Wavefront Centre provides sign language interpreting services to facilitate communication for people who are Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing who are American Sign Language (ASL) users.

Our interpreters are:

• Professionally trained by a recognized interpreter education program
• Required to follow a strict Code of Ethics adopted by the Westcoast Association of Visual Language Interpreters (WAVLI) wavli.com and the Canadian Association of Sign Language Interpreters (CASLI) www.casli.ca
• All MIS Interpreters are professionally qualified, and are evaluated through skill-based exam administered by Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility

Sign Language Interpreters are specially trained professionals whose job is to convey the messages of people who do not share the same language, culture, or way of communicating. Hiring a sign language interpreter will provide communication accessibility and therefore equal access to the information that is being shared. We use Certificate of Interpretation (COI) interpreters, Deaf Interpreters (DI’s) as well as interpreters that are members of the West Coast Association of Visual Language Interpreters (WAVLI) and the Canadian Association of Sign Language Interpreters (CASLI). They adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and strive to interpret all utterances faithfully and confidentially.

A Deaf Interpreter (DI) is an individual who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing and possesses exceptional communication skills in both American Sign Language and English. The DI has been trained in the role and ethics of an interpreter. A DI may use strategies such as: the use of gestures, mime, props, drawings, and home signs. These strategies may be used to match the language development of the Deaf person they are working with. In addition, the DI has an extensive knowledge and understanding of deafness, the Deaf community, and/or Deaf culture. They bring this expertise with them when working as a team with a hearing Registered Sign Language Interpreter.

Community Interpreting Services (CIS)

CIS is the Sign Language interpreter booking service at Wavefront Centre.

We arrange for professional ASL Interpreters to facilitate communication between ASL users and people who can hear. providing complete and accurate information in either spoken English or American Sign Language.

Our ASL Interpreters work in various settings such as legal, business, mental health, educational, entertainment, government and public service settings. Interpreting Services are offered on a fee for service basis in most cases.

Note: clients requiring an ASL Interpreter to interact with the police should inform the police officer directly – they will contact us to request an interpreter.

Medical Interpreting Services (MIS)

MIS is the provincial Sign Language interpreter booking service funded by the Provincial Health Services Authority. Persons who are Deaf, DeafBlind, or Hard of Hearing can access a qualified interpreter through MIS for most medical appointments. MIS will provide interpreters for medical appointments that may be covered under BC MSP, for example:

• General Practitioner and Specialists
• Psychiatrists
• Ophthalmologists
• Gynecology/Obstetrics
• Medical Imaging
• Hospital Stays

MIS Interpreters can be booked in advance for scheduled appointments or through our 24/7 on-call system for urgent situations. MIS services are free of charge to Deaf, DeafBlind, Deafened, and Hard of Hearing individuals who reside in British Columbia and have a BC Service Card.

Health Care Providers – If you have a patient who needs an interpreter, interveners, or CART services, please book necessary services through Provincial Language Service.