Questions regarding Interpretors....

rockin'robin

rockin'robin

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To my knowledge, if someone (deaf) is going to Court, it's required to have a Board Certified Interpretor. What about the doctor's office?

Are Interpretors certified in certain fields, such as Medical Terminology? Or court related?


The reason I'm asking, was that I requested an Interpretor when I visited an ear specialist. The interpretor was unable to spell the words that the doctor was saying. She also asked the doctor several times to "repeat that, pls." So she used her own version relating to a word(s) she did not know how to spell and what she said really confused me....so I asked the Doctor for a print-out on my diagnosis.

Then I understood more, and googled what I didn't.
 
The ADA doesn't require specialized certification for interpreters doing medical appointments.

Individual states or hospitals may have additional requirements.

Even the requirements for court interpreters is not standard throughout the USA. RID does offer the SC:L (Specialist Certificate: Legal).
RID - Specialist

Next time, when you make your appointment, you can specify what level certified interpreter that you want. There's no guarantee that you'll get exactly what you want but you have a better chance of getting what you want if you let them know as far in advance as possible.

There is no medical specialist certificate but you can request that the terp they send you is experienced in medical settings. Also, you can ask for the highest level of certification terp that's available.

RID - Generalist

At least request that the same terp as before isn't sent.
 
this is why i want to become an interpreter. a few of my Deaf/HOH friends have complained about the very same thing, or even not being able to get an interpreter because the Drs think it is acceptable to rely of the patient's family members to translate. :roll:

sooo.. i figured, nursing is my passion and I definitely want to be an RN, but I also plan on getting my Bachelors degree in ASL interpreting after I get my RN degree and maybe do interpreting on the side (like on call or something?). Then I will have the medical knowledge and I can be way more helpful than someone who is just an interpreter and doesn't know anything about medical terms.

My only problem is I cant find any place near me that hires medical ASL interpreters.. I am not really sure how it works, if I would get hired through a hospital/Drs office, or a separate agency. eh, I'll figure it out. I still have a few years to go. :giggle:
 
My parents worked (they are both retired) at the NYS Workers Compensation Board. And my mother used to tell me of the desperate need of qualified ASL interpreters. In one story in the late 80's, she had to go into a case hearing with the client and his wife. My mother would face the wife and she would clearly talk to the wife as she (the wife) interpreted to the husband. At the time there was only 1 full time ASL interpreter for Long Island.
 
HelloNurse said:
this is why i want to become an interpreter. a few of my Deaf/HOH friends have complained about the very same thing, or even not being able to get an interpreter because the Drs think it is acceptable to rely of the patient's family members to translate. :roll:

sooo.. i figured, nursing is my passion and I definitely want to be an RN, but I also plan on getting my Bachelors degree in ASL interpreting after I get my RN degree and maybe do interpreting on the side (like on call or something?). Then I will have the medical knowledge and I can be way more helpful than someone who is just an interpreter and doesn't know anything about medical terms.

My only problem is I cant find any place near me that hires medical ASL interpreters.. I am not really sure how it works, if I would get hired through a hospital/Drs office, or a separate agency. eh, I'll figure it out. I still have a few years to go. :giggle:
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Even a terp who specializes should get experience in a wide variety of settings. The best way to do that, after you graduate from an ITP, is to work for an established interpreting agency, either state or private. They usually provide a good base to start with.

Also, as soon as you start an ITP, you should join your local and state RID organizations. That will provide you with training opportunities and networking.

I don't know of any doctors' offices that keep interpreters on staff. Large hospitals in areas with large deaf populations might keep a sign language interpreter on staff but most don't. Usually, the doctor's office or hospital staff member contacts the interpreting agency or private practice (freelance) interpreter as needed. They either have a list that they go down, or they have a contract with a specific agency. (Or, sadly, they are clueless.)

A good ITP should include a course on interpreter business practices. That should answer a lot of your questions about contracts and business ethics. :)
 
Reba said:
Even a terp who specializes should get experience in a wide variety of settings. The best way to do that, after you graduate from an ITP, is to work for an established interpreting agency, either state or private. They usually provide a good base to start with.

Also, as soon as you start an ITP, you should join your local and state RID organizations. That will provide you with training opportunities and networking.

I don't know of any doctors' offices that keep interpreters on staff. Large hospitals in areas with large deaf populations might keep a sign language interpreter on staff but most don't. Usually, the doctor's office or hospital staff member contacts the interpreting agency or private practice (freelance) interpreter as needed. They either have a list that they go down, or they have a contract with a specific agency. (Or, sadly, they are clueless.)

A good ITP should include a course on interpreter business practices. That should answer a lot of your questions about contracts and business ethics. :)
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Thanks :) I am a long way away, but that is some valuable information! :ty:
 
Thks Reba!...Just wish more interpretors were more qualified in medical terminology....would be great if the ADA would require that, and I'm sure for Court Cases also.
 
HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS WE HAVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A COUPLE OF HOSPITALS THAT OFFER A PERK...that is a pay bump for learning ASL.
POLICE OFFICERS WHO TAKE A TWELEVE WEEK COURSE IN SPECIALIZED LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN EARN AN ADDITIONAL $700 PER MONTH.
HOSPITALS ALSO GIVE NURSES, STAFF AND RESIDENTS A PERK IF THEY TAKE A SPECIALIZED COURSE IN MEDICIAL TERMS. ALL OUR DEAF BENEFIT FROM THIS AS OFTEN THEY IS SOMEONE TO ASSIST RIGHT AWAY IN AN EMERGENCY...I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT EMS WILL DEVERT TO A DIFFERENT HOSPITAL WITH A DEAF PERSON JUST SO THERE WILL BE A SIGNER ON DUTY, IF THEY KNOW A PERSON NEEDING TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL IS IN NEED OF ASL.
 
rockin'robin said:
Thks Reba!...Just wish more interpretors were more qualified in medical terminology....would be great if the ADA would require that, and I'm sure for Court Cases also.
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And you wonder why there is the 70% attrition rate among the deaf population in colleges.. :)
 
posts from hell said:
And you wonder why there is the 70% attrition rate among the deaf population in colleges.. :)
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Shame on hearing people for not having enough interest to interpret and not only that, they don't know how to interpret at an advanced level!

I'M SO FREAKING ANGRY!!!!! HOW CAN THEY OPPRESS US LIKE THIS?!

What? huh? You have books? Text books? Notes? NO I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE GUY SAID BEHIND ME IN ORDER TO GRADUATE!
 
Daredevel7 said:
Shame on hearing people for not having enough interest to interpret and not only that, they don't know how to interpret at an advanced level!

I'M SO FREAKING ANGRY!!!!! HOW CAN THEY OPPRESS US LIKE THIS?!

What? huh? You have books? Text books? Notes? NO I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE GUY SAID BEHIND ME IN ORDER TO GRADUATE!
Click to expand...

Nice comeback... I'll let you think about that one.
 
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