Contact us by email at interpreting@alsglobal.net or via phone at 1-800-951-5020 for a free estimate on our ASL and CART services.

Trusted CART & ASL Services in St. Petersburg, FL

American Language Services has been helping businesses and other entities reach the deaf and hard of hearing community for more than 35 years. While in-person interpreting, at one time, was the only option, recent technological advances opened the door to other options. Since we offer full-service Video Remote Interpreting (VRI), this article will be comparing Virtual American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting with Communication Access Real-Time Translation (AKA- Closed Captioning & Real Time Subtitling) known as CART.

 Please note that according to the American Disability Act (ADA) that deaf and hard of hearing community have the legal right to receive full access through the use of ASL and or CART services. The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and providing ASL interpreters for deaf individuals complies with federal law and promotes equal accessibility.

Some interesting Facts About the City of St. Petersburg

• St. Petersburg was officially founded in 1888, many years after the land was purchased by John C. Williams in 1875. Peter Demens helped co-found the city, and played a key role in bringing the Orange Belt Railway to the area. By 1892, St. Petersburg was officially referred to as a town once it gathered a population of about 300 people. The incorporation of a railway significantly helped the development of the surrounding area.
• The city got its name from Saint Petersburg, a major city in Russia that Demens grew up in when he was young. A common story told is that Demens got to name the city after winning a coin toss against Williams. The St. Petersburg Times, which was established around this time, became the first major newspaper to debut in the Tampa Bay area.
• Saint Petersburg was founded as a resort town and continues to maintain the charm and eclectic feel that made it famous.
• As of the 2017 Census, St. Petersburg is estimated to have a total population of 263,255. This currently makes the city the fifth largest one in Florida. As of 2016, the median household income is estimated to be around $48,183. The lower cost of living makes this a popular destination for people interesting in moving to Florida.
• Residents of St. Petersburg have many options to choose from if they need to get around the area quickly. Public transportation is offered by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, which operates buses that travel across the county. The Cross-Bay Ferry is another available option, and it connects St. Petersburg to downtown Tampa via the Tampa Bay waters. St. Petersburg also features the Looper, a trolley service people can use to get around the Downtown St. Petersburg area. Anyone who needs to fly out-of-state can use the Tampa International Airport or the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport.
• Some citizens like to shorten the name of this city to just St. Pete. St. Petersburg is frequently referred to as the “Sunshine City,” thanks in part to a Guinness World Record it holds for logging the longest stretch of sunshine in the country. Starting in 1967, St. Petersburg had 768 consecutive days of sun in the sky.
• The first hotel in the city was named Detroit after founder General John Williams’ home town of Detroit, Michigan.
• In 1914 spring training was first started in Florida in the city of Saint Petersburg when the Saint Louis Browns were brought to the city to train when the weather was undesirable at home.
• Saint Petersburg is credited as being the city where the birth of commercial aviation took place because in 1914 Tony Jannus flew his commercial aircraft over Tampa Bay.
• During the 1920s the city became one of the most popular tourist destinations in the nation as transportation improvements made it possible to travel easily.
• Saint Petersburg became one of the first cities to implement initiatives aimed at trying to protect the environment during the 1970s when the city started reclaiming water and recycling it for local irrigation.
• It is known for being a friendly city with lots of hospitable residents which makes it a well-loved place for tourists to travel to.
• St. Petersburg is served by the Pinellas County Schools district, which currently operates 5 public high schools in the city. A few of these schools include St. Petersburg High, Lakewood High, and Northeast High. St. Petersburg is also home to the Science Center of Pinellas County, a non-profit organization that teaches people of all ages about the potential behind science and technology.
• The city is also home to some of the best colleges and universities currently offered in Florida. Some of St. Petersburg’s most well-known schools include the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Eckerd College and St. Petersburg College.
• There are 33 miles of shoreline in Saint Petersburg making it a great place to visit if one wants to relax on beaches, learn to surf, or just swim in the ocean.
• The Saint Petersburg Pier is one of the most visited piers in the entire nation. The St Petersburg Pier can be found at the end of 2nd Avenue N.E., and it has long been a renowned downtown landmark. Originally built back in 1889, the Pier in St Petersburg served as a railroad pier in its younger days. Over time, the Pier underwent numerous renovations. Today, it boasts a five-story inverted pyramid design that is among its major calling cards. While the St Petersburg Pier has changed its appearance on numerous occasions, it has never changed its identity as a popular local amenity. There is a small museum at the Pier, and it offers insight into the structure’s history. For a more comprehensive look at St Petersburg Florida history, a visit to the St Petersburg Museum of History will be in order. You can find this excellent history museum south of the Pier at 335 Second Avenue NE.
• The Gulf Beaches Historical Museum gives tourists a chance to learn about the city and the surrounding waters and islands.

