Sign Language Classes Atlanta

ASL Interpreters & Online-Based Sign Language Classes in Atlanta

Our Atlanta team can help you with any of your sign language interpreting needs. If you’re in search of an expert sign language interpreter in Atlanta, or require comprehensive sign language classes, we’re is here to assist.The coordinating staff provides you with the right interpreting services based on your specific needs and are dedicated to bridging the communication gap for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.

Meet Our Team

Rick Wright

Director of Interpreting Services

Rick Wright is a nationally certified interpreter (CI/CT) who worked as a freelance interpreter with Sign Language Interpreting Specialists, Inc. (SLIS) for a decade before moving into the position of Project Manager of Interpreter Coordination. After coordinating for four years, Rick stepped into the role of Regional Director when SLIS became part of the Interpretek family.

”I had taken ASL courses at Xavier University, and one of the Deaf instructors, Maryann Barth, came up to me at the end of the first semester and said I had potential for interpreting as a career. I’m forever grateful to Maryann for that encouragement,” says Rick.

Rick obtained his AAS in sign language interpreting from Georgia Perimeter College, his BA in Communication from Oglethorpe University, and his MA in Communication from Georgia State University. Rick has served in various roles on the board of the Georgia Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (GaRID) and was honored to serve as a keynote speaker for GaRID’s conference in the past. Rick is a published writer and has presented on interpreting and Deaf culture at various national and regional conferences, including the Society for Disability Studies, the Conference on College Composition and Communication, and the National Communication Association, where he won a top paper award. In addition to his experience in the field of interpreting, Rick brings nearly a decade of coordinating/logistics experience working with Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Coordinators

Adam Black

Coordinator

Adam Black works as an interpreter coordinator for the Interpretek Atlanta office. He graduated from Georgia College and State University in 2012 with a BA in Criminal Justice and a minor in Women’s Studies.

Adam was born and raised on the outskirts and more rural part of metro Atlanta. He met his wife, who is an interpreter, in 2012 and through her was introduced to more and more interpreters and people in the Deaf community.

In 2017, shortly after Interpretek acquired SLIS, Adam was brought in to be the overnight interpreter coordinator. He worked overnights until summer of 2019, when he shifted over to daylight hours in order to help with the workload. While he never worked as a coordinator prior to Interpretek, he has plenty of experience in a fast-paced, high stress environment both as a team leader as well as support member. Adam’s approach and philosophy to working on the desk is trying to find humor in whatever is happening, even if it’s laughing at how crazy things can get.

Chezon Jackson-Thompson

Coordinator

Chezon Jackson-Thompson’s love of sign language began at an early age, which lead to her to pursue learning ASL first from books and then though interaction with the deaf community. She graduated from the Sign Language Interpreting program at Georgia Perimeter College in 2012.

Chezon started her career at Intepretek in 2022 as a Coordinator. She brings over a decade of coordinating and database experience working with companies such as Coca-Cola Bottling Company and US Foods. Her hobbies include reading, writing poetry, jewelry making and paper crafts. Her poetry has been published in multiple anthologies.

Jethro Wooddall

Coordinator

Jethro Wooddall is Deaf transgender interpreter from Georgia. His first language is Sign Language as he was born Deaf. He became fluent in American Sign Language after learning Signed Exact English and Pidgin Sign English. Jethro also has good command of English, both written and spoken.

While working as a Deaf Interpreter, Jethro also worked as a news anchor for Sign1News for four years. In total, Jethro has five years of experience working as a Deaf Interpreter.

With his growth as a Deaf interpreter, came the desire to bring the Deaf community and the Interpreter community closer together. The position as a staff interpreter/coordinator gives him the opportunity to make impacts by bridging the communities so everyone can thrive in a collaborative environment. Jethro feels fortunate to be a part of the Interpretek team to ensure that we provide quality services to the communities that we serve.

“Sign Language is the noblest gift God has given to Deaf people.” George Veditz

Natasha Patterson

Coordinator

As a Child of Deaf Adult (CODA), Natasha Patterson has been around sign language for most of her life. In October 2019, she joined the Interpretek team as a coordinator and started staff interpreting in January of 2021.

She is a qualified interpreter within the classroom with an Education Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) score of 3.6. In addition to her role with Interpretek, Natasha has been a National Alliance of Black Interpreters (NAOBI) Atlanta Board member since 2021. She is a huge Dallas Cowboys fan, music lover and foodie!