ASL Interpreting and Captioning
We specialize in sign language interpretation and CART captioning for universities, nonprofits, and the Federal Government. No job is too small or too large.
Joyful Signing is a 100% minority and woman-owned interpreting agency.
Founded by Joi Bannister in 2009, Joyful Signing has provided thousands of hours of accessibility services to the Washington D.C., Virginia, and Maryland metro areas. We are committed to excellent customer service for our customers and D/deaf and Hard-of-Hearing consumers with clear and accurate communication. We provide…
American Sign Language (ASL)
Joyful Signing ASL Interpreters are high level professionals, committed to access, Language Justice, and working collaboratively to create a barrier free community.
Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART)
Our CART/Caption Writers transcribe spoken language to written English that is displayed on a screen or device so that an individual or audience has access to spoken communications in real-time. We are able to provide captioning to small in person events, or large festivals and concerts. Captioning is a way to make your content more accessible to everyone, not just those with a hearing loss.
Language Access Coordination
Joyful Signing will consult with your event planning team to determine and advise on industry best practices for the determination of the number and qualifications of the services needed for maximum accessibility. This may include Certified or uncertified ASL service providers, Deaf service providers, tri-lingual or spoken language, on-site coordinators, CART captioning services, and pre or post recording services.
Our Commitments
To our deaf and hard of hearing community:
- Provide qualified interpreters that match your skill & language needs.
- Provide pro-bono services when appropriate to support the community.
- To advocate for your rights to communication access.
To our interpreters and the interpreting community:
- Fair pay & competitive rates that match your skills, certification and expertise.
- To give back to our profession by serving as a mentor to the local Interpreter Training Program interpreters.
- To provide opportunities to grow & develop with workshops and training.
To our clients:
- To provide top quality interpreting services at an affordable price.
- To customize interpreting services needs that are tailored to all parties.
- To provide quality customer service from scheduling, on-site support, to paying for services.
Joyful Signing is a 2019 Top 100 MBE Award Recipient
We are proud to be a Top 100 MBE award recipient. This award recognizes minority entrepreneurs that fuel the region’s economy through their innovation, sacrifices and dedication.
“Deaf people can do anything hearing people can do, except hear.”
— I. King Jordan, Former Gallaudet University President
Order Joyful Signing Swag
Check out our shirts and hoodies. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to various Deaf Community organizations.
What our
clients are saying.
“We've consistently received timely and thorough responses from the customer service team at Joyful Signing for all of our requests. Their ASL interpreters are professional, on-time and ready at each assignment we've partnered with them for.”
UNO Translations and Communications, LLC Team
"Joyful Signing, LLC provides consistently high quality support for making our library's programs and services more accessible to customers. We are particularly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with a locally-owned business that shares our values and commitment to public service."
Nicholas Brown, COO for Communication and Outreach, Prince George's County Memorial Library System
“We are very pleased with Joyful Signing! Their attention to detail and willingness to help us every step of the way has translated into very happy patrons that have enjoyed our productions. We give them the highest of recommendations.”
Olney Theater
“The Joyful Signing team is always a pleasure to work with. They always reply to our requests quickly and are able to accommodate all of our varying show needs. The team is prompt and professional and goes out of their way to provide a personalized experience for each guest. We regularly receive guest feedback stating how much they enjoy their interactions with the interpreters.”
Taylor Winstead, Senior Manager Entertainment
“Joyful Signing has provided amazing ASL and Closed Captioning support for large public webinars for hundreds of people. Their team is responsive, professional and a JOY to work with. Even if we haven't had a specific request for ASL or Closed Captioning, offering these options greatly enhances the experience for everyone. The ASL providers are so expressive, and the ability to read captions means no one--hearing or not--ever has to miss a beat.”
Kana Hammon, Race Forward
“I am thrilled to share my enthusiasm for the team at Joyful Signing. I have watched this team grow and evolve into a caring, thoughtful, and committed member to the greater Washington metropolitan community. I have seen the Joyful team serve clients and engage audiences at both MGM National Harbor and the Something in the Water Music Festival. Each interpreter demonstrates professionalism and a cheerful attitude. My company was fortunate to work with us during our recent LEGENDS Gala at the Anthem on the District Wharf. Joyful provided interpreters for our guests and during our concert featuring Tony! Tone! Toni! and Joy was exceptional. We can’t recommend them enough!”
Saletta Coleman, Good Luck PR Partner
Work With Us
At Joyful Signing, we are committed to providing excellent customer service for our customers and D/deaf and Hard-of-Hearing consumers through clear and accurate communication. If you’d like to hire our interpreters for your next event, or are interested in joining our team, use the links below to get in touch.