Educational Interpreter Problem

[Reba]

...Although I'm glad to hear you do try to get involved with Deaf events. Not too many I hear are willing to do that and I sometimes wonder why tell me elementary school is hard to improve and never go to any Deaf events to talk with other Deaf adults and improve their signing. Go figure! :P Yes I know 'terps have a life outside of interpreting for people and want to take a break.. I'm just saying when there is an opportunity and you know of a possibility to improve signing skills then of course grab the chance!

Yep. During my years of interpreting, I saw very few of the school terps at Deaf events. I tried to pass the word to them about silent dinners and interpreting workshops but I rarely saw any of them show up. They did show up at training opportunities if their school districts paid for them. That was about it. Sometimes I got the feeling that they were intimidated by Deaf adults. Deaf kids were OK--dare I say "manageable" but Deaf adults were, ahem, too independent for them. The school terps that I did see at Deaf events were usually the ones who were either CODAs or also involved in community or church interpreting. That is, they had other contacts with Deaf adults.