About signpost
We're building the platform we've always dreamt of, but never thought possible.
signpost started as a conversation between two best friends. Regina is Deaf and a mental health professional. Molly is a certified interpreter. Between us, we’ve spent decades on both sides of the same problem, and we wanted to help change things.
Finding the right interpreter is harder than it should be. Too often, a Deaf person gets whoever the agency sends, with no idea of that person’s signing style, background, or experience in the setting. The person who matters most has the least say.
So we built signpost: a professional home base for freelance interpreters, where Deaf people and the people who book for them can work with interpreters directly.
Hi, I’m Regina! Deaf, mental health pro, mama to two CODAs, and a longtime veteran of the interpreter-booking lottery. Twenty years of “surprise, here’s your interpreter!” taught me exactly what not to do, so Molly and I dreamt up signpost to do the opposite. Biased, but our interpreter/Deaf friendship collab is the best by far!
By day, I’m a professional feelings navigator. By night, I’m still a professional feelings navigator, but with snacks and reality TV.
Hi, I’m Molly! ASL interpreter (RID NIC-Master). Two decades in, and I’ve seen interpreting from almost every seat in the room: interpreter, coordinator, spouse of a Deaf person, and mom of a DeafBlind kiddo. The current system feels like it isn’t serving anyone well enough, so Regina and I decided to build the one we wished existed.
When I’m not interpreting or working on signpost, I’m usually wielding power tools on some home renovation project, with sawdust in my hair.
Hello! My name is Ocean, and I’m Deaf and a fourth-generation Deaf person. I grew up in Washington State, where I still live, and I graduated from a mainstream school.
A little bit about me: I love hiking, of course, since I live in beautiful Washington State! I also enjoy reading, traveling to different countries, and experiencing new cultures. Most importantly, I love spending quality time with my husband and my two Sphynx cats, Rafael and Rainier.
Ready to get started?
Browse the directory, create a profile, or submit your first request.
Pricing
No listing fee. No subscription. No commission.
No fees for personal use. No credit card required. Always free.
The booking fee is signpost's only charge. Interpreters set their own rates and invoice clients directly. signpost does not take a percentage or add any markup on top of interpreter rates.
Requester cancels: A $15 fee you already paid is not refunded. On a request with more than one date, a date you cancel more than 14 days ahead was never charged. The interpreter's own cancellation policy may still apply.
Interpreter cancels: If their $15 fee was paid, you get one fee waiver. It pays the $15 for the next interpreter you confirm. It does not expire.
Our Accessibility Commitment
signpost is built for the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing community. Accessibility isn't an afterthought. It's foundational to everything we build.
We work to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2. We aim for the top level, AAA, wherever we can. We are not there on every page yet.
Semantic HTML, ARIA labels, and full keyboard navigation throughout.
signpost uses high-contrast colors and aims to meet WCAG AAA. We do not have a separate high-contrast mode yet. If you have any difficulty accessing our site, please reach out at hello@signpost.community.
Accessibility is never "done." We continuously test and improve.
If you experience any accessibility barriers on signpost, please reach out to us at hello@signpost.community. We take every concern seriously and will address it promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
signpost connects Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing individuals and organizations directly with sign language interpreters. No agency in the middle.
Browse the interpreter directory to find interpreters near you. Sign in to filter by language, setting, and credentials. Deaf clients build preferred interpreter lists that travel with them. When someone needs an interpreter, they send a request directly to the interpreters they choose. Available interpreters send the requester their rate and terms. The requester chooses who to confirm, and the interpreter and client work together directly from that point forward.
signpost charges a flat $15 booking fee for each interpreter confirmed on a booking. That's it. No markup on interpreter rates. No commissions. No hidden fees.
Interpreters who want to set their own rates, manage their own clients, and connect directly with the people they work with, with no agency fees added on top.
Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing individuals who want to choose their own interpreters, build a preferred team, and have their preferences respected when someone books on their behalf.
Organizations, schools, medical offices, and event coordinators who need to book interpreters and want a transparent, affordable alternative to traditional agencies.
Traditional agencies add their own fees on top of the interpreter's rate. Interpreters are typically not told what the agency charges the client, but the markup is often significant. Many agencies also cap what interpreters can charge, limiting their ability to set rates that reflect their experience and setting.
signpost works differently. Interpreters set their own rates and terms with no cap. The requester sees exactly what the interpreter charges and pays the interpreter directly. signpost's only fee is a flat $15 for each interpreter confirmed on a booking, charged to the requester. There is no markup, no commission, and no percentage taken from either side.
