Interpreters for Travel

Our travel interpreters are prepared to connect you to cultures nearby and abroad whether you’ve booked a short cruise or a semester abroad.

Sign language interpreters for travel are professionals who specialize in facilitating communication between Deaf, DeafBlind, or hard-of-hearing individuals and hearing individuals during trips, semesters abroad, or travel-related situations. They are proficient experts in a variety of sign languages, including American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), and other regional sign languages, and are trained to interpret spoken language into sign language and vice versa with attention to detail and accuracy.

Travel interpreters play a vital role in ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard-of-hearing travelers. They can be hired by individuals, travel agencies, tour operators, colleges & universities, and employers to accompany Deaf, DeafBlind, or hard-of-hearing clients during their travels while ensuring optimal equal-access to spoken and auditory communications. Sign language interpreters for travel can provide services in various settings, such as:

Airports: Assisting with communication at check-in counters, security checkpoints, boarding gates, and baggage claims.
Cruise Ships: Ensuring a positive and inclusive on-board experience in all entertainment and excursions.
Study Abroad: Extended travel interpreters are available for all aspects of study abroad, including classes and extracurricular activities.
Hotels: Facilitating communication during check-in, check-out, and in-room services.
Tourist Attractions: Providing interpretation services for guided tours, museum exhibits, and cultural events.
Business Trips: Assisting in business meetings, conferences, and networking events.
Restaurants: Helping to communicate with staff, place orders, and understand menus.
Public Transportation: Aiding in navigation, ticket purchasing, and understanding announcements.
Emergency Situations: Interpreting between Deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals and medical professionals, law enforcement, or other emergency service providers.

By hiring sign language interpreters for travel, Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard-of-hearing individuals can have a more enjoyable, stress-free, and accessible travel experience. Travel interpreters help bridge the communication gap, ensuring equal access, participation, and understanding of the various, exciting aspects of traveling.

What would be the average daily expense of the interpreter traveling with me?

The average daily expense for an escort or travel interpreter is dependent upon the content and environment requiring interpreting services and the extent to which travel, meal, and lodging expenses are covered by the travel coordinator. In some cases, when travel expenses are not covered, a per diem will be required in order to offset the costs incurred by the interpreter(s). For an accurate estimate, please request a quote and we’ll get back to you within 2-hours.

Can a Deaf or DeafBlind individual place a request for an interpreter two days before travel? If not, then how many days in advance should the request be made?

While waiting until two days prior to travel in order to request an interpreter is not advisable, we can certainly make every effort to ensure your travel plans are inclusive and accessible. However, in order to ensure an optimally qualified interpreter and reduce the cost of services, we advise requesting interpreting services no less than 1-month prior to your travel departure date.

Can a Deaf or DeafBlind individual interview your interpreters to make their own selection of who travels with them?

Inclusive Communication Services is staffed with a talented team of service coordinators who are also professional interpreters, ADA consultants, and accessibility experts. Based on the nature and content of your travel interpreting request, our service coordinators will propose the ideal interpreter(s) to meet your accessibility needs. With that said, we prioritize the comfort and independence of our Deaf and DeafBlind service consumers, and we welcome you to connect with your assigned interpreter(s) prior to traveling to discuss your accommodation preferences and to prepare for your trip.

What if I want to change the interpreter due to some reason? Will I be able to get a new interpreter on the job?

Inclusive Communication Services values your comfort and autonomy when coordinating your accessibility and accommodation services. We advise sharing any requirements for an interpreter of a specific gender, background, religion, language, or other characteristic or credential when submitting your original service request. Our talented service coordinators will prioritize your specifications when evaluating the ideal interpreter(s) to meet your accessibility needs. In the case that you are unhappy with the interpreter(s) assigned for your services, simply reach out to our friendly service coordinators to discuss alternate, available interpreters and solutions. It is best to ensure you are happy with your accessibility services at least two-weeks in advance to your departure date, as changes within two-weeks of travel may incur additional charges and limit the availability of our interpreters.

