OIS Registration of Deaf Interpreters

Deaf Interpreters wishing to register with OIS must have the following qualifications:

• Sociolinguistics of ASL (to know/understand ASL) i.e., courses can be taken through Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf (OCSD) or The Canadian Hearing Society (CHS)
• In-depth knowledge of Deaf culture
• Knowledge of the Role of the Deaf interpreter
• Adherence to the AVLIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Conduct
• Understanding of the process of teaming with a hearing interpreter
• Experience working as a professional Deaf interpreter and/or training as a Deaf interpreter through courses or workshops
• Successful completion of an OIS Knowledge and Attitude Interview
• English as a second language

Candidates wishing to work as Deaf interpreters will be interviewed in the region in which they will work by the Regional Director (RD) or manager and a committee comprised of a minimum of 2 Deaf community representatives and the staff interpreter.

Candidates will provide the Regional Director with a resume and references.

On successful completion of the interview, an OIS Freelance Interpreter contract will be signed and an ID card will be issued by the Provincial OIS office.

The registration process will be conducted once every 3 years.

Note: Currently, we do not have a screening tool available for Deaf interpreters. Therefore, requests for interviews have to be put on hold until a screening tool becomes available. A screening tool for any potential new DI candidates is necessary because all Deaf interpreters' skills and qualifications are varied. This concerns OIS because it may put our consumers at risk and it is a possible liability for CHS.