Reference Sources: 10-facts-about.com, GardenCommunitiesFL

St. Petersburg ASL & CART Language Interpreters

American Language Services is known for our high-quality, In-person and Virtual interpreters, as well as the outstanding client services we provide. We work in 200+ languages including Legal and Medical Certified and Qualified.  ASL and CART are the fastest growing languages in St. Petersburg today a language interpreter can be a very underestimated professional in the world today. There are over 100 languages spoken in the St. Petersburg Metro area alone. Many of us know one language, and we specialize in one field of study. Our St. Petersburg Interpreters are fluent in English and at least one other language, and they are knowledgeable in a wide range of specialized fields including legal, medical, technical, manufacturing, and engineering.

A brief history of ASL Interpreting in St. Petersburg

Most people know that ASL stands for American Sign Language. But not everyone knows that it is a distinct language—not simply an offshoot of American English. Though its beginnings are murky, many believe that ASL originated from a merger of French Sign Language (SLF) and local U.S. sign languages. While ASL and SLF are distinct languages, there are still some similarities between their signs.

What actually is ASL?   ASL a complete, natural language that has the same linguistic properties as spoken languages with grammar however that differs from English. ASL is expressed by movements of the hands and face.  ASL is a language completely separate and distinct from English. It contains all the fundamental features of language, with its own rules for pronunciation, word formation, and word order.  Because of the physical nature of ASL, a two-person team of ASL interpreters is required for assignments longer than 1 hour in duration.

The National Center for Health Statistics claims that 28 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss, though only between two and eight percent of them are natural ASL speakers.  Helping these select individuals translate the audible into the understandable is the job of an ASL interpreter.  If you have ever been to a play, a concert or watched a government briefing, you have probably seen an ASL interpreter signing just out of view.  An interesting side note is that Statista estimates that there are currently around 60,000 active ASL interpreters in the USA.

The Benefits of ASL Interpreting in St. Petersburg

When it comes to communicating with hard-of-hearing or deaf audiences, there are a few reasons you might want to opt for a St. Petersburg ASL interpreter over CART services. These include:

• A More Personal Connection: A real person has several advantages over a computer screen. First, human interpreters have an easier time conveying emotion. Second, they are better equipped to point out speakers and assist with pronunciation issues. Finally, an interpreter gives a deaf or hard of hearing person a chance to bond with another person.
• Enhanced Speed: Skilled interpreters can hold pace with even the fastest speakers. Lack of delay makes it easier for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to keep up with the conversation.
• Cost Effective:  While costs range by the type of ASL you need (Legal, medical, business, etc.) and when the assignment is scheduled, the cost off ASL, across the board, is less money than CART.

What Is CART?

While the majority of people know what American Sign Language is, the same cannot be said for Communication Access Real-Time Translation. Often referred to as CART, this communication method for the deaf and hard of hearing is best described as subtitling for live discussions. Unlike ASL, which relies on a professional interpreter, CART services are provided by a well-trained stenographer or transcriptionist. They transcribe anything said and then broadcast the resulting text to a phone, computer, or TV screen.

CART is often seen as a cost-effective and efficient way to ensure everybody can follow along. While often used to help deaf students in the classroom, CART captioning benefits anyone that can read.  Much like ASL interpreting, it can be done both onsite with a physical transcriptionist or remotely with an offsite one.

Why You Should Consider CART for the St. Petersburg Market

Communication Access Real-Time Translation is growing in popularity due to the following characteristics:

• It Serves a Wider Array of Deaf People: If you do a little math, you will realize that 65 percent of hard-of-hearing people in the USA do not speak ASL fluently. CART makes it so these people can join in on the conversation as well.
• CART Makes It Scalable: While people in the front rows can easily make out what an interpreter is signing, it gets harder as the distance increases. Since captions can be beamed to multiple screens simultaneously, they do not have to factor speaker distance into the equation.
• The Text Provides a Written Record: Having a transcript of everything your professor said would be a godsend come finals. Having a record of a meeting can also provide clarity to all those involved as well. The physical nature of CART recording makes that possible. This ability is one reason so many college students opt for CART over traditional ASL interpreting. 

About American Language Services

Founded in 1985, American Language Services was there to help pioneer the rise in remote ASL interpreting options. Our dedication to quality and client satisfaction in interpreting allowed us to shift from a one-woman agency into one of the most successful language agencies in the world. Our language experts provide ASL & CART interpreting services to people all around the world. Because of our 24/7 availability, you’ll never have to worry about us not being available, on off times, for an assignment.

AML-Global has some of the most impressive linguistic talents in the world. These highly skilled language professionals are recruited, screened, and tested to ensure high-quality work.

Contact us by email at interpreting@alsglobal.net or via phone at 1-800-951-5020 for a free estimate on our ASL and CART services.