Feedback on this?

[LDNanna]

An interpretor does more than just simple translation. That is why there are levels of interpreting. Many situations require not just repeating "words" but concepts.

You saw the professional view of a long time, certified interpretor (Reba). She agrees with Jilllio, as do the rest of us. What about giving the client the BEST possible service is so hard to understand? It was apparently a difficult decision for Jillio. To give a client or a patient less than your best, or less than the law requires is unethical, morally objectable and could be illegal.

As a professional, Jillio gave the patient her very best and now the client will get what every one deserves, a qualified professional. No less.

There are times when it would be acceptable as in a dire emergency. Then one night act as interpretor until a qualied professional could arrive. This was not the case described.

Jillio is to be applauded for her decision.

Would you really want less for yourself?

 

[Reba]

...The client should had been ask it they would like Jillio to interpret for them, he/she may had said "yes!"

That could have been awkward. Suppose the client had said "yes!" and then jillio said, "Sorry, I can't do it." Then it would seem like the client's wish wasn't respected.

The two counselors knew their own limitations and didn't have to involve the client in their discussion of how to best handle the situation from their professional perspective.

The only presumption I wouldn't have made was about the "hearing impaired" comment. It depends on the deaf person. Some are offended, yes, but some aren't. At least jillio (or a professional terp) has the awareness that it could be offensive, and would be more sensitive to such cultural issues than the other counselor.

 

[Mrs Bucket]

Well said Reba.

It was just that jillio had the cultural sensitivity that the other cousellor didn't have or wasn't aware of.

For the other counsellor to ask jillio to interpret is like asking an EMT to make a sound medical decision when the EMT is not qualified like a Doctor is.

Granted jillio converses in ASL flunently however the interpreters are trained to interpret and assist in a multi conversational setting.

 

[Speedy Hawk]

I agree with most on here. You did right thing Jillo.

 

[jillio]

I would have gone to interpret and then asked the client if they would rather have a fluent ASL user for a therapist.

But that is probably unethical?

Unfortunately, yes, it is unethical. That is why I instructed the original therapist to ask the client these questions. It would not be a problem for her, as the assigned therapist, to question regarding a referral.

 

[jillio]

Are you a licensed interpreter? If not, do not interpret anything, even if a client begs you to do so. You wear certain hats in your profession and being an interpreter isn't one.

That is the way I saw it. In communicating in ASL one on one with a client, I can always ask for clarification of anything I am not sure of. An interpreting situation is different. Plus, I know what direction I want to go when a client communicates things to me. I can't do that if I am just interpreting.

 

[jillio]

I think I can understand the awkwardness you must've felt. One thing that comes to mind is what happens if something comes about where that deaf person misunderstands something and wants to sue the therapist for not having a licensed/certified interpreter. You can actually find yourself in a legal liability situation should that occur. I think you did right by saying "I could not interpret the session as I was not an interpreter", and that "you would be happy to see the client on a consultation basis." That was the right way to go.

Thanks, AlleyCat. I really didn't consider legal liability, but you are absolutely correct. My concern was making sure that the client was served in the best way possible.

 

[jillio]

I agree that you should refrain from interpreting but offer to consult (as you did).

My question is, if your co-worker knew that the first session didn't go smoothly, then why wait until the client showed up a second time before making arrangements for a terp to be present? Was it an emergency, short-notice session?

Actually, no. It was a scheduled appointment for a diagnosistic narrative. I truly have no idea why she waited, unless the client did not request a terp. But in a diagnostic, we try to get very, very detailed information, and the session sometimes takes 2-21/2 hours. Like you, I would have thought she would have considered that long before the second appointment.

BTW: I was hoping you would reply from an interpreter's point of view.

 

[jillio]

Mildly off the point - do you use CDI's as well?

Yes. I don't find the need for them very often, but I have had a couple of older adults that I was more comfortable working with a CDI because of the sign style of the client.

 

[Mrs Bucket]

I'll share an example that's quite similar to jillio's situation.

I had a counsellor who was quite fluent in ASL but I still preferred having an interpreter present to be on the safe side.

I did not want any misunderstandings or to be interrupted when I was signing or have the counsellor ask me to repeat. It does help to have an interpreter present sometimes when the situation asks for it.

 

[jillio]

I think you and your co worker should had let the client decide for their self if they would had like you to be in the room or not. If the client found other people were making decision for him/her behind their back they could be up set! You ask you your co worker how the client would feel about being called hearing impaired and then you go head and decide what best for the client! You did the same thing as your co worker did !

I did not decide what was best for this client. If you will go back and read my original post, I directed the co-worker to ASK the client how she would prefer to be called. And I also specifically told her to ASK the client about her feelings regarding a terp, or if she would be more comfortable with someone who signed. That was giving the client the power to decide what she wanted and which situation she felt would be in her best interest.

The only decision I made was not to interpret. And that was in the client's best interest, as well, because I am not an interpreter. Interpreting takes skills that I don't have, and I am aware enough of my limitations to say, "I can't do that." Just because I am fluent in ASL does not mean that I can interpret.

 

[jillio]

That is pretty harsh on Jillio. I think that having a client being in a room where there is not a one to one client, but several people or therapists including probably the co-worker want to listen what the deaf client said. Even if Jillio is hearing and not being a certified interpreter, it is imperative that she can sign with the client only one to one person in a private room like most therapists do.

You should not mouth it off as if you think that the client is acting like a child and not knowing what they were making the decision. It is in the interest of being professional toward making the client comfortable and understand what is going on in the room with other people. If Jillio is force to interpret for the client just because she knows ASL fluently, she was not allowed to sign as a ASL interpreter.

I would rather have the client get the certified interpreter than Jillio if there is going to have a meeting with the client with other professionals or just the co-worker.

Jillio, after you discuss with the co-worker, have you met the client?

Yes, I did agree to meet the client, and to assist the other therapist in determining how the client wanted to handle the situation. She was given the option of using a certified terp and staying with the original therapist, or having her case transferred to me so we could communicate one on one without a 3rd party being involved. Because the discussions during these sessions can get very personal, once she knew my background, she decided to have her case transferred.

 

[jillio]

I never said the client was acting like a child , that is your words! People were treating the client like a child , by deciding they knew what was best for them. You're doing the same thing by saying you would rather have the client do such and such. The client should had been ask it they would like Jillio to interpret for them, he/she may had said "yes!"

I am not an interpreter. I would not intepret for this client or any other client. I am only qualified to communicate with them one on one in ASL.

 

[jillio]

Thanks to everyone for your replies and your help. I am glad to know that I handled it the way you would have wanted had you been the client.

 

[marcyp06]

I think you did the right thing. Maybe meeting the client in person just to say hi and ask if they would like an interpereter and make sure they are comfortable with the communication levels.

I had job orientation with a deaf friend back in October. The terp they hired for him was HORRIBLE. He just sat there and told my friend "let me know if you need me to interperet anything." And then decided to go get a coffee in the middle of one of our trainings- on how to dispose of hazardous waste! My friend is completely deaf and doesnt read lips so he was totally lost. He asked me to go with him to the personel manager and complain about the terp. So he signed his complaint and I voiced it to the manager. She agreed to let the terp go and did so as soon as he came back from getting coffee. But then she said they wouldnt be getting another terp as I could just do it. I explained that my signing is purely social and learned on my own, I have no training and am not certified to interperet. She said it would take 2 weeks to get new terp so if he wanted to do that he would have to wait a month for next orientation session. So he and I discussed it I asked if he was comfortable with me doing it and he said yes and we also requested written information as much as possible. In a way it was really cool for me but I was also nervous as hell and probably repeated everything 5 times just to make sure he got it!

 

[jillio]

I think you did the right thing. Maybe meeting the client in person just to say hi and ask if they would like an interpereter and make sure they are comfortable with the communication levels.

I had job orientation with a deaf friend back in October. The terp they hired for him was HORRIBLE. He just sat there and told my friend "let me know if you need me to interperet anything." And then decided to go get a coffee in the middle of one of our trainings- on how to dispose of hazardous waste! My friend is completely deaf and doesnt read lips so he was totally lost. He asked me to go with him to the personel manager and complain about the terp. So he signed his complaint and I voiced it to the manager. She agreed to let the terp go and did so as soon as he came back from getting coffee. But then she said they wouldnt be getting another terp as I could just do it. I explained that my signing is purely social and learned on my own, I have no training and am not certified to interperet. She said it would take 2 weeks to get new terp so if he wanted to do that he would have to wait a month for next orientation session. So he and I discussed it I asked if he was comfortable with me doing it and he said yes and we also requested written information as much as possible. In a way it was really cool for me but I was also nervous as hell and probably repeated everything 5 times just to make sure he got it!

It was very kind of you to step up to the plate like that for your friend. And, in that situation, if there was something he was not clear about, you could continue the discussion after the orientation.

My situation is a bit different, as all of the information is confidential, and sometimes very, very personal. I cannot be sure that the other therapist is not diagnosing and making recommedations for treatment that are in error just because of a lack of understanding of deaf culture. That is my main concern. That even with a terp, there are things that do not get communicated, and that is where errors get made.

 

[marcyp06]

Yes, I did agree to meet the client, and to assist the other therapist in determining how the client wanted to handle the situation. She was given the option of using a certified terp and staying with the original therapist, or having her case transferred to me so we could communicate one on one without a 3rd party being involved. Because the discussions during these sessions can get very personal, once she knew my background, she decided to have her case transferred.

Glad to hear that it all worked out.

 

[shel90]

I would have wanted to be asked first instead of my therapist asking you to be the interpreter to see if I was comfortable with that or not.

Some people are comfortable with that and some are not but the important factor is to ask the client first. Empowering them is the key to getting trust.

You did the right thing, Jillio.

 

[jillio]

I would have wanted to be asked first instead of my therapist asking you to be the interpreter to see if I was comfortable with that or not.

Some people are comfortable with that and some are not but the important factor is to ask the client first. Empowering them is the key to getting trust.

You did the right thing, Jillio.

Thanks, Shel. You opinion means a lot to me, as you already know!:P I try to empower all of my clients. Much of their problems stem from the fact that someone has taken that power away from them all of their lives.

 

[Mrs Bucket]

jillio, as you know, you do the best for your clients.

Don't you hate that nagging feeling at your sub-conscious although you know you did the right thing? Each of us always needs that extra reassuring although you've been trained in this field, there will be days when you have that nagging feeling.