Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Table of Contents

1. What constitutes a qualified interpreter ?
2. How do I find a qualified interpreter ?
3. What is the difference between a qualified and certified interpreter ?
4. Where do I go for interpreter training ?
5. Where do I find funding to offset the cost of training ?
6. How can I network with members of the Deaf Community ?
7. Where do I find resources ?
8. Where can I take Sign Language Classes?
9. Where can I find instructional materials/videos to help me learn sign language?
10. Where may I find information on working with deaf and hard of hearing children in a educational setting?

What constitutes a qualified interpreter ?

This is a question that garners a broad range of responses and reveals a number of misconceptions that often exit about interpreters. At the most fundamental level, a qualified sign language interpreter is a professional who facilitates communication between deaf and hard of hearing individuals who do not share a common way of communicating. The role of an interpreter is to accurately convey all messages between the individuals involved in a communication event. Interviews, classes, lectures, meetings, and other human communication interactions can proceed at a normal pace, transitioning fluently from one language to another, with the aid of a qualified interpreter

A qualified interpreter has demonstrated proficient bilingual and bicultural competence in the languages with which she works, can apply this competence to the complex cognitive process of interpreting, and has the ethical and intellectual maturity necessary for functioning in a professional capacity. Achieving qualified status, as defined by professional and legal standards, is an endeavor that requires years of learning, experience, and supervision or mentoring. On average, it requires 5-7 years of study and experience to become sufficiently fluent in interpreting to be considered qualified by most professional and legal standards.

Perhaps that biggest misconception concerning interpreting for people who are deaf and hard of hearing is the generally held assumption that a beginning course in sign language or knowledge of fingerspelling is a sufficient qualification to work as an interpreter. A person who knows conversational sign language would not likely possess the expertise required to perform well in the role of interpreter.

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How do I find a qualified interpreter ?

At a practical level, finding an interpreter may be as easy as checking your local yellow pages! There are for-profit agencies as well as non-profit agencies that provide interpreting referral services. These agencies maintain a listing of local, independent interpreters that work on a contract basis. You make one call and they find someone appropriate to provide interpreting services. The cost of the service varies and it typically negotiable depending on the type and length of the assignment, the level of skill and experience needed, and the cost of coordination.

Another option, if you chose to make the calls yourself, is to get names of interpreters in your local area by contacting a local organization of interpreters, a state agency such as Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the State Department of Education, or Vocational Rehabilitation offices. To locate independent contract interpreters, the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and the national Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) also have a listing of certified members posted on their Web sites. 

When preparing to employ an interpreter, it is important to know that deaf and hard of hearing people communicate in diverse ways and that there are many factors that impact communication and interpreting. For example, the age at which a person becomes deaf often impacts how they communicate. Someone who becomes deaf at the age of ten will already have a foundation in spoken and written English. Someone who is born deaf and never hears English will be more challenged in the acquisition of written English. Other factors include the amount of hearing the deaf or hard of hearing individual might possess, their family, language and educational background, and individual choice and preference.

Ultimately, the primary consideration in finding a qualified interpreter must be that communication flows smoothly between all parties in the interaction. If any person does not understand the communication that transpires, it may be an indication that the interpreter selected is not sufficiently qualified. In such an event, a more appropriately qualified interpreter may need to be contacted. When employing an interpreter, service providers and consumers should be aware of national or state certification and screening levels used to determine who is qualified to provide interpreting services in a given state and attempt to locate an interpreter with the most appropriate skill level for the situation.

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What is the difference between a "QUALIFIED" and "CERTIFIED" interpreter ?

The response to this question various from state to state. Some states have defined within the state's law related to interpreting the credentials required to be a 'qualified interpreter'. The credentials often include some type of certification, licensure or screening. A number of states have taken on the task of defining and implementing state policies/procedures for credentialing or screening interpreters. As a result, the state agency responsible for implementing the state standard awards the credential and then maintains a listing of qualified interpreters. Other states recognize qualification based on certification awarded by a national entity such as the RID or NAD. Again, a listing of qualified interpreters is maintained by the agency assigned with this responsibility according to the state law.

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Where do I go for interpreter training ?

Where one would go for interpreter training depends on what type of training one is seeking. For example, if an individual has no competence in American Sign Language (ASL) and interpreting and wants to learn to become an interpreter, there are a variety of academic certificate and degree programs available. A listing of academic certificate or degree programs related to interpreting across the United States can be found by going to the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID) Web site at http://www.rid.org or Conference of Interpreter Trainers (CIT) Web site at http://www.cit-asl.org.

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Where do I find funding to offset the cost of training ?

One source of income might be through grants awarded by various civic organizations such as