Office of Sign-Language Interpreting Services (OSLIS)

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The Office of Sign Language Interpreting Services (OSLIS) charge is to provide ASL-English interpreting services for families/caregivers, staff, students, and other stakeholders throughout the NYCPS.  Our mission is to foster inclusivity and communication access for the ASL signing community in their schools and workplaces.

We promote cross-cultural communication among Deaf and hard of hearing members of the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) community by providing ASL-English interpreting services throughout the system.

OSLIS provides service through two primary pathways:

  1. Interpreting services for Deaf families and NYCPS employees (provided by OSLIS staff interpreters
  2. Interpreting services for Deaf and hard of hearing students whose IEP’s mandate interpreting services  (provided through agencies that contract with the NYCPS)

In addition to interpreting services, our office provides: screening and mentoring agency interpreters working in the classroom; American Sign Language (ASL) observations of Deaf and hard of hearing children in the system; outreach to parent coordinators, principals, schools and other departments within NYCPS.

For Students

  • The student’s IEP should list their disability classification as “Deafness” (or some other broader classification, with clarification regarding hearing in the Present Levels of Performance section).
  • Evaluations of student ASL fluency (for whether an interpreter would be of use to them can be requested from OSLIS).
  • Once “Sign Language Interpreter” is listed under Recommended Special Education Programs/Services on a final draft of the IEP, the interpreter will be provided. 
  • Classroom Interpreters are placed via sign language interpretation agencies.

For Staff and School Representatives

  • Request American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting services here: OSLIS Interpreter Request Form
  • No other documentation or funding information is required of the school, these services are provided by the NYCPS, free of charge, in accordance with the American’s With Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • If there are scheduling or availability issues, OSLIS will inform you.

Best Practices

  • If you have access to content or knowledge about the interpreting assignment ahead of time (scripts/programs/specific discussion topics) for parent/staff interpreting, this can aid in the clarity of the interpretation.
  • Teachers should know to share lesson plans with their classroom interpreters and include them as members of the education team.
  • Working With an Interpreter  Working With A Sign Language Interpreter