Oct 29, 2014 – USPS is seeking to locate experienced suppliers capable of and interested in providing national on-site sign language interpreting services.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is dedicated to providing sign language interpreting services for its deaf and hard of hearing employees in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Video Remote Interpreting Service (VRI) is the primary technological service used to communicate with deaf and hard of hearing individuals for certain work events to include brief service/safety talks and meetings to discuss work procedures, policies, assignments, health benefits and retirement options. However, there remains a need for on-site interpreters – interpreters who are physically located in the same room as the employees who require interpreting services – for more complex meetings (e.g., discipline discussions), events such as training and fundraising kickoffs, as well as critical elements of the selection process for job applicants, including interviews and instructions for testing.
Sign language interpreting service identified in this document is American Sign Language (ASL).
The USPS has approximately 2,800 deaf and hard of hearing employees nationwide. Recognize that deaf and hard of hearing employees are supervisors, managers, custodians, drivers, mail handlers, clerks, and city and rural letter carriers. The types of interaction and communication vary by job requirement and environment. Routine interactions are planned and may be accommodated with proper planning. However emergency communication may occur and needs to be considered.
Required Expertise and Experience
•1. The USPS is a 24 hours per day operation. Services will be ordered on an as-needed basis.
•2. The USPS requires certification of interpreting skills from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID), and/or the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) per the attached web link: http://www.rid.org/education/edu_certification/index.cfm.
•3. Standard office management procedures with regard to invoice verification and overall management services.
•4. Communications skills and working relationships with Point of Contacts for each Area.
•5. Analyzing and identifying processes to streamline USPS on-site interpreting to a best in class.
Objective:
Identify a national solution available for facilitating communication among deaf and hard of hearing with hearing individuals that include on-site interpreters for locations across the United States including Alaska, Hawaii, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
I am a US postal service employee that would take a great interest in this certification myself. We have one employee at our plant who is deaf/hard of hearing who inspired me to learn this language. I taught myself all the alphabet and interestingly, have never had to use it, but more interesting is that I have never forgotten it. The certification for RID & NAD I would love to have and have been checking into myself. If I obtained assistance for this certification from the Postal Service I would absolutely love to train to have it. It takes an interested person passionate about it to succeed in it. I have also wanted to obtain training and certification in CPR/Emergency life saving techniques just because its interesting to me. I’ve thought what a great combination that would be to most employers and especially the Postal service if I could receive both while still retaining the FTR clerk position I currently hold. Just a thought, definitely out of the ordinary, but definitely a win/win. I would learn new skills, USPS could have 3 bases covered. Clerk/interpreter/EMT. If I left service within so many years voluntarily I would repay the tuition or pro-rated. ?? If not, I would still take the courses and certify.
Is there any information on how one would apply for this position?