Video Remote Interpreting
(VRI) Services

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Qualified ASL interpreters, connected by video, when on-site is not the right fit.

Video Remote Interpreting connects a Deaf consumer and a hearing person to a qualified ASL interpreter through a live video link. It is the right call for short, routine encounters when the technology and setup are reliable. 5 Star Interpreting provides VRI on-demand and scheduled, with RID-certified interpreters vetted for video work.

VRI fills a real gap in access to communication. When an interpreter cannot be present quickly enough, or when the setting does not warrant on-site services due to cost and lead time, VRI provides qualified interpreting via a video connection. Used in the right context, it works well. Used in the wrong context, it produces the appearance of access without the substance.

WHEN VRI IS THE RIGHT CALL

VRI works well when the encounter is short, the content is contained, and the technology can carry the communication without dropping anything important.

  • Short medical encounters: vitals, intake, basic check-ins
  • Front-desk and service counter interactions
  • Quick internal business meetings between coworkers
  • After-hours coverage when on-site cannot arrive in time
  • Brief administrative consultations
  • Hospital triage and initial assessment before on-site coverage arrives

WHEN YOU NEED ON-SITE INSTEAD

Some of the most important communication access situations are not VRI situations. Calling for VRI in these settings is not a cost-saving measure. It is a quality failure.

  • Mental health appointments (therapy, psychiatric evaluations, crisis intervention)
  • Complex medical conversations such as oncology, surgical consents, and pediatric care
  • Emergency rooms beyond initial triage
  • Legal proceedings of any complexity
  • Any setting calling for a Certified Deaf Interpreter
  • Multi-party meetings with multiple Deaf participants
  • Any situation where the Deaf consumer prefers on-site
UNSURE? LET US HELP

ADA COMPLIANCE AND VRI

The ADA does not specifically require VRI. It requires effective communication. VRI is one acceptable way to provide it when the setup actually supports the necessary communication. DOJ guidance specifies requirements for bandwidth, screen size, lighting, audio, and trained staff. VRI that does not meet those standards is not effective communication. Our post on ADA compliance for Deaf communication access covers the legal framework in more depth.

LEARN ABOUT THE ADA

GET PROFESSIONAL VRI SERVICES ACROSS OUR REGIONS

The right call is the one that fits the encounter. Communication access has to work in practice, not just on paper. 5 Star Interpreting provides VRI and on-site sign language and interpretation services across Salt Lake City, Chicago, Atlanta, and Idaho. We are Deaf- and interpreter-owned, which shapes how every booking gets handled.

Reach out to talk through what your specific setting actually needs.

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5 STAR INTERPRETING
SERVICES

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.

BOOK ON-SITE INTERPRETING

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.

REQUEST A VRI INTERPRETER

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.

CERTIFIED DEAF INTERPRETERS

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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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

VRI can be ADA-compliant when the setup meets DOJ standards for video quality, audio, screen size, lighting, and staff training. Providing only VRI in situations where it cannot work, including mental health, complex medical, and pediatric care, is not compliant.

VRI is used when the Deaf and hearing parties are in the same room, and only the interpreter joins remotely. VRS is used when a Deaf person makes or receives a phone call while the parties are in separate locations. VRS is FCC-regulated and free to the Deaf user. VRI is procured by organizations with communication access obligations.

No. VRI complements on-site. It does not replace it for sensitive, complex, or sustained encounters.

Reliable high-speed internet, a camera framing both parties clearly, a screen large enough for the interpreter to be visible at viewing distance, even front-facing lighting, and clear two-way audio.

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