CDI/CHI Teaming on VRI: What you Need to Know 

VRI, or Video Remote Interpreting, offers the accessibility of interpretation from the convenience of your device. This access technology utilizes video conferencing tools to connect Deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers directly to certified interpreters via their Wi-Fi connected device. Available on devices like computers, tablets, and laptops, VRI supports communication access when on-site availability is limited.  

Interpreting teaming, or the use of multiple interpreters at a time, is often necessary due to a wide range of factors. These may include but are not limited to appointment length, complexity, consumer user preferences, or highly emotional contexts. Teaming is regularly utilized on VRI between Certified Hearing Interpreters (CHIs) and combinations of Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDIs) with hearing interpreters. This article will provide contextual examples of this teaming and practical considerations when utilizing CDI/CHI teaming on VRI.  

For a refresher on team interpreting, check out this short video:  

For a refresher on the role of a CDI, check out this short video: 

Why Teaming CDIs and CHIs Is Important 

Deaf consumers with complex linguistic or cultural needs may require the use of CDI/CHI teaming to ensure message clarity and accuracy. This inherently recognizes the role of language access to not only help the Deaf consumer understand their hearing counterparts, but for hearing counterparts to also understand the Deaf consumer. Below are examples of the complex or cultural need for CDI/HI interpreting that may occur in a VRI setting.  

1. Emergency Medical Situations 
A Deaf patient arrives at the ER in distress and uses non-standard ASL or home signs. A CDI can help the HI interpret the patient’s communication more accurately, ensuring the medical team receives clear and life-saving information—even over VRI. 

2. Legal Proceedings 
During a virtual deposition or court hearing, a Deaf individual may use a regional dialect or exhibit limited English fluency. A CDI-HI team ensures full linguistic and cultural access to legal language and proceedings, which is often mandated for due process. 

3. Educational Settings with Deaf Students 
A Deaf student using non-standard ASL or coming from a bilingual background (e.g., ASL and another signed language) joins a virtual class. A CDI-HI team can work together to bridge gaps in comprehension during lessons, assessments, or parent-teacher meetings conducted via video. 

4. Mental Health Counseling 
In remote therapy sessions, nuanced emotional expression, cultural context, and trauma-informed communication are critical. A CDI-HI team supports clearer, more sensitive interpretation, minimizing misunderstandings that could negatively impact care. 

5. Communication with Deaf Individuals Who Are Recently Immigrated or Have Language Deprivation 
Some Deaf individuals may have limited exposure to formal sign language. When engaging in virtual government services, job interviews, or social work appointments, a CDI-HI team ensures that the Deaf individual can fully understand and participate in the conversation. 

Best Practices for Effective Teaming Over VRI 

We connected with Certified Deaf Interpreter Robyn Lehmann-Doane to explore her experience with teaming on VRI and what she recommends for her hearing teammates. Robyn emphasized the crucial role of a secondary video conferencing tool throughout the VRI session to facilitate exchanges between the CDI and CHI without jeopardizing the quality of interpreting for the Deaf consumer. We used Robyn’s insights to develop the following diagram to outline the use of this additional videoconferencing tool:  

Robyn went on to outline her experience with different applications by device type, “Apple devices can work with either FT or WhatsAPP. PCs-Android devices work best with WhatsAPP. Also, both PCs and Apples can do Zoom and MS Teams in 2 separate windows on the monitor screen, the same as using any video platform with either FT or WhatsAPP. This way terps can avoid using two separate devices. Everything can be on one monitor with one Webcam.” 

Ultimately, each assignment set up should be established mutually by the CDI and CHI team to ensure success. The diagram above displays the window ultimately visible by the Deaf consumer which is the visual of the CDI and the audio only of the CHI. This means the CDI is the primary signer and the CHI acts as the voicer for responses from the Deaf consumer.  

Robyn went on to explore additional video conferencing combinations.

“It can be any video conference platform: Cisco, Zoom, Teams, Adobe, Google Meets, etc. on one side 

while connected for Terp feed on any platform as long it is not two of the same videos. 

Two Zooms will only work if everyone on the team has two different email addresses with two different 

Zoom accounts. 

Examples: 

• Two Zooms with 2 different emails 

• Zoom with MS Teams 

• MS Teams with FT, WhatsAPP, or Whereby 

• Any Video Conference with either FT, WhatsAPP, or Whereby 

• Use whatever platforms the client uses with another video that is compatible with all the 

team’s devices. 

• My experience is that Apple is compatible with 99% of different video devices.” 

Why Do the CDI and CHI Need Their Own Video Window? 

Think of it like a news broadcast. You have the main anchor on screen talking to the audience (like the Deaf consumer), but behind the scenes, there’s a producer talking in the anchor’s earpiece, making sure everything runs smoothly. You never see that producer, but they’re essential to helping the anchor communicate clearly and stay on track. 

In the same way, during a VRI session, the CDI and CHI need their own private video window to check in with each other—like making sure they’re using the right signs, confirming what was just said, or planning how to approach the next part of the conversation. This happens before they relay it to the Deaf person. If they don’t have that space to connect, the interpreting can get confusing or break down. 

Having their own window is like having a quick backstage chat—so the show goes on without a hitch. 

Effective access over VRI requires more than just a good internet connection—it demands thoughtful coordination, the right tools, and a clear understanding of each team member’s role. When Deaf consumers present complex language needs, the partnership between a Certified Deaf Interpreter and a Certified Hearing Interpreter becomes critical to ensuring full, accurate, and culturally appropriate communication. By incorporating a secondary video conferencing tool, CDIs and CHIs can collaborate seamlessly behind the scenes, keeping the interpreting process smooth and centered on the consumer’s needs. As technology continues to evolve, so too must our strategies for ensuring accessible communication—whether on-site or remote. With the right setup and mutual preparation, CDI/CHI teaming on VRI can offer the same high-quality interpreting experience as in-person services.