...I have seen some threads that some doctors or companies don't like to have deaf around because they have to pay the interpreter's cost for them. One ADer said in his post about divorce issues and lawyer etc and explained that his lawyer cover the interpreter's cost for him... I suggest him that it could be that the lawyer, doctors or whatever can add interpreter's cost in their bill... and check with hearing about lawyer's hour fee to compare with... Example: the lawyer charge $50 per hour to hearing clients but for deaf clients, more than $50 per hour because of work out with interpreter's cost. It does the same thing with doctors, companies, etc. as well. Many US deafies think they are free which is not... They of course "pay" because they didn't know that they count the cost for their honoar, etc cover interpreter's cost to hide in their bill...
If the doctors or lawyers do that, it's illegal.
During a real estate closing, the lawyer
must disclose the dispersal of funds to the clients. As he was itemizing, he said, "and $xxxxx for interpreting services." I was interpreting. I stopped and said/signed, "Excuse me, interpreter needs a clarification. Did you say that the home owner was paying the interpreter fee?"
The lawyer said, "Yes."
I said, "I'm afraid that's an error. The Deaf client is not responsible for the interpreter fee."
To shorten the story, the lawyer had to cut a new check to the Deaf client, right then and there, to reimburse them for the fee.
(Yeah, maybe I stepped out of my role, so report me to RID.)
In this situation, the clients were also close friends (although the lawyer didn't know that), and they appreciated my advocacy. They were moving out of town that afternoon, and didn't have time to settle the problem later, so they were glad that I spoke up.
The lawyer and I had a private chat after the closing, where I politely but firmly reminded him of the law. (Imagine, having to remind a lawyer of his legal responsibilities!)
In the end, the lawyer blamed his secretary for the mix up. Ha! He was just a weasel.
Deaf clients can and should check their itemized statements from lawyers and doctors to be sure they aren't overcharged for anything, and that includes being charged for interpreter services.