Haley’s sign language interpreter’s flair gains attention of social media
COLUMBIA — A Charleston sign language interpreter said he’s surprised by the amount of attention he’s getting for providing the service during the state’s Hurricane Matthew emergency updates this week.
“I’m doing my job,” Jason Hurdich said Wednesday. “I’m providing communication access to the community so they get essential information and can prepare for the hurricane. I give them the information they need to evacuate safely and make sure there’s no loss of life.”
The S.C. Vocational Rehabilitation Department provides interpretive services for Gov. Nikki Haley and others when the need arises. Haley used an interpreter at one press conference during last year’s record floods. Interpreters will be at all of Haley’s emergency press conferences this year.
Hurdich, who is deaf and spoke through an interpreter, said he is honored to provide the service to the more than 68,000 people with hearing disabilities in the state. While gaining attention on social media for what some referred to as his exaggerated motions, Hurdich said he is trying to convey the emotion behind what the governor and other state officials say in their press conferences.
“I do a lot of facial expressions and I know people are making comments about how expressive I am,” he said. “It’s the same as vocal intonation — if someone is very calm, my signing will be very calm. The signing needs to match the intent.”
Shonna Magee, the statewide coordinator of the agency’s deaf and hard-of-hearing services, sits in front of Hurdich and interprets what state officials are saying, along with other critical information.
“I have a language expertise,” Magee said. “I don’t have the cultural expertise (Hurdich) has.”
Hurdich, a Certified Deaf Interpreter, provides context and intonation to people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing at home, based on the information he gets from Magee.
Hurdich wasn’t the only interpreter providing services this week. Jana Swenson was the sign language interpreter for the city of Charleston’s press conference Wednesday afternoon. As a freelance interpreter, she has signed for individuals and in front of crowds at business events — but she hadn’t participated in a local news conference before.
“As an interpreter, you go with the flow and do the best that you can, and gather as much information as possible beforehand so the message is on par and clear to the deaf community,” she said. “We’re here to make sure they get equal access to communication so they’re informed of what’s happening in their community.”
A native New Yorker, Hurdich moved to South Carolina only two months ago to work with the state’s Vocational Rehabilitation Department. He’s been a certified interpreter for a few years and normally provides services at court hearings when he’s not counseling those who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.
This is the first time Hurdich has provided services to a governor, but he did interpret for President Barack Obama at a campaign event.
That gig didn’t get him nearly the amount of attention this hurricane event has, but he’s taking his newfound fame in stride.
“I’m just trying to do my job,” he said. “But I am humbled.”
Abigail Darlington contributed to this report from Charleston. Reach Maya T. Prabhu at 843-509-8933.
