Interpreting in Healthcare Settings

by the Deaf Community Outreach Cancer Education department at UCSD

 The University of California San Diego's Deaf Community Outreach Cancer Education department is currently developing an Oncology Training Program for ASL Interpreters.

Over 200 words related to cancer were identified by a group of five oncologists to be critical terms that needed to be translated into ASL. Signs for these words were created and then reviewed by a series of ASL Consensus Panels at Gallaudet University, San Diego, Oakland, Minnesota, Texas, and Rochester, New York.

After the signs were reviewed and modified, they were captured on video and uploaded onto YouTube for public viewing. We have already uploaded 64 oncology terms that already have ASL signs. For example, the word "mammogram" already has signs. We captured those signs on video and uploaded them onto YouTube.

We are now in the process of uploading all of the final-agreed upon signs from the ASL Consensus Panels. We welcome your feedback on the signs that have been translated from English to ASL by posting your comments and giving each sign a "rating" using the five star system. Five stars means "you like it and will use it" and one star means "you don't like it and wouldn't use it."

We have also developed several training modules that contain information about the different types of cancers, teaching interpreters different aspects of each cancer: statistics, overview, risk factors, causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment.

The training program is currently under development and will be ready within a year. The UCSD Cancer Center is collaborating with the American Cancer Society on obtaining the most accurate and current information about cancer. This program is offered online, seeks volunteer participants from throughout the USA, and can be used to fulfill continuing education requirements for ASL interpreting certification.

During this training program, interpreters will:

* Review 200+ oncology terms explained in ASL
* Complete 8 cancer educational modules offered in written English and ASL
* Evaluate ease of use and program content
* Complete a variety of surveys throughout the training to measure the program's effectiveness

Our research team at UCSD has created a Facebook group for the training program called "ASL Oncology Training Program for Interpreters. " Interpreters wishing to participate in the training program can join the Facebook group so that they can be informed of all the latest developments.

If you are interested in our online oncology interpreting program, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

We look forward to hearing from you!