In this episode of Ottawa Business Matters, host Sam Laprade interviews Roxanne Whiting, the co-owner and Director of Business Development at Asign, a company providing American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation services. With a background as a child of deaf adults and a professional ASL interpreter for over 26 years, Roxanne shares her personal journey into the field, influenced by both familial ties and a chance encounter. Asign, established in 1997, initially serviced Ottawa, focusing on work with the federal government and expanding into conferences and nation-wide services, especially after the introduction of video relay services in 2014. The company has adapted to technological advancements and legislative changes, offering services such as video remote interpreting and making essential services more accessible to the Deaf community across Canada. Roxanne emphasizes the importance of accessible communication for the Deaf community, highlighting Asign's contributions to translating text-based content into sign language for a wider range of settings, from essential legal matters to everyday situations.
