Government
6 languages incl. ASL · hybrid in-person & Zoom · 2 interpreters/language
Each year, the San Francisco Department of Disability & Aging Services (DAS) holds Community Partnership forums to hear directly from the people it serves — older adults, people with disabilities, veterans, caregivers, and service providers. As a contracted City vendor, Bilingva makes those forums accessible in every language in the room, in person and over Zoom.
Six languages, in person and online
The forums run hybrid — a physical room plus a live Zoom broadcast — and DAS offers interpretation in six languages: Spanish, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Russian, and American Sign Language. Bilingva staffs two interpreters per language, including ASL, and provides all of the equipment and technicians.
Whisper in the room, a channel per language on Zoom
In the room, interpreters work whisper-simultaneous — speaking into wireless transmitters while attendees listen on headsets — because community venues have no space for booths. Online, every language gets its own Zoom interpretation channel, so remote participants simply select their language. The ASL interpreters work on camera, positioned in front of the room and rotating with their partner, broadcasting into Zoom alongside the spoken-language channels. Coordinating six simultaneous channels across two rooms at once — one physical, one virtual — is exactly the kind of turn-key delivery DAS relies on us for.
Nothing left to chance
For an audience that includes elders and people with disabilities, the details decide the outcome. Before every forum we make sure each attendee can comfortably wear and hear their device; run full dry runs of the Zoom sessions so the live meeting goes off without a hitch; set up and test each interpreter’s Zoom station in advance; and brief interpreters ahead of time on the materials, the agenda, and any special needs in the audience. When the forum starts, the technology is invisible — which is the point.
Chosen, not just contracted
Turnout is consistently high — San Francisco’s civic engagement runs deep, and DAS promotes these forums well in advance — and residents can follow every word and be heard in return. Bilingva won the City’s competitive RFP and is one of several approved language vendors departments may choose from. DAS keeps choosing us for our responsiveness, our level of service, and our ability to deliver everything turn-key — including equipment and on-site tech support.
Need accessible, multilingual interpretation for public forums — in person, virtual, or hybrid? Bilingva provides interpreters, equipment, and technicians for disability, aging, and social-services events in 200 languages, including ASL. WOSB-certified, SAM.gov registered, serving the City since 2005.