Certified Deaf Interpreter
(CDI) Services

A Deaf interpreter for the conversations that need one.

A Certified Deaf Interpreter is a Deaf professional who works alongside a hearing interpreter when the communication is too complex, too high-stakes, or too linguistically specific for a hearing interpreter to carry alone. 5 Star Interpreting coordinates CDI teams across Salt Lake City, Chicago, Atlanta, and Idaho, paired with RID-certified hearing interpreters and matched to the demands of the setting. 

A CDI is not an upgrade or an add-on. It is the appropriate level of support for certain situations, and in those situations, a hearing interpreter working alone is not enough. The CDI brings native fluency, lived Deaf experience, and the ability to reach communication styles a hearing interpreter may not recognize or match. When the stakes are high and the language is hard, that second layer is what makes the difference between communication that looks complete and communication that is. Deciding the right service for your situation can be difficult to do alone, but 5 Star Interpreting will match you with the right interpreter and service, based on your specific needs and requirements.

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ASL INTERPRETING
Services

CDI, ON-SITE, AND VRI

A CDI is a teaming role, not a delivery format. CDI support is most often paired with on-site sign language interpreting, where the physical presence of both interpreters supports the accuracy the assignment demands. CDI teaming over VRI is possible for some situations, but the same cautions that apply to VRI generally apply with even more weight here: the more complex the communication, the more presence matters.

ON-SITE SIGN INTERPRETING

An interpreter is physically present for the appointment, meeting, or event. Best for complex, sensitive, or extended interactions where presence and adaptability matter. A common starting point for healthcare systems, courts, and organizations with recurring needs.

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VIDEO REMOTE INTERPRETING (VRI)

A qualified interpreter joins via secure video connection. Available 24/7 nationwide. Best for same-day or urgent requests, telehealth visits, short structured interactions, and organizations covering multiple locations across Utah.

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CERTIFIED DEAF INTERPRETERS (CDI)

A Deaf interpreter works alongside the hearing interpreter when language needs are complex or communication barriers are significant. CDI's are often used in medical, legal, mental health, and law enforcement settings.

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ADDITIONAL SERVICES & AUXILIARY AIDS

Trilingual ASL/English/Spanish interpreting, tactile interpreting for DeafBlind individuals, oral interpreting, PSE, and CART real-time captioning coordination.

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WHEN A CDI IS THE RIGHT CALL

Some conversations carry a real risk that a single hearing interpreter, however skilled, will not fully bridge.

A CDI is the right call when:

  • The Deaf individual uses non-standard ASL, regional dialects, or home signs
  • There is limited formal language exposure or language deprivation
  • The individual is DeafBlind and requires tactile or close-vision communication
  • The setting involves trauma, mental health, or crisis communication
  • Legal accuracy is critical, and any misinterpretation carries consequences
  • The Deaf individual has a cognitive, developmental, or linguistic profile that affects how they give and receive language
  • The communication has already broken down with a hearing interpreter alone

In legal and medical settings, especially, the verification a CDI provides is not optional when the stakes are high. The CDI confirms that every question is understood as intended and every response is conveyed accurately, with the hearing interpreter serving as the bridge to the spoken-language participants.

HOW A CDI WORKS WITH A HEARING INTERPRETER

A CDI does not replace the hearing interpreter. The two work as a team.

The hearing interpreter listens to the spoken English and signs it. The CDI receives that and reworks it into language the Deaf individual fully understands, adapting register, dialect, pacing, and visual framing to that specific person. In the other direction, the CDI reads the Deaf individual’s communication, including cues a hearing interpreter may miss, and relays it to the hearing interpreter for voicing. The result is a chain built for accuracy rather than speed, used precisely when accuracy is what matters most. Learn more about CDI in our article:

GUIDE TO CERTIFIED DEAF INTERPRETERS

HOW WE STAFF CDI ASSIGNMENTS

Our scheduling team pairs each CDI with a hearing interpreter matched to the setting, the same way we staff every assignment: on credentials, industry experience, and contextual fit. A CDI assignment is by definition a team assignment, and we coordinate both interpreters together so they can prepare as a unit.

Because CDI assignments are often the most demanding ones we handle, lead time matters. The pool of Certified Deaf Interpreters is smaller than the hearing interpreter pool, and matching the right CDI to a specific linguistic or cultural profile takes coordination. For longer or more cognitively demanding assignments, additional interpreters may be paired so that quality is maintained throughout the session.

Coordinators are available before, during, and after the assignment for changes, last-minute issues, and follow-up scheduling. All interpreters, CDIs, and hearing interpreters alike follow the RID Code of Professional Conduct on confidentiality, accuracy, and professional discretion.

If you are unsure whether your situation calls for a CDI, tell us about the assignment, and we will help you assess it before the appointment. Getting that judgment right ahead of time is part of the service.

CERTIFIED DEAF INTERPRETING (CDI) SERVICE AREAS

CDI teaming is available for on-site assignments in our primary regions, and coverage outside those regions is possible for scheduled assignments with appropriate lead time.

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ADA COMPLIANCE AND CDIS

The ADA requires effective communication, not a specific tool. When a hearing interpreter alone cannot achieve effective communication, because of language deprivation, a DeafBlind communication need, a crisis context, or any of the situations above, a Certified Deaf Interpreter may be the appropriate auxiliary aid.

The Deaf individual has the right to determine what communication method is effective for them, and the responsibility to provide it rests with the covered entity. Our post on ADA compliance for Deaf communication access covers the legal framework in more depth.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A Certified Deaf Interpreter is a Deaf professional trained and certified to interpret, who works as part of a team with a hearing interpreter. The CDI brings native fluency and lived Deaf experience to communication that a hearing interpreter cannot fully bridge alone, adapting language to the specific Deaf individual’s dialect, register, and communication style.
A CDI is recommended when the Deaf individual uses non-standard signing, has had limited formal language exposure, is DeafBlind, or when the conversation involves mental health, legal risk, or complex medical decisions. A standard hearing interpreter handles most assignments well; a CDI is for the situations where being alone is not enough. If you are unsure, describe the assignment, and we will help you decide.
No. A CDI works alongside a hearing interpreter as a team. The hearing interpreter bridges spoken English, and the CDI bridges to and from the Deaf individual. Both are needed for the team to function.

The ADA requires effective communication, not a specific tool. In situations where a hearing interpreter alone cannot achieve that, a CDI may be the appropriate way to meet the obligation. The standard is effectiveness, not the presence of any single interpreter.

As early as possible. The pool of Certified Deaf Interpreters is smaller than the hearing interpreter pool, and matching the right CDI to a specific linguistic or cultural profile takes coordination. Same-day and urgent requests are accommodated when possible, but lead time meaningfully improves the match.
Sometimes, for less complex situations. But because CDI assignments are by nature the more complex ones, on-site is usually the better fit. The more the communication depends on nuance, presence, and visual cues, the more on-site matters.

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