ABOUT THIS EVENT
Christian Vasquez is a catalyst for change in health care communication. As a Sign Language Service Coordinator with Provincial Language Services, he is transforming how Deaf, Deaf‑Blind, and Hard of Hearing patients connect with their care teams. His mission is powerful: build a health system where communication is not a barrier, but a bridge to safety, dignity, and equity.
Christian’s work has a province‑wide impact. He supports major accessibility initiatives and partners with programs across the health system to strengthen culturally informed practice and advance communication equity for diverse patient populations. His efforts help shape transformative changes that better equip providers, services, and emergency teams to deliver safe, accessible, and patient‑centered care.
Christian’s passion for this work is rooted in his own story. Born in Los Angeles to Salvadoran immigrant parents, he grew up surrounded by resilience, culture, and the power of community. With a Bachelor of Arts in American Sign Language from Gallaudet University, Christian brings deep linguistic and cultural expertise to the health‑care sector, as well as a commitment to ensuring communication access is recognized as a core component of quality care.
By the end of this interactive session, participants will:
- Experience a real‑world health care interpreting scenario involving a Deaf patient, a student nurse, and an interpreting student.
- Understand the roles and communication needs of Deaf, Deaf‑Blind, and Hard of Hearing patients, health care providers, and interpreters.
- Learn practical strategies for working with interpreters to support safe, equitable, and patient‑centered care.
Expectations for Behaviour
Diversity Circles, as part of the BCIT Respect, Diversity, and Inclusion (RDI) Office, has outlined the Expectations for Behaviour for our events and initiatives.
Diversity Circles has always benefitted from the empathy, sincerity, and respectful curiosity of our community, and this has helped create events and initiatives where we hold productive and authentic discussions, advancing our knowledge and utilization of equity, diversity, and inclusion principles.
As our events and initiatives continue to reach out to diverse audiences which include BCIT employees, students, and partners (BCIT Student Association, BCIT Alumni Association, and industry guests), and as we have moved towards presenting events both in person and via teleconferencing platforms, we realize that having a set of expectations for behaviour will help maintain the accountable, respectful spaces our community has come to expect from Diversity Circles events and initiatives.
Please take the time to review our Expectations for Behaviour prior to your upcoming participation
ASL interpretation, lunch, and refreshments will be provided.
Please consider bringing a reusable container to help reduce food waste from the event.
If there are any needs you have to make this event more accessible and inclusive for you please reach out and let us know.
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