For requesters and organizations: Agencies charge an hourly fee on top of the interpreter's rate. That fee can range from about $20 to $80+ per hour. signpost charges a flat $15 booking fee for each interpreter confirmed on a booking. This covers the cost of building and running the platform: the booking system, encrypted messaging, notifications, and the interpreter directory. That is the only fee signpost collects, ever. The interpreter's rate is separate. Each interpreter communicates their rate directly to you during the request process and invoices you independently. signpost does not add any fees on top of interpreter rates.
For interpreters: signpost is completely free. No listing fees, no subscription, no commission. You set your own rates and are paid directly by the requester.
For Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing individuals: browse the directory, build your preferred interpreter list, rate interpreters, and request interpreters for personal events. signpost never charges a booking fee for personal events.
The $15 booking fee covers the cost of running signpost. It is charged to the person who made the request. If a teammate confirms, it still goes on that person's card. signpost does not add any percentage or markup on top of the interpreter's rate. 100% of the interpreter's rate goes directly to the interpreter.
Each booking is one date, with a start time and an end time. For a multi-day event, add each day as a date on one request. Each date is its own booking. If your event needs more than one interpreter, choose how many on the request. Examples: 1 interpreter for a 2-hour meeting = $15. 2 interpreters for a full-day conference = $30. 2 interpreters for a 3-day event = $90. You pay $15 for each interpreter you confirm. Confirming one of two is $15.
For a request with one date, the $15 is charged when you confirm the interpreter. For a request with more than one date, it is charged about 14 days before each date. If you ask for two interpreters and confirm one, you pay $15. Sending a request costs nothing, but you need a card on file or a fee waiver to send it. If no interpreter responds, or you cancel before confirming, you are not charged.
If you cancel, a $15 fee you already paid is not refunded. On a request with more than one date, a date you cancel more than 14 days ahead was never charged. The interpreter's own cancellation policy may still apply. If the interpreter cancels after their $15 fee was paid, you get one fee waiver. It pays the $15 for the next interpreter you confirm. It does not expire.
No. signpost is open to all interpreters regardless of certification status. Credentials are self-reported. You can earn a Verified badge by adding a link to your certification on the website of your certifying body, like RID. signpost does not check the link.
That said, interpreters on signpost are responsible for only accepting work for which they are duly qualified, regardless of certification status. All interpreters are expected to follow professional ethics and conduct standards, such as those outlined by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Code of Professional Conduct or similar standards set for their working languages.
signpost reserves the right to remove interpreters who receive reports of unprofessional behavior, or who show a pattern of accepting work for which they are unqualified.
New to the field or working toward certification? In the signpost directory, you can filter for interpreters who offer mentorship.
Requesters see your rate when you respond to their request. They see the rate and terms you send, not your other rate profiles. You choose which rate profile to send, or type a custom rate. Your rates are not publicly displayed in the directory.
No. You can use your own invoicing tools or use signpost's free built-in invoicing. This is your client relationship. You can change your preference at any time.
The requester pays you directly using whatever payment method you prefer. signpost is not involved in payment processing between you and the requester.
The requester pays signpost a $15 booking fee for each interpreter they confirm. This is a separate payment. signpost does not earn any additional fees or commissions from any party.
If you cancel a confirmed booking and the requester paid a booking fee for you, signpost gives them a fee waiver. It pays the booking fee for a new interpreter. We understand things come up. signpost keeps a record of every cancellation. If you cancel often, an admin may hide your profile from the directory.
Deaf/DB/HH people can add you to their preferred list. People who book for that person can see their preferred list. Being on preferred lists is one of the best ways to get consistent bookings.
In the signpost directory, new and experienced interpreters can find each other for mentorship. Areas range from voicing skills to starting a freelance business. You can offer mentorship, seek it, or both. Choose your knowledge areas, and say whether you offer paid or pro bono mentorship. If you are looking for a mentor, signpost suggests mentors who match the areas you picked. Only interpreters see mentorship on signpost pages.
When someone clicks on your badge or custom URL, they are directed to your personal booking page. Add it to your email signature, LinkedIn, or share directly with anyone who would like to book you. signpost makes it easy to manage your direct-book work in one place.
Yes. No fees, no credit card required. You can browse the directory, build your preferred interpreter list, request interpreters for personal events, and rate your experiences. All free, always.
Browse the interpreter directory, watch intro videos, and add interpreters you trust. If your favorite interpreter isn't on signpost yet, you can send them an invitation directly from the platform.
When you share your signpost profile with someone who books interpreters for you, they can see your preferred interpreter list and your communication preferences. They cannot see your ratings. You control who gets access by sharing your QR code or request link.
