About signpost
We're building the platform we've always dreamt of, but never thought possible.
signpost grew out of conversations between two best friends: a certified interpreter and a Deaf mental health professional, about something they'd both been frustrated by for years.
Finding the right interpreter is harder than it should be. Deaf people often have to rely on whoever an agency sends, with little visibility into that person's signing style, cultural background, or specialization. Too often, the person who matters most has the least say in the decision.
We built signpost to change that. A place where interpreters present themselves fully and transparently, and where the Deaf community can make informed choices about who they work with.
A Deaf mental health professional with 20 years of experience, and mama to two CODAs. Regina brings the perspective of someone who has spent decades navigating the interpreter booking process, and who has felt the impact of poor fit, limited transparency, and lack of choice. Her experience is at the center of how signpost is designed.
A certified ASL interpreter (RID NIC-Master) with 18 years of experience. Molly has seen the interpreting process from every angle: as an interpreter, as a coordinator, as the spouse of a Deaf person and the mother of a DeafBlind kiddo. She has seen that the current system doesn't serve anyone well enough. With signpost she hopes to help change that.
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 platform 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: The $15 fee is non-refundable.
Interpreter cancels: The requester receives a $15 credit valid for 12 months.
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 meet or exceed Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 at the AAA conformance level across the entire platform.
Semantic HTML, ARIA labels, and full keyboard navigation throughout.
signpost aims to conform with WCAG AAA guidelines for website accessibility. These are the strictest standards for high-contrast web content. 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 by language, specialization, location, 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. Interpreters respond with their availability and rates. The requester confirms, and the interpreter and client work together directly from that point forward.
signpost charges a flat $15 booking fee to the requester. 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 keep 100% of what they charge.
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 specialization.
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 per confirmed booking, charged to the requester. There is no markup, no commission, and no percentage taken from either side.
For interpreters: Free. Always. No listing fee, no subscription, no commission.
For Deaf/DB/HH individuals: Free. Always. No fees for personal use, no credit card required.
For requesters/organizations: signpost charges a $15 platform fee per interpreter, per confirmed booking. This fee is charged when you confirm an interpreter, not when you submit a request. This is the only fee that signpost collects. Interpreter rates are separate. Each interpreter communicates their rate directly to you during the request process and invoices you for their services independently. Interpreter rates go directly to the interpreter. signpost does not take a cut, add markups, or charge any additional fees.
The $15 platform fee covers the cost of running signpost. It is charged to the requester (the organization or individual booking the interpreter). 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 covers a single event or session (maximum 24 hours). For multi-day events, submit a separate request for each day. For events needing multiple interpreters, each interpreter is a separate booking. 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.
Only after you confirm your interpreter. Submitting a request is free. If no interpreter responds or you cancel before confirming, you are not charged.
If the requester cancels: the $15 fee is non-refundable. If the interpreter cancels: the requester receives a $15 credit valid for 12 months.
No. signpost is open to all interpreters regardless of certification status. Credentials are self-reported. You can earn a Verified badge by uploading documentation or linking to a certifying body like RID.
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? Check out the mentorship directory on signpost to connect with experienced interpreters who can help you develop your skills and prepare.
Requesters see your rate profiles when you respond to their inquiry. You choose which rate profile to send. 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 a $15 booking fee directly to signpost in a separate transaction. signpost does not earn any additional fees or commissions from any party.
If you cancel, the requester receives a $15 signpost credit. We understand things come up, but repeated cancellations are tracked and may affect your visibility on the platform.
Deaf clients can add you to their preferred list. When someone books an interpreter for that Deaf person, your name appears first. Being on preferred lists is one of the best ways to get consistent bookings.
The mentorship directory connects both novice and seasoned interpreters who are looking to hone their skills in any area, from voicing skills to establishing a freelance business. You can offer mentorship, seek it, or both. Choose your knowledge areas, indicate whether you offer paid or pro bono mentorship, and get matched with interpreters who complement your experience. Mentorship is only visible to other interpreters.
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 custom URL.
Yes. Your ratings are confidential. They are never shared with interpreters and never visible on public profiles. Only you and signpost administrators can see interpreter ratings. signpost only receives anonymous rating information in order to protect your confidentiality. Administrators use aggregate rating data to maintain platform quality. Interpreters who receive consistently high ratings may be highlighted, and interpreters who receive consistently concerning ratings may be flagged for skill-development or removal from the platform.
Yes. Submit a request to your preferred interpreters directly from your portal for weddings, family reunions, private appointments, or any personal event. You will discuss rates with the interpreter directly. 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'll receive an email invitation with a link to create their profile. Once they join, you will receive a notification and they will automatically be added to your preferred list.
When you create a booking request, tag the Deaf person for whom you are requesting, using their phone number or email address. If they have a signpost profile, they will approve your access to their preferred interpreter list and communication preferences.
Browse the directory to find interpreters with the skill set you need. You can filter by language, specialization, location, credentials, and more. Send your request to up to 10 interpreters at a time.
Jobs over 2 hours typically require 2 interpreters. This can vary based on job complexity, number and demographic of participants. Reach out to the interpreters you are requesting for recommendations specific to your request.
On the request form, select the number of interpreters required. This will create the corresponding number of booking instances, allowing you to confirm each interpreter individually. The $15 booking fee applies per interpreter, per booking.
Interpreters respond with their availability and rates 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 information, including appointment titles, descriptions, and notes. All database tables are protected by row-level security policies that restrict data access to authorized users only. Message attachments are only accessible to conversation participants. Profile data is only visible to users with an active relationship to that profile (booking participants, preferred list connections, or administrators). All data is encrypted in transit via TLS. Storage buckets for private content (like message attachments) require authentication and verify participant status before granting access.
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, storage access controls restricted to authorized participants, and an audit log that tracks access to sensitive data. 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 user, and a requester simultaneously. Use the role switcher (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 signpost, this is always displayed 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.