NGA reimagines sign-language interpreting to keep its workforce safe during a global pandemic

The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency's Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and EEO recently debuted its new Sign Language Interpreting Operations Centers.

The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency's Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal Employment Opportunity recently debuted its new Sign Language Interpreting Operations Centers, or SLIOCs. The SLIOCs are centralized remote interpreting hubs where NGA’s sign language interpreters can remotely provide virtual interpreting services for NGA’s deaf and hard of hearing workforce.

Based on industry best practice and built with the assistance of NGA’s facility and information technology teams, these centers are the first of their kind in the Intelligence Community. They allow the sign language interpreters to maintain social distancing without the need to wear masks, as facial expressions serve a key role in interpretation, and allows DHH employees, interpreters and their NGA colleagues to participate in meetings and discussions safely and help provide equal footing to all employees as they return.

VIA NGA.mil