LIFESIGNS, Inc. is a non-profit, tax exempt California Corporation providing communication access to the deaf, hard of hearing and hearing community. LIFESIGNS, Inc. provides services to the following areas: Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, Antelope Valley, San Luis Obispo County, Kern County, and Inyo-Mono Counties.
All proceeds go back into the organization to provide direct services to the deaf and hard of hearing community. By utilizing LIFESIGNS, you are assured quality interpreting services and you are improving the lives of deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
Download the LIFESIGNS Brochure (English)
Office Hours and Locations
Business Hours
Monday through Friday
7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. excluding weekends and holidays.
Los Angeles/Orange/Riverside and Tri-County: 888-930-7776
Kern County: 888-942-7776
After Hours Emergency: 800-633-8883
LIFESIGNS Services
LIFESIGNS was established in 1985 to provide emergency sign language interpreting services for health care, mental health and law enforcement agencies. LIFESIGNS responds to 40 to 50 emergencies a month and approximately 10,000+ requests annually. LIFESIGNS provides a full spectrum of interpreter services in eight counties, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
LIFESIGNS coordinates an average of 40 to 60 interpreters a day in various settings. LIFESIGNS uses certified interpreters who possess certification from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), National Association of the Deaf (NAD), American Consortium of Certified Interpreters (ACCI) and National Interpreter Certification (NIC). Requests for sign language interpreters come from a variety of sources: health care personnel, employers, the educational field, convention planners, the entertainment industry, courts, political entities and the deaf community.
The overall goal of LIFESIGNS is to promote self-determination and self-sufficiency of deaf and hard of hearing people within the mainstream of life through the provision of comprehensive, dependable and effective communication services.
Why do I need to request an interpreter?
Some people may feel that writing is an effective mode of communication with a deaf or hard of hearing individual. However, writing takes 5 to 6 times longer than speaking through a sign language interpreter. Writing is also cumbersome and is limited in its content, often resulting in misunderstandings.
Relying on lip reading is a risky venture. It is a fact that even the most skilled lip reader is able to recognize only 30% of what is said on the lips. The remaining 70% of the message is left to guesswork.
You may ask, “Why can’t I use a friend, family member or someone who knows sign language to ‘interpret’ for me? There is a world of difference between a professional interpreter and a signer. Interpreters adhere to a strict code of ethics, which promotes neutrality, confidentiality and objectivity.
Tips when requesting interpreters
Generally a minimum of 3 to 5 working days advance notice is required. When requesting an interpreter, please have the following information: Name, address, contact person, phone number, situation and billing information including authorizing person and phone number.
Upcoming Workshops for Interpreters
Interpreting Lines of Questioning and Other Interactive Legal Texts
Friday, February 24
12-8 p.m.
Co-sponsored by LIFESIGNS and WRIEC
Presented by Anna Witter-Merithew, M.Ed., CAIF, CSC, CI, CT, SC:L, OIC:C, SC:PA
GLAD Auditorium
2222 Laverna Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Minimum Participant Qualifications: RID or NAD Certified, plus interpreting experience in legal settings
Registration Cost: $75. No on-site registration accepted. Space is limited to 50 participants. Click on the title or here for the registration form in PDF format.
CEUs Offered: 0.7 RID CEUs in the category of Professional Studies (Legal) will be offered by WRIEC, an approved RID CMP and ACET sponsor.
Content/Knowledge Level: The conference is at the ‘Some’ knowledge/content level. Participants will complete a post-workshop evaluation.
Access: The workshop will be conducted in ASL. Wheelchair-accessible.
Parking: Free and accessible.
Refreshments and boxed dinner sponsored by LIFESIGNS.Workshop Description: In the legal setting—particularly in the instance of sworn testimony—the asking of questions by attorneys and law enforcement personnel is a process impacted by legal parameters and to the extent possible, preserve the legal or investigative strategy. It is essential that interpreters are aware of these factors and possess the ability to generate accurate interpretations that conform to legal parameters and to the extent possible, preserve the legal or investigatory strategy. This workshop will focus on an exploration of these factors that significantly impact the nature and structure of lines of questioning in the legal context, explore considerations for translation, and practice the linguistic features associated with marking questions forms so that the intended response being elicited is explicit. Further, using linguistic features to show the inter-relatedness of questions will also be considered and practiced.
About the Presenter: Anna Witter-Merithew
Anna is the Director for the Mid-America Regional Interpreter Education Center at the University of Northern Colorado. She has over thirty-eight years of experience in the field of interpreting as both a practitioner and educator. In her current capacity, she is responsible for the instructional programs of the Center that are delivered to distance learners throughout the United States. She is the architect of a number of programs, including a four semester program for interpreters working in the American judicial system and an online baccalaureate program. Anna is a former RID President and Vice President and a co-founder and past Vice President of the Conference of Interpreter Trainers (CIT). Anna has authored or co-authored numerous texts, including Toward Competent Practice: Conversations with Stakeholders, Dimensions of Ethical Decision-Making: A Resource Guide for Practitioners (2006), and the 12-part videotape series and workbook entitled Interpreting in the American Legal System, among others.
