Summary
Who arranges an ASL interpreter in Denver depends on the setting. Here is how city programs, Colorado courts, and private employers and providers each handle it.
Who books the interpreter depends on who is hosting the conversation. In Denver, a Deaf resident attending a city council meeting, a defendant in state court, and an employee in a performance review each get an interpreter through a different route. Knowing which route applies saves days and avoids the most common mistake: assuming someone else will arrange it.
1. City of Denver programs and meetings
The City and County of Denver provides sign language interpreters and CART captioning for its own public meetings, events, and programs. Requests go to the city’s sign language services team, part of Denver Human Rights and Community Partnerships, and the city asks for at least three business days’ notice. If you are attending a city event, contact the city directly; there is no cost to you.
2. Colorado courts and law enforcement
Colorado state courts arrange interpreters through Legal Communication Access Services (LCAS) at SENSE Colorado, the state agency formerly known as the Colorado Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind. Interpreters and captioners in state court must hold a Colorado Status I or II Court/Legal designation. Law enforcement and prosecutors must use the LCAS provider list for arrests and for witness and victim interviews.
If you are a party, witness, or juror, tell the court as early as possible. State and district courts take accommodation requests through the Colorado Judicial Branch’s ADA process; municipal courts are contacted directly.
3. Employers, healthcare providers, schools, and businesses
Everyone else arranges and pays for interpreters themselves. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, employers, healthcare providers, schools, and businesses open to the public generally must provide effective communication, including qualified interpreters or captioning, at no cost to the Deaf or hard-of-hearing person. That covers job interviews, staff meetings, trainings, medical appointments, parent-teacher conferences, and private legal work such as depositions and attorney meetings.
This is where a private interpreting agency such as Translation Excellence comes in. Translation Excellence, headquartered in Aurora, schedules certified ASL interpreters, Certified Deaf Interpreters, and CART captioners for Colorado employers, healthcare providers, schools, and legal teams, and handles the matching, credentials, and logistics so the organization meets its obligation.
What to tell the agency when you book
A complete request gets the right interpreter the first time. Include:
- Date, start time, and expected length. Sessions over about an hour usually need two interpreters, who trade off to keep accuracy high.
- Address and setting. A hospital, a courtroom, and a conference stage call for different specialties.
- How each Deaf participant communicates. ASL, Signed English, Pro-Tactile for DeafBlind participants, or ASL with Spanish at home. If you are not sure, ask the participant.
- Whether a Certified Deaf Interpreter would help. A CDI teams with a hearing interpreter for high-stakes, medical, legal, or complex conversations.
- Materials in advance. Agendas, slides, names, and technical terms let the interpreter prepare.
- Whether captions are needed too. Some participants prefer real-time CART captioning, and large events often need both.
On site or by video?
On-site interpreting is best for long meetings, medical visits, emotional conversations, and anything with several participants. Video remote interpreting (VRI) connects an interpreter on a tablet, laptop, or video call within minutes, which suits short exchanges and urgent needs. It depends on a strong connection and a large, clear screen.
One caution: free Video Relay Service (VRS) is a phone service for Deaf callers. Its rules require the callers and the interpreter to be in different locations, so it cannot be used for in-person meetings or appointments.
How far ahead to book
As early as possible, especially for multi-day events, legal assignments, DeafBlind interpreting, and trilingual ASL–Spanish interpreting. Short-notice requests can often be filled, but the best-matched interpreters book up first.
ASL interpreting in Denver from Translation Excellence
Translation Excellence is headquartered in Aurora and provides certified ASL interpreters, Certified Deaf Interpreters, trilingual ASL–Spanish and DeafBlind interpreting, and CART captioning in Denver and across Colorado, on site or by video. Our scheduling desk takes requests 24 hours a day. Request an ASL interpreter in Denver.
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