Purpose

1. Assess the level of market interest
2. Identify potential local in-person, on-call freelance American Sign Language (ASL)/English interpreters to meet the gap in interpreting needs located in Yukon.

Yukon Government ASL-English Interpreting Services Program Overview

The Diversity and Inclusion Branch supports diversity and inclusion of under-represented groups and provides supports to increase employment equity throughout the Government of Yukon. 

The Diversity and Inclusion Branch of the Yukon Government is committed to provide ASL/English interpreting access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals who use ASL as their principal means of communication. These services support the community in emergencies, health care, public and non-public services, employment meetings, training, and other daily life activities; the services are available during the work week, evenings and weekends. 

There is one full time staff interpreter, and the ASL/English interpreting services are available at no cost when booked through the Diversity and Inclusion Branch administrator.

Requests for interpreting services are assessed and prioritized based on urgency, length of assignment, and on the ASL Interpreter’s availability.  We have an ASL Program Advisory Committee, consisting of Deaf program users and representatives from the Public Service Commission that convene regularly to discuss and provide feedback on the program services and activities.

In the event the full time Yukon government staff ASL interpreter is unavailable, alternative interpreters are needed on a contract basis. 

From time to time, we have been unable to provide interpreting services when the full-time staff interpreter is unavailable; we are looking for back-up support. 

Scope of Work

If contracted, provide on-call ASL/English interpretating services for Yukon Government, on an as-needed when-needed basis. 

ASL/English interpretating services are provided in a variety of settings, predominately within Whitehorse with the possibility of travel to other Yukon communities and Yukon First Nations Traditional Territories.

Note, there has also been assignments that required a second interpreter (complex or longer than two hours) and there was no interpreter available; these would be contracted by the outside organization.