Across Languages Translation and Interpretation Service exists to eliminate language barriers to communication between people of diverse languages and cultures. We strive to ensure that communication across language barriers is effective, giving all people equal opportunity to access and participate in societal processes, services, and institutions. A key goal is to ensure that service and decision-making systems will respond effectively to needs of our diverse community by becoming more accessible to those who do not communicate effectively in English.
Highlights of Expertise and Services:
In the 1980's Across Languages was a pioneering concept of those who recognized that London had become a culturally and linguistically rich and diverse community, but service providers, decision makers and their patients/clients could not communicate accurately and confidentially with each other through effectively managed, qualified interpreters. The vision was for trained, paid professional interpreters available in the community and organized by a single non-profit agency. Fees from the organizations and institutions using the service would sustain the interpreting agency. This goal was realized when Across Languages was founded in 1989. In 1996, the agency added translation to its suite of services, and in 2001, interpreter language and skills testing development and assessment services. In 2005, Across Languages was awarded the contract to develop Ontario's new, standardized interpreter training training program for Ontario Colleges.
Today, Across Languages provides interpreters for area hospitals, the City of London, the Children's Aid Society, the London Middlesex Health Unit, several provincial government ministries, WSIB, WSIAT, CPP, Designated Assessment Centres, lawyers, schools, counsellors and therapists, family doctors, police, provincial courts, community agencies serving refugees and immigrants, as well as many other organizations in London and across South-western Ontario and beyond. Across Languages interpreters, translators and ILSAT markers are covered by our Errors & Omissions insurance. Through a network of non-profit interpreting services across Ontario, we can draw upon approximately 600 similarly-trained interpreters covering up to 65 languages. Translation services are delivered to an equally broad range of clients.
Through the United Way of London and Middlesex, we can provide interpreters in some situations where fees cannot be paid. Through funding from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, we provide interpreters to organizations and government departments serving domestic violence and sexual assault victims across most of South-western Ontario.Through the support of Women's Community House, our interpreters are accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.