Remote service of the Centre for Interpreting Services for the Disabled 

The remote service provided by the Centre for Interpreting Services for the Disabled is intended for customers who have the right to use interpreter services for the disabled. The service works on a stand-by principle, in other words, we receive interpreter bookings and provide interpretation in uncomplicated everyday situations. 

The remote service is available in the Finnish sign language as well as in spoken Finnish and Swedish. 

You can only use the service with proper identification. 

Via the remote service you can handle short issues related to the interpreter service without an appointment. You can for instance 

• book an interpreter, provide further information about your booking, or cancel a booking  
• handle matters related to interpreter service for students or additional hours of interpreter service  
• reply to requests for further information 
• give feedback.  

You can also use the remote service for short remote interpreting assignments without booking an appointment. About 15 minutes is reserved for each assignment. 

The remote service is suitable for uncomplicated everyday issues. These include  

• calling Kela’s customer service 
• calling the day care centre or the school 
• scheduling an appointment with the doctor   
• short contacts with the bank. 

If you have several matters to handle at the same time, it is a good idea to book an interpreter.  

The remote service is not intended for interpreting at long meetings or in complicated situations.  Such situations are for instance meetings with many participants, crisis situations, therapy sessions or legal matters where a crime or a dispute is looked into together with the police or an attorney. 

It is important that you tell the interpreter beforehand what your matter concerns. Also tell the interpreter if you are with your device in the place where you need interpreting or the hearing person is in the same place, for instance in a shop or a public agency. The interpreter can assess whether remote interpreting is a suitable interpreting method. If the matter is too complicated for the remote service, the interpreter can ask you to book an interpreter via the Centre for Interpreting Services for the Disabled.    

Opening hours and contact information of the Centre for Interpreting Services for the Disabled and the remote service. 

How to use the remote service 

1. Log in to the remote service. In order to log in to the remote service, you must verify your identity. The remote service uses Suomi.fi identification. The Suomi.fi identification uses online banking credentials or a mobile certificate.
2. The first step to using our remote service is to start a chat with our expert. Click the button Avaa chatti (Start chatting).  
3. Kela’s expert will join the discussion and establish a remote connection. If none are currently available, you can stay online or close the connection and try again later.    
4. Tell the interpreter your name. If you have a tablet provided by Kela, you should tell the interpreter your personal user ID for remote interpreting (please remember that the user ID is personal and that you cannot use another person’s user ID).  
5. Tell the interpreter what type of service you need. Do you wish to call someone or book an interpreter? Also tell the interpreter if you are with your device in the place where you need interpreting or the hearing person is in the same place, for instance in a shop or a public agency.  
6. If you wish to make a call, state the phone number and to whom you are making the call. Tell the interpreter in more detail what the matter concerns.  
7. Introduce yourself at the beginning of a phone call that is interpreted and mention that you are calling with the aid of an interpreter.  
8. Communicate calmly and clearly. Remote interpreting requires good cooperation between the customer and the interpreter. Also pay attention to the background, the lighting and the visibility. It is more difficult for you to make yourself understood if you use a mobile device and move around at the same time.  
9. At the end of the contact, remember to click the button Kirjaudu ulos (log out).  

Necessary equipment and settings

To use the remote service, you need a smartphone, a tablet or a computer. Your device must have

• a microphone
• speakers or headphones
• a video camera
• a web browser, such as Safari (iOS) or Google Chrome (version 64 or later) 
• sufficient bandwidth for data transfer (at least 1,200 kbit/s)

If you do not have a compatible device of your own, you can borrow one from Kela.

Watch the video on how to use the remote service (In Finnish):
 

Troubleshooting

If you cannot connect with the remote service, you can first try to delete your browsing history.

If you are unable to fix the problem, send email to Kela’s technical support at tekninentuki@kela.fi.