American Sign Language in Wisconsin Courts
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures that state and local courts provide effective communication to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. The relevant guidelines can be found in Title II of the ADA (42 U.S.C. §§ 12131 et seq.) and its regulations (28 C.F.R. §§ 35.101 et seq.).
- Title II of the ADA applies to all “public entities,” including courts.
- Courts must provide the necessary aids or services to ensure effective communication with deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. The type of accommodation will depend on each individual’s communication style, the nature of the interaction, and the context in which the communication occurs.
- The requests of individuals with disabilities should be given primary consideration when determining the necessary types of auxiliary aids and services.
- Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing have the right to these services regardless of their role in court proceedings. This applies to anyone, whether they are a participant, applicant, member of the public or companion with a disability.
- Auxiliary aids and services include qualified sign language interpreters, as well as other options like Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDIs), and text-based services such as Communication Access Real-time Transcription (CART).
- Any interpreter provided must be qualified.
License required Wisconsin Statute 440.32(2)
Pursuant to Wisconsin statute 440.32(2), no person may provide sign language interpretation services for compensation without being licensed by the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
American Sign Language interpreters who wish to offer services in the Wisconsin court system should apply for a license at the Department of Safety and Professional Services website: https://license.wi.gov/s/login/?ec=302&startURL=%2Fs%2F
The Wisconsin Court Interpreter Program Roster
The Court Interpreter Program maintains a public roster of certified and provisionally qualified interpreters available to work in the courts. This roster is accessible to state and municipal courts, attorneys, law enforcement agencies, and other agencies needing interpreters with legal training. The roster is available on the court system's website and is searchable by interpreter, language, level, and county.
American Sign Language interpreters who wish to appear on the Wisconsin roster must comply with the following requirements:
Roster Requirements for American Sign Language Interpreters (Hearing interpreters) – Policy 15.3
| Requirement | Classification Level on Roster: ASL-Hearing | |
|---|---|---|
| Certified | Provisional | |
| Certification or Credential | RID SC:L; BEI CIC, BEI Master; or other credential deemed to be an equivalent of RID’s SC:L. | RID NIC, NIC-Master, NIC-Advanced, CSC, or CI/CT; NAD IV or V; or BEI Advanced. |
| State Licensure | Hold a valid license from the WI Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). | Hold a valid license from the WI Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). |
| Written Testing | Pass NCSC multiple choice test at 80% or higher. | Pass NCSC multiple choice test at 80% or higher. |
| Court Interpreting Training or Education | Interpreters who appear as certified should have completed a total of 120 hours (or 12 CEUs) of court interpreting training. | Complete a minimum of 40 hours (or 4 CEUs) of court interpreting training at the time of application to the roster. |
| Court Interpreting Practice | Interpreters who appear as certified should have completed a total of 100 hours of court interpreting practice under the supervision of a certified court interpreter. | Complete a minimum of 10 hours of court interpreting practice under the supervision of a certified court interpreter at the time of application to the roster. |
| Deadline | N/A | *Temporary suspension of the five-year condition to become certified An ASL candidate may continue to appear on the roster as Provisional until a legal certification exam is available. |
| Continuing Education | Comply with RID continuing education requirements. | Comply with RID continuing education requirements; and Complete 16 hours of legal interpreting continuing education every two years, and report them to the CIP by Oct. 1 every two years. |
Roster Requirements for American Sign Language Interpreters (Deaf interpreters) – Policy 15.4
| Requirement | Classification Level on Roster: ASL-Deaf | |
|---|---|---|
| Certified | Provisional | |
| Certification or Credential | RID SC:L, CLIP-R, or CDI; BEI CIC, ,BEI Level V Intermediary; or other credential deemed to be an equivalent of RID’s SC:L, CLIP-R, or CDI. | None. However, it is highly encouraged to hold the BEI Level III or IV Intermediary. |
| State Licensure | Hold a valid license from the WI Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) | Hold a valid license from the WI Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). |
| Court Interpreting Training or Education | Interpreters who appear as certified should have completed 120 hours (or 12 CEUs) of court interpreting training or education. | Complete a minimum of 40 hours of court interpreting training at the time of application to the roster. |
| Court Interpreting Practice | Interpreters who appear as certified should have completed 100 hours of court interpreting practice under the supervision of a certified court interpreter. | Complete a minimum of 10 initial hours of court interpreting practice under the supervision of a certified court interpreter and a minimum of 10 hours annually thereafter. |
| Deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Continuing Education | Comply with RID continuing education requirements. | Comply with RID continuing education requirements; and Complete 10 hours of legal interpreting continuing education every two years, and report them to the CIP by Oct. 1 every two years. |
Reciprocity Applications:
American Sign Language interpreters (hearing or Deaf) who are certified or professionally qualified and reside in other states are also listed on the roster through reciprocal arrangements between Wisconsin and those jurisdictions.
Eligibility Requirements:
Interpreters who hold the following certifications may apply for reciprocity:
- RID’s Special Certificate: Legal (SC:L), Conditional Legal Interpreting Permit-Relay (CLIP-R), or CDI.
- BEI Court Interpreter Certification (CIC) or BEI Master.
- Interpreters with the BEI-Advanced or NIC certification may apply for Provisional status through reciprocity. All the roster requirements detailed in policy 15.3 & 15.4 of the Court Interpreter Program must be fulfilled by the interpreter.
Checklist of Requirements
- Oath of Office form signed in front of a notary public.
- Proof of certified status from RID (SC:L); BEI (CIC); BEI (Master); Conditional Legal Interpreting Permit Relay (CLIP-R); Certified Deaf Interpreter.
- Hold a valid license from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS).
- Proof of compliance or maintenance with Continuing Education (CE) requirements from RID, BEI and/or other entity.
- Proof of attendance to the following sessions of the Wisconsin orientation for court interpreters:
- Overview of the Wisconsin Court System
- Civil and Criminal Terminology
- The Code of Ethics for Court Interpreters
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PROVISIONAL INTERPRETERS WITHOUT THE RID (SC:L); BEI (CIC); BEI (Master); Conditional Legal Interpreting Permit Relay (CLIP-R); Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI)*
- Record of Court Interpreter Practice under the supervision of a court certified ASL interpreter (10 hours at the time of application). Must complete 100 hours in a 5-year period.
- Record of Court Interpreter Training (40 hours at the time of application). Must complete 120 hours in a 5-year period.
*CDIs must complete a minimum of 40 hours of court interpreting training and 10 initial hours of court interpreting practice under the supervision of a court certified interpreter to appear under the Provisional status.