Beyond Access: How On-Demand Interpreting Helped Unlock a Team Member’s Full Potential

The Mint’s Mission: Build a Workforce Where Everyone Can Succeed 

At the Royal Canadian Mint, inclusion isn’t a checkbox—it’s a part of their everyday business. With a Deaf professional on their team, the Mint recognized that equitable communication wasn’t just about accessibility; it was about enabling growth, contribution, and career progression. That’s where Asign’s Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) On-Demand service comes in.

The Hidden Barrier to Productivity and Growth 

Before VRI On-Demand, the Mint relied on scheduled in-person interpreters. While this worked for planned meetings, securing an interpreter could sometimes take two weeks or longer. During that time, everyday interactions such as quick questions, casual hallway chats, and spur-of-the-moment feedback were harder for Deaf staff to access, limiting their ability to participate fully and keep work moving in real time. 

For Carrie Downey, a Deaf employee and Lead Operator in the Assay Department, this meant missed opportunities for learning, contributing, and relationship building. 

 “Before I had VRI On-Demand, we would have to book on-site interpreters, which are a limited resource,” Carrie explained. “Part of my job involves training other coworkers, but because on-site interpreting services were so expensive, that part of my job was often delegated to other people. That was frustrating because that’s my job—but I would step aside.” 

She often had to rely on coworkers to take notes, which meant only getting snippets of what was being said. “I was missing so much,” she recalled. “Once I had access to VRI On-Demand, it was such a relief. I was able to get the full story and finally understand the vocabulary and terminology about my work that I never knew.” 

 Without immediate access to interpreting, communication delays meant less visibility, fewer chances to demonstrate leadership, and a slower path to advancement. 

A New Approach to Inclusion 

With Asign’s VRI On-Demand, everything changed. Now, Carrie can connect to an interpreter within seconds—no waiting, no scheduling. That means real-time access to information, collaboration, and leadership opportunities. 

 “I no longer needed to schedule interpreters in advance and wait for them to come in,” said Carrie. “I was able to speak with my supervisors and coworkers at any moment.” 

 Whether it’s a manager stopping by her desk, a spontaneous team huddle, or a one-on-one with her supervisor, Carrie is ready to engage—in her primary language, American Sign Language (ASL). 

 Her manager, Charles Daoust, saw the difference immediately:  

 “Even though my employee and I were conversing in written English, I hadn’t realized it wasn’t her first language,” he said. “This is where we realize ASL really is a language on its own.”  

 With VRI On-Demand, Charles is able to communicate more effectively, get feedback, and build stronger relationships with his team. For him, the biggest value lies in being able to connect on a more personal level. 

Leadership Opportunities: VRI On-Demand as a Career Catalyst 

With the communication barriers gone, Carrie was able to fully demonstrate her skills and potential. When she was promoted to Assayer, a technical role that required specialized training, VRI On-Demand made the transition seamless. 

“I remember when I was first being promoted as an assayer, I would have two interpreters come every day for two weeks of training. I was uncomfortable and it wasn’t necessary because it would be two hours of instruction and then I would work independently, and the two interpreters would have nothing to do. But now that we have VRI On-Demand, I use the services when they’re needed and I can release the interpreters until I need them again, which is much better… Now training is easy.” 

Access to on-demand interpreting also allowed Carrie to take back core parts of her job—like training and mentoring coworkers—that had previously been given to others. 

 “Now that we have VRI On-Demand, I can do the training, and coach and encourage my team, which is amazing. Now I’m included. I used to have to suffer through the lack of access and the feeling of incompetence, but not anymore. Now I can show that I can do the job and participate, and I’m much happier at work.” 

Her manager, Charles, noted that this kind of access doesn’t just improve communication—it helps build stronger, more connected teams. He explained that traditional communication methods can unintentionally create barriers or isolate employees, which can have a real impact on job satisfaction. 

The Organizational Impact: From Inclusion to Impact 

The Mint quickly saw how investing in real-time access translated into measurable impact: 

• More productivity: Less waiting means more momentum. 
• Stronger teams: Deaf and hearing staff collaborate more fluidly. 
• Better ideas: Diverse perspectives at the table lead to better outcomes. 
• Retention and morale: Empowered employees are more engaged and invested. 

 Asign’s service didn’t just support Deaf employees—it helped the Mint recognize and tap into their full potential. For Carrie, it meant finally being seen for her expertise, leadership, and dedication. 

Meet Asign: Enabling Communication. Unlocking Potential. 

Asign’s VRI On-Demand service connects Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to qualified ASL and LSQ interpreters within seconds, no scheduling required. It’s built for workplaces that value real-time collaboration, inclusion, and growth.