Disability-Competent Volunteer Interpreter Services
About this resource
FSI is proud to pilot innovative Interpreter Services designed to bridge communication gaps for families navigating BC’s disability service system in languages other than English. This volunteer initiative connects trained, disability-competent interpreters with families who need support understanding and engaging in service-related meetings, planning sessions, and system navigation.
Who we serve:
Our FSI Community Interpreters Service is available to families in BC accessing any disability-related services offered in English. Too often, systemic barriers around language prevent a family from applying for support or funding, receiving well-informed healthcare, and having meaningful consultations with systems and services. This can make it hard for families to get the help they need. The presence of a disability-competent interpreter gives families the choice and autonomy to navigate services using their primary language or a language more natural to them. Language is about more than words—it’s about meaning, dignity, respect, and self-determination.
What does “disability-competent” mean?
Professional interpretation services do not typically carry the vocabulary (jargon, terms and processes) or understanding around disability concepts and perspectives. FSI Community Interpreters have lived experience in the world of disability; they are often family members of a person with a disability themselves and understand the unique experience. They are trained in providing interpretation in community settings using the disability lens.
Here are some scenarios where a disability-competent interpreter may be helpful:
Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings with your child’s school team
Meetings with the Ministry of Child and Family Development (MCFD)
Medical and healthcare appointments and sessions
Meetings with Community Living BC (CLBC)
Meetings with other community organizations about programs, services, and supports
Who we serve:
Our FSI Community Interpreters Service is available to families in BC accessing any disability-related services offered in English. Too often, systemic barriers around language prevent a family from applying for support or funding, receiving well-informed healthcare, and having meaningful consultations with systems and services. This can make it hard for families to get the help they need. The presence of a disability-competent interpreter gives families the choice and autonomy to navigate services using their primary language or a language more natural to them. Language is about more than words—it’s about meaning, dignity, respect, and self-determination.
What does “disability-competent” mean?
Professional interpretation services do not typically carry the vocabulary (jargon, terms and processes) or understanding around disability concepts and perspectives. FSI Community Interpreters have lived experience in the world of disability; they are often family members of a person with a disability themselves and understand the unique experience. They are trained in providing interpretation in community settings using the disability lens.
Here are some scenarios where a disability-competent interpreter may be helpful:
Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings with your child’s school team
Meetings with the Ministry of Child and Family Development (MCFD)
Medical and healthcare appointments and sessions
Meetings with Community Living BC (CLBC)
Meetings with other community organizations about programs, services, and supports
Details
Resource type
Family Support, General, Newcomers and Immigrants
Disabilities
Acquired Brain Injury, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autonomic Dysfunctions/Dysautonomia, Behaviour Disorders and Conditions (ie. ADHD), Blind / Visual Impairment, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Circadian Rhythm Disorders , Deaf / Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind, Down Syndrome , Dual Diagnosis, Epilepsy / Seizure Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome / Spectrum Disorders , Intellectual / Developmental Disability, Learning Disorder / Disability, Long-COVID/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Mental Health , Neuromuscular Disorders, Other / I don't know, Paraplegia / Quadriplegia, Physical Disability / Mobility Impairment, Schizophrenia , Speech Impairment / Social / Communication Disorders, Spina Bifida, Substance Use/Addiction
Age
0-99
Eligibility
Please complete the form on the webpage.
