A skilled American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter workforce is critical to ensuring equitable communication access for all d/Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard-of-hearing ASL users. ASL interpreting is a particularly complex technical skill that requires:

• High level of language proficiency in both ASL and English; 
• The ability to capture an individual’s unique phrasing, 
• Expression and intonation, 
• Professional presence and poise; 
• The skills to effectively facilitate communication flow and turn-taking between two languages; 
• The ability to understand and relay cultural variations, knowledge and practice of appropriate standards of conduct.

Education alone is not enough to acquire this level of expertise. Opportunities for practical application with a mentor is essential for skill development, and may also be required for certain levels of professional credentialing. 

The National Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf (RID) Mentoring Standard Practice Paper (2007), stated that the experiences gained through mentorship foster a higher level of professionalism for both the mentor and the mentee. The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf (LCD) and the board of commissioners have recognized this critical need in the state and have created a Statewide Mentorship Program for ASL interpreters, launching in 2024.