• Have you determined the accommodations needed for effective communication?

  • If the client is Deaf or hard of hearing, does he or she communicate in a signed or
    spoken language, are the accommodations human resources or technology or both?

• Have you determined whether the person uses American Sign Language or another
  signed language (e.g., la langue des signes québécoise)?

• Have you contacted CHS Ontario Interpreting Services (OIS) and CART that can
  provide professional and impartial interpreting services and Communication Access
  Realtime Translation (CART) services?

• Have you planned for accommodation needs ahead of time for meetings? Some
  access resources require booking in advance.

• Do you have a policy/procedure in place to videotape/record all interviews with Deaf
  or hard of hearing individuals who use signed language interpreters or CART? Have
  you informed the interpreters and CART writers of intentions to record?

• Have you reviewed ‘Working Effectively with an Interpreter’ from The Canadian
  Hearing Society, Ontario Interpreting Services (OIS)?

• Have you made the connections for VRI or remote CART and made sure that you
  are connected?

For a more thorough and encompassing explanation, download our brochure: Providing Barrier-Free Legal Service.

You can also download our Language and Communication Access Checklist here.