Is the Deaf or DeafBlind individual allowed to change the interpreter during travel? Will they be required to pay for the traveling expenses all over again?

Inclusive Communication Services advises ensuring you are happy with your accessibility services at least two-weeks in advance to your departure date, as changes within two-weeks of travel may incur additional charges and limit the availability of our interpreters. If during the course of your travels you are dissatisfied with your accessibility services, our service coordinators will work to troubleshoot and improve the experience with your existing service team. If for any reason the existing team is unable to meet your accessibility needs, an alternate team of interpreters can be arranged and deployed on a case by case basis. In some situations, replacing interpreters after the start of services may incur additional charges, including travel expenses and expedited service fees. For this reason, we recommend ensuring you are satisfied with your accessibility services at least two-weeks prior to your departure date.

Will your company be paying for the traveling interpreter’s insurance or does the Deaf or DeafBlind individual have to cover the insurance expense in case of accidents/ injuries?

As part of our commitment to being an affordable and comprehensive accessibility service provider, Inclusive Communication Services covers the travel insurance, including medical insurance, for interpreters deployed on travel assignments. If the Deaf or DeafBlind individual insists on alternate or additional coverage, this will be at the expense of the individual.

Are your interpreters trained to look after a DeafBlind individual who is traveling on his own?

While our talented roster of DeafBlind tactile, protactile, and haptic interpreters are trained to accommodate a DeafBlind individual’s mobility needs, it is not advised nor permitted to use the interpreter as the sole means of mobility assistance. Inclusive Communication Services recommends that DeafBlind individuals travel with a Support Service Providers (SSP) and/or Co-Navigator for optimal mobility support during traveling. Not only does this arrangement ensure a more pleasant and inclusive experience, but it also prevents the assigned interpreter(s) from becoming fatigued and making errors.

How will you keep track of the traveling Deaf or DeafBlind interpreter? What will be your mode of communication?

Inclusive Communication Services regularly checks in with our deployed, travel sign language interpreters to ensure that the Deaf or DeafBlind individual’s needs are being effectively accommodated and to support any questions or issues that arise during travel. Our interpreters will have regular communication with our service coordinators via our mobile app, email, text, and/or phone.

What if the Deaf or DeafBlind individual fails to apprise ICS on time for any service changes?

We understand that sometimes your travel plans change or experience unexpected delays and setbacks. We are committed to working with you to reduce the cost and inconvenience when such anomalies occur. With that said, any changes to services within two-weeks of travel may incur additional charges. If there is a possibility that your travel dates, plans, or service needs may change, it is advised to inform our service coordinators when submitting your initial service request so we can prepare accordingly.

How Do I Plan To Travel With A Sign Language Interpreter?

When planning a semester abroad or booking passage on a cruise ship, a travel interpreter might not always be at the top of the packing list! Since this requires a longer commitment on the part of the service provider and a more varied skill-set, it’s recommended that you submit your request as early as possible, determine who will be responsible for the costs, and keep ICS apprised of any booking changes.

Tips for Working with an Interpreter while Traveling

Submit your sign language travel interpreter request, along with your itinerary, as early as possible. The earlier you submit your request, the more interpreters you have to choose from for your trip!
Determine who will be responsible for compensating the travel interpreter’s services. If you are traveling as part of a program, work trip, or study abroad opportunity, the organizing party may be responsible for some or all of the final service expense.
Once an interpreter is confirmed, reserve their travel and lodging accommodations and provide this information to an ICS coordinator.
Still unsure? Reach out to a coordinator to ask a question or discuss how to prepare for your service request.
The world awaits you, now you’re ready to be included!

Sign language, Captioning, and Accessible Media Services

Premium accommodation services for the Deaf, Deaf-blind, blind, and hard-of-hearing. Available in Person and Online!

Need a professional sign language interpreter, caption provider, or media translator?

Making ADA accommodations simple and inclusive!

We are here to help you!