Indiana University does not provide interpreting services. Our ASL program focuses on teaching ASL to IU students to fulfill their World Language or Foreign Language degree requirements. The staff interpreter at IU interprets solely with IU’s ASL program and the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences faculty.

If you are in need of an ASL interpreter, a list of interpreting agencies in the state of Indiana is available at: ICRID - Interpreting Agencies in Indiana.

If you are a representative of a place of public access, please refer to ADA Requirements: Effective Communication regarding your legal responsibility to provide accommodations and equal access to communication for individuals who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing.

While IU Bloomington does offer an ASL minor for undergraduates, we DO NOT have an interpreter training program. Students who graduate with an ASL minor will be able to communicate conversationally in ASL directly with Deaf people and other ASL users, but will NOT have the education and/or specialized training required to interpret between two languages with very different syntax/structure (ASL and English).

Important note

Interpreting students and/or ASL students should NEVER be used for any situation where a professional interpreter is needed to ensure accurate communication and equal access to information. Deaf/hard-of-hearing ASL users have the right to trained, qualified professional interpreters. Students without proper training do not meet these criteria.

Need more guidance?

Further information may be found at: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Public Accommodations and Commercial Facilities (ada.gov).

If you are with IU and are in need of interpreter, you may contact the ASL program at asl@iu.edu for a list of interpreters already approved as vendors and in the IU system.