MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Like many Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) sign language interpreters, Cullman’s Hannah Dempster’s family connection led her to her new career. Dempster, who has a deaf cousin, said opening the lines of communication with him first sparked her interest in learning American Sign Language.
Dempster joined the ADRS team in March and made an immediate impact. She said she loves providing a service and growing as a person.
“Interpreting is a very needed skill,” she said. “You must have a heart for it and a will to learn. You are always learning and always growing.”
State Interpreter Coordinator Wendy Darling said they recognized Dempster’s passion for the profession when she interned with the department in 2024. They knew Dempster would be a great addition to the team.
“We saw right away that she was talented, and we were hoping that at some point we could get her on our team,” she said. “It worked out that a position came available, and we immediately thought of Hannah.”
ADRS sign language interpreters are crucial for bridging the communication gap between hearing and deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals to ensure equal access to information and opportunities. They facilitate communication in various settings, including education, on the job, meetings and many other situations.
Darling said the job is demanding, but ADRS interpreters are always willing to step in to help each other.
“We have a great team,” she said. “Everyone is highly skilled and has lots of experience. They’re all very flexible and willing to do whatever we need them to do statewide.”
This atmosphere drew Dempster to ADRS after a rigorous college schedule. She began her education at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville before continuing her education at Troy University, where she completed a double major in Communications and the Interpreter Training Program.
While much of her academic career was similar to traditional students’, Dempster’s journey through the Interpreter Training Program required a much more involved curriculum. Specialized classes included a practicum with strict observation through a deaf mentor in the first session and an interpreting mentor in the second.
“That is where I first got in contact with ADRS,” she said. “Over the summer, I would observe events, appointments, meetings, and get to sit in and watch qualified, highly skilled interpreters and see the process of how facilitating communication worked in a professional field.”
Dempster said she was impressed with the skill of the ADRS interpreters and took note of the number of non-interpreting staff members who also learned sign language to more effectively communicate with consumers. When it was time to secure an internship, she said ADRS was at the top of her list.
This proved to be a great decision. Dempster said members of the staff were very outgoing and always willing to help her learn. During debriefing sessions throughout her internship, she received feedback on approaching specific phrases and words and finding the best fit. Most importantly, she said her mentors had a calming presence.
“The team has always been so great,” she said. “We would get around, and they would give me some tips, some feedback. When you are interning, there can be nerves, and they could talk you down when I got a little too nervous.”
After graduation, Dempster used the skills she’d acquired through Troy University and her internships to secure contract work, but she said she always hoped to gain a spot with the ADRS team. When the door opened, she said she was quick to apply.
“When I saw that there was a position available, I jumped on it,” she said. “I knew that this was where I wanted to be, and it just so happened that it worked out.”
Dempster, who is based in Montgomery and helps cover 23 counties in south Alabama, said she loves the variety that her job provides.
“I love being able to see a wide range of consumers and signing styles,” she said. “It is very interesting, very fun and never the same. I love that.”
In her short time with ADRS, Dempster said she has already been embraced as a member of the rehabilitation family.
“They have all encouraged me beyond measure,” she said. “It has been an amazing experience. I think that is really what sets ADRS apart. We all have a lot of heart.”
