1) transcription, delivered as embossed hard copy or electronic Braille file (BRF). Large print services produce documents at client-specified sizes — 18pt minimum — with formatting preserved. Both services are produced from your source document and can be coordinated as a single order. These services support compliance with ADA, Section 504, Section 508, and IDEA for organizations required to provide accessible document formats.

Video remote interpreting (VRI) connects a professional interpreter to your location via secure video — the interpreter is visible on a screen and participates in the interaction in real time without being physically present. VRI is available for both spoken language and ASL interpreting. It is appropriate for short-notice needs, routine appointments, telehealth settings, and multi-site organizations where on-site scheduling is not practical. For formal legal proceedings, complex medical appointments, or settings involving DeafBlind individuals, on-site interpreting is generally preferred. AccessBridge can advise on the right modality for your specific assignment.

Over-the-phone interpretation (OPI) connects a professional spoken language interpreter to a call between two or more parties in real time. The interpreter listens to each party and renders their communication into the other language consecutively. OPI is available on demand in over 240 languages, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is cost-effective for routine appointments, short-notice needs, and high-volume organizations that require consistent language access without the lead time of on-site scheduling. OPI is not appropriate for ASL — sign language interpretation requires a visual modality and is provided via VRI or on-site.

Video Relay Service (VRS) is a telecommunications service that allows Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to make and receive telephone calls through a sign language interpreter via video. It is a public utility funded by the FCC and used for everyday phone communication — it is not a professional interpreting service for formal settings. Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) is a professional service in which a credentialed interpreter joins a specific appointment or meeting via video to provide interpretation for a defined interaction. VRI is the appropriate service for legal proceedings, medical appointments, IEP meetings, and other formal contexts. AccessBridge provides VRI — not VRS.

A certified translation is a translated document accompanied by a signed statement from the translator or translation company attesting to the accuracy and completeness of the translation. Certified translations are required for official submissions — immigration filings, court proceedings, academic admissions, vital records, and government documents — where the receiving institution needs documented assurance of translation accuracy. AccessBridge provides certified translations with a certification statement for documents that require it. Contact us to confirm certification requirements for your specific use case, as requirements vary by jurisdiction and submission context.

Legal translation is the translation of documents used in legal proceedings, legal practice, and legal compliance — including pleadings, motions, contracts, deposition transcripts, witness statements, immigration filings, court orders, and evidence. Legal translation requires subject-matter expertise in law as well as language fluency — a translator who is linguistically qualified but unfamiliar with legal terminology and the legal systems involved can produce technically fluent but substantively inaccurate translations. AccessBridge matches legal translation assignments to translators with documented legal subject-matter experience, and applies translation memory and controlled termbases to ensure terminological consistency across documents.

Working With Us

For planned assignments, we recommend booking a minimum of 2 to 3 weeks in advance to ensure appropriate credential and subject-matter matching. For on-demand needs, over-the-phone interpretation is available immediately. For urgent on-site requests, contact us directly at 888-254-9440 and we will advise on availability.

Complete the quote request form on our website at accessbridge.com/contact, call us at 888-254-9440, or email info@accessbridge.com. Include the service type, language or access need, setting, date, location or platform, and any specific credential requirements. We will respond with availability, credential confirmation, and pricing.