Yes. Your ratings are confidential. They are never shared with interpreters and never visible on public profiles. Your Trusted Deaf Circle can see your full ratings and notes. Requesters you share your interpreter list with can read your notes and see which list each interpreter is on, but never your ratings or rating comments. signpost saves your ratings with your account so you can see and change them. signpost staff see ratings without your name. Administrators use rating data to maintain platform quality. If an interpreter gets a low rating, admins are told. They may follow up with the interpreter or remove them.
Yes. Submit a request to your preferred interpreters directly from your portal for weddings, family reunions, private appointments, or any personal event. Each interpreter sends you their rate through signpost. You can message them with questions. signpost never charges a booking fee for personal requests.
Send them an invitation directly from the platform to let them know you want to add them to your preferred interpreter list. They get an email or a text with a link to make their profile. You can also copy the link and send it yourself. Once they join, you will receive a notification and they will automatically be added to your preferred list.
When rates are shown upfront, hearing requesters often just pick the cheapest interpreter, without knowing whether they have the skills you need. signpost puts your communication needs first, not price first. When someone books an interpreter for you, they can see your preferred list. They choose who gets the request. Available interpreters send their rate and terms, and the requester chooses who to confirm. If you book for a personal event, each interpreter sends their rate to you, and signpost charges no booking fee for personal events. Every penny goes directly to your interpreter.
Most agencies rely on one person to screen interpreters, and usually that person is hearing. Many agencies do not screen at all. signpost puts the screening in the hands of the Deaf community. Interpreter intro videos let you see interpreters with your own eyes and decide who is the best fit for you, and you can check their credentials, settings, and certifications before adding anyone to your preferred interpreter list. Some certifications have a link you can use to check them. Interpreters are not one-size-fits-all, so an open directory lets signpost offer interpreters for the full range of communication needs. After each booking ends, you can rate your interpreter. This helps signpost see who should, and should not, be in the directory.
Your Trusted Deaf Circle lets you privately share your interpreter list with Deaf friends and colleagues you choose, and see their lists. You get recommendations from people who know you and whose experiences you trust. Your Trusted Deaf Circle can see your full ratings and notes. Interpreters never do.
When you create a booking request, tag the Deaf, DeafBlind or Hard of Hearing person you are requesting for, using their phone number or email address. If they have a signpost profile, they will approve your access to their interpreter list and communication preferences.
Browse the directory to find interpreters with the skill set you need. You can filter by language, setting, location, credentials, and more. Send your request to up to 20 interpreters at a time.
Bookings longer than 1 to 1.5 hours usually need 2 interpreters. This can change based on how technical the event is and who will be there. Reach out to the interpreters you are requesting for recommendations specific to your request.
On the request form, select the number of interpreters required. Your request asks for that many interpreters. You confirm each interpreter one at a time. The $15 booking fee applies for each interpreter confirmed on a booking.
Available interpreters send you their rate and terms in just a couple clicks. Most responses come within a few hours, though timing depends on the interpreter.
No. The $15 flat fee is signpost's only charge. The interpreter sets their own rate and invoices you directly. signpost does not take a percentage or add any markup.
signpost uses AES-256-GCM encryption for sensitive booking details. This includes titles, descriptions, prep notes, addresses, meeting links, and on-site contact details. Messages are encrypted too. All database tables are protected by row-level security policies that restrict data access to authorized users only. Message attachments open only for people in that conversation. signpost checks this before it shows the file. Interpreter profiles are public: anyone can see them in the directory. Other profile data is only visible to users with an active relationship to that profile (booking participants, preferred list connections, or administrators). If you share your request link, anyone with the link can see your name, photo, pronouns, and city. All data is encrypted in transit via TLS. Private files, like message attachments, need a sign-in. signpost checks that you are part of the conversation or booking before it shows them.
signpost takes data security seriously and implements multiple layers of protection: application-level encryption (AES-256-GCM) for sensitive booking fields, row-level database security on every table, access checks on private files, so only people in the booking or conversation can open them, and an audit log that records key actions, like creating, changing, and canceling bookings. All data is encrypted in transit.
signpost is not currently a HIPAA-covered entity and has not executed a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with its infrastructure provider. We are prepared to pursue formal HIPAA compliance when our platform requirements and customer needs call for it. If your organization requires HIPAA compliance, please contact us at hello@signpost.community to discuss your needs.
Yes. You can be an interpreter, a Deaf/DB/HH person, and a requester simultaneously. Use Change Hats (located in the sidebar of your dashboard) to move between portals. Each role has its own profile and dashboard.
This designation indicates an interpreter who grew up with Deaf parents. CODAs (Children of Deaf Adults) often have native or near-native sign language fluency and deep cultural understanding of the Deaf community. On interpreter profiles, this shows as "Deaf-Parented Interpreter / CODA."
Email us at hello@signpost.community. We read every message.
Contact Us
Questions, feedback, partnership inquiries? We'd love to hear from you.