Location
Regions
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, Fraser North, Fraser South, Fraser Valley, Greater Vancouver, Kootenays, North East, North West, Sunshine Coast / Squamish-Lillooet, Thompson Okanagan, Vancouver Island Central, Vancouver Island North, Vancouver Island South
Cities
108 Mile Ranch, 150 Mile House, 70 Mile House, Abbotsford, Agassiz, Ainsworth Hot Springs, Aldergrove, Alert Bay, Alexis Creek, Anahim Lake, Anglemont, Anmore, Apex Mountain Resort, Appledale, Armstrong, Arras, Arrow Creek, Ashcroft, Atlin , Avola, Balfour, Bamfield, Bankeir, Barkerville, Barriere, Baynes Lake, Bear Lake, Beaverdell, Belcarra, Bella Bella, Bella Coola, Big White Ski Resort, Black Creek, Blind Bay, Blue River, Boston Bar, Bowen Island, Bowser , Brentwood Bay, Bridal Falls, Bridge Lake, Britannia Beach, Buckhorn, Buick, Burnaby, Burns Lake, Burton, Cache Creek, Campbell River, Canal Flats, Canyon, Castlegar, Cawston, Celista, Charlie Lake, Chase, Chemainus, Cherryville, Chetwynd, Chilliwack, Christina Lake, Clearwater, Clinton, Coalmont, Cobble Hill, Coldstream, Colwood, Comox, Coquitlam, Courtenay, Cowichan Bay, Cranbrook, Crawford Bay, Crescent Valley, Creston, Crofton, Cultus Lake, Cumberland, D'Arcy, Davis Bay, Dawson Creek, Dease Lake, Delta, Denman Island, Dome Creek, Donald, Duncan, Eagle Bay, Eagle Creek, Earls Cove, Edgewater, Edgewood, Egmont, Elkford, Elko, Enderby, Erickson, Errington, Esquimalt, Fairmont Hot Springs, Falkland, Fanny Bay, Fauquier, Fernie, Fernie Alpine Resort, Field, Forest Grove, Fort Fraser, Fort Nelson, Fort St. James, Fort St. John, Fort Steele, Fraser Lake, Fruitvale, Gabriola Island, Galiano Island, Gambier Island, Garden Bay, Garibaldi Highlands, Genelle, Gibsons, Gillies Bay, Gingolx, Gold Bridge, Gold River, Golden, Grand Forks, Granisle, Grasmere, Greenwood, Grindrod, Halfmoon Bay, Harrison Hot Springs, Hazelton, Hedley, Heriot Bay, Hixon, Holberg, Honeymoon Bay, Hope, Hornby Island, Horsefly, Hosmer, Houston, Hudson’s Hope, Invermere, Iskut, Jaffray, Kaleden, Kamloops, Kaslo, Kelowna, Kemano , Keremeos, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Kimberley, Kimberley Alpine Resort, Kispiox, Kitimat, Kitwanga, Klemtu, Kootenay Bay, Kyuquot, Lac La Hache, Lac La Jeune, Ladner, Ladysmith, Lake Country, Lake Cowichan, Lake Errock, Langdale, Langford, Langley, Lantzville, Lasqueti Island, Likely, Lillooet, Lindell Beach, Lions Bay, Little Fort, Logan Lake, Lone Butte, Lumby, Lytton, Mackenzie, Madeira Park, Malakwa, Manning Park, Mansons Landing, Maple Ridge, Masset, Mayne Island, McBride, McLeod Lake, Meadow Creek, Merritt, Merville , Metchosin, Mica Creek, Mica Creek, Midway, Mill Bay , Mission, Moberly Lake, Monte Lake, Montrose, Moricetown, Mount Currie, Mount Washington Alpine Resort, Moyie Lake, Nakusp, Nanaimo, Nanoose Bay, Naramata, Nelson, New Aiyansh, New Denver, New Hazelton, New Westminster, Newton, Nimpo Lake , North Saanich, North Vancouver, Ocean Falls, Okanagan Falls, Olalla, Oliver, Osoyoos, Oyama, Panorama Mountain Village, Parksville, Peachland, Pemberton, Pender Harbour, Pender Island, Penticton, Pinantan Lake, Pitt Meadows, Port Alberni, Port Alice, Port Clements, Port Coquitlam, Port Edward, Port Hardy, Port McNeil, Port Moody, Port Renfrew, Pouce Coupe, Powell River, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Princeton, Pritchard, Procter, Puntzi Lake, Qualicum Beach, Quathiaski Cove, Queen Charlotte , Queens Bay, Quesnel, Radium Hot Springs , Red Mountain Resort, Revelstoke, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Richmond, Roberts Creek, Rock Creek, Rolla , Rosedale, Rossland, Royston, Saanich, Saanichton, Salmo, Salmon Arm, Salt Spring Island, Saltery Bay, Sandspit, Saturna Island, Savona, Sayward, Scotch Creek, Sechelt, Seton Portage, Shalalth, Shawnigan Lake, Shearwater, Sicamous, Sidney, Silver Star Mountain Resort, Silverton , Skidegate, Skookumchuck, Slocan, Smithers, Sointula , Sooke, Sorrento, Sparwood, Spences Bridge, Squamish, Stewart, Summerland, Sun Peaks Resort, Sunset Prairie, Surrey, Swartz Bay, Tahsis, Tappen, Tatla Lake, Taylor, Telegraph Cove, Telegraph Creek, Telkwa, Terrace, Tete Jaune Cache, Texada Island, Thetis Island, Thompson Sound, Thornhill, Toad River, Tofino, Topley , Trail, Tsawwassen, Tulameen, Tumbler Ridge, Ucluelet, Union Bay, Valemount, Vancouver, Vanderhoof, Vavenby, Vernon, Victoria, View Royal, Wardner, Warfield, Wasa, Wells , West Kelowna, West Vancouver, Whaletown, Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb, White Rock, Whitewater Ski Resort, Williams Lake, Windermere, Winfield, Winlaw, Winter Harbour, Woss, Wynndel, Yale, Ymir, Zeballos
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