VISION STATEMENT
PULA’s goal is to exercise social justice in mutually providing interpreting services to the under-represented communities, as well as in our practice in the hiring of Professionals of Color. Committed to the integrity and accountability in the recognition that American Sign Language (ASL) is not English, Pula brings accessibility, equality and empowerment to our business partnerships by providing communication between the hearing and the Deaf community. Additionally, recognizing the “Mother-Tongue” of all indigenous individuals, hiring the interpreter from the same community allows for a safe empathetic awareness during the interpreting process for ALL languages.
PULA maintains a comprehensive understanding of compliance, discrimination and disability laws, thus, guaranteeing equal opportunity and the right to effective communication for your clients. No matter the language – we are here to serve with the BEST Qualified Interpreters.
Mission Statement
Integrity in Interpreting – on ALL levels!
Our Commitment
Committed to the integrity and accountability of interpreting the MESSAGE – Pula Legal interpreting is the agency for you!
Pula has THREE Clientele:
#1 Commitment to the Deaf Community
Pula strives to bridge the gap between the Deaf community and the hearing by the hiring of Deaf-Community trained American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, including CDI’s (Deaf Interpreters). Our Executive Director has Deaf family, and 45 years of ASL interpreting experience.
#2 Commitment to the hearing community
Pula understands how important communication is and we hire the interpreter to match the situation. We also offer free inservices and orientations for our contracted clients.
#3 Commitment to the Message
There is more than the explicit word and the sharing of signs. Forensic Listening is committed to the full idea and significance of the conversation.
What We Do
“American Sign Language is not ENGLISH”
Why choose PULA?
We have specific checkpoints and training opportunities for each interpreter. The Executive Director is a National Presenter/Trainer and has a rapport with professional interpreters as well as students.
Pula Commitment to Exotic languages. Our country is a melting pot of cultures and languages. We are here to serve in your communication needs. We have several experts and interpreters and translators ready to serve your language and message needs.
Essence of Integrity
For an attorney representing a hard-of-hearing or deaf client, the integrity of the translated message is essential. While many ASL interpreters are capable of performing every-day translations, additional experience, training and a new awareness of neutrality is required to fulfill the needs of the ever-changing legal community.
The Pula staff has demonstrated a respect for the Law and the critical awareness of what it means to “cover your back”! We provide vendors that have maintained their legal training and Community sensitivity.
Highest Level of Quality!
We abide by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and/or National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Code of Ethics as well as the State and Federal interpreter Code of ethics. All individual interpreters are certified to meet or exceed these national standards. Interpreters are assigned based on the skill requirements of the particular case.
NAD Certification
- Level VI - Legal
- Level V - Master
- Level IV - Advanced
RID Certification
- SC:L - Specialist Certificate: Legal
- CT - Certificate of Transliteration
- CI - Certificate of Interpretation
** Certifications are important. However, a certification alone does not reflect the interpreter’s ability to understand or communicate in a culturally specific environment. In addition, interpreters usually have specialties. **
It is the Law
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination based on disability in any program or activity operated by recipients of federal funds. It states: “No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States…shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance…”
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination based on disability by public entities, regardless of whether they receive federal financial assistance. Title II states: “[N]o qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity.”
