In recognition of National American Sign Language (ASL) Day on Monday, April 15, we are highlighting our tiny, but mighty team at the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) Office of Sign Language Interpretation Services (OSLIS).

OSLIS was established to provide deaf and hard-of-hearing families to access to all information crucial to their children’s education. With a staff of 21 part-time ASL interpreters and a couple of coordinators, this team has helped over 500 deaf or hard-of-hearing family members, students, and staff in communicating with NYCPS personnel throughout the 2023–2024 school year so far. By the last day of school this June, they expect to complete nearly 20,000 hours (or two and a half years) of interpretation!

Below, the OSLIS team provides answers to some common questions families ask about interpretation services:

How do I request an ASL interpreter?

• If you are a family member and require an ASL interpreter to communicate, contact your school principal or parent coordinator and ask them to request an interpreter before the event in question. Confirming interpreters can take up to two weeks, therefore a request should be submitted well in advance of the scheduled event. Schools assign a point person who is responsible for making ASL interpretation requests, and are encouraged to confirm if any event attendees will require ASL interpretation. The office has limited capacity, and we want to be sure to provide this service to any family who needs it.
  

Is there a cost for requesting an ASL interpreter?

• There is no cost for families, schools, and offices to request and secure ASL interpreters as needed.

What should we do if an appointment or event is changed or canceled?

• Since OSLIS is a small office whose services are in high demand, it is important to let their staff members know if there has been any change that may affect your request—date, time and/or location, or cancellation of the scheduled event. Let your school know about the changes as soon as possible so that they can notify OSLIS, who will confirm whether they are still able to provide an interpreter. 

At which locations can interpretation services be used?

• ASL interpreters serve across all five boroughs, at NYC public schools (including charter schools) and NYCPS central offices, as well as in both onsite and online settings. Interpreters can also provide services off-school grounds.

What type of events does OSLIS cover?

• OSLIS services cover Parent-Teacher Conferences (PTCs), Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings and events, school tours, admissions events, information sessions, professional development fairs, and more. Though they do not work directly with deaf or hard-of-hearing students, they can work alongside schools to secure classroom ASL interpreters.

Where can I get more information about OSLIS?

• If you are a NYCPS family member and need ASL services or have further questions, please email OSLIS@schools.nyc.gov. The office also has a webpage with detailed information, as well as videos of their work at previous NYCPS events—it’s a great way to catch up on events you may have missed.

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On behalf of NYC Public Schools, we thank our hard-working team at OSLIS for everything that they do on behalf of City public school students!

 

 

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Banner photo by SHVETS production. Original can be found on Pexels.