About the campaign

This campaign is about ensuring sign language interpreters in Tennessee are consistently qualified, accountable, and trusted by the communities they serve. Currently, the state does not require interpreters to be licensed, which means there’s no consistent way to measure their skills or protect the rights of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing people who depend on them. We believe that communication is a right, and everyone deserves access to clear and accurate information—especially in important areas like healthcare, legal matters, and public services. We are a group of Deaf community members, interpreters, advocates, and allies working together to pass a state law that would create a professional license for sign language interpreters in Tennessee. The proposed bill (House Bill 1040 / Senate Bill 942) would help raise the quality of interpreting services. It also holds interpreting service providers accountable for ensuring the interpreters they assign are qualified and licensed. It’s time for our state to recognize the importance of both interpreter standards and provider responsibility in supporting equal access for all.

This website serves as a hub for information, resources, updates, and advocacy tools to support the campaign. Whether you’re a community member, interpreter, policymaker, or ally, you’ll find everything you need to understand the issue, follow the bill, and take action. Together, we can move Tennessee toward a more accessible future.