 One of our signature programs, Interpreting Services, provides many ways to help you communicate with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Our interpreters play an important role in connecting the Hearing and Deaf worlds. That's because we are the sole provider of qualified interpreting and comprehensive services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Middle Tennessee region and parts of Southern Kentucky.
Communication Accessibilities
Interpreting Services
Imagine getting a doctor's report in Arabic. Or your employer's training manual in Italian. Or a legal document in Chinese. For those who are Deaf, English can be as confusing to them as a foreign language might be to you.
Deaf individuals have their own language-American Sign Language (ASL). It is considered a foreign language, not a manual code for English. ASL has a unique structure and creative flexibility allowing it to serve the same social and intellectual functions as spoken languages.
 We provide interpreting services on a walk-in basis during scheduled business hours in Nashville, Franklin, Clarksville, Fairview and Murfreesboro. You can also schedule an interpreter for almost any situation-a doctor's office visit, in a university classroom, for a job interview or for a courtroom appearance.
Schedule an Interpreter
Contact Eric Workman, vice president and director of Programs, 615-248-8828 (V/TTY) or at ew@ldhh.org.
Emergency Interpreting Services
Emergency interpreting services are also available 24 hours a day by calling 615-244-0979 (V/TTY). Emergency situations include those involving hospitalization, emergency room care or law enforcement officials.
Video Phone Services
We also offer video phone service provided as a courtesy by Sprint and by Sorenson Communications. This service uses computer technology to help send and receive phone calls where parties can see each other on the monitor. Both local and long distance calls can be made during the League's regular business hours. For consumer use, staff assistance is required. Video phone service numbers are:
* D-Link provided by Sprint - League.DNS2go.com or IP# 216.85.99.114, and
* Sorenson Communications - 615-248-4110.
For more information, contact Eric Workman, 615-248-8828 (V/TTY) or ew@ldhh.org.
Transcribing Services
Those who are hard of hearing might use hearing aids, ASL or other devices to assist them. In addition, some use a technique known as speech reading (formerly known as lip reading). There are situations such as a business meeting, a conference session or a training session where a captioning service would help those who have hearing losses including those who are Deaf and do not understand ASL.
The League offers communication access and notes services by using the Typewell Educational Transcription System. Typewell is a real-time transcription service. A trained typist uses a meaning-for-meaning system. The typist does not type every word that is said but may condense language used while maintaining the full meaning intended by the speaker. The transcription may appear on a laptop in a one-on-one setting or on a larger monitor for group settings. If the computer screen is sufficiently enlarged, Typewell will help Deaf-Blind individuals who cannot see well enough to benefit from a traditional sign language interpreter.
Users can also type questions or comments to the transcriber as well as take notes on their own computer.
The Typewell program is funded in part by a grant from The Gannett Foundation for technology, software and training.
To inquire about the Typewell service, contact Eric Workman, 615-248-8828 or ew@ldhh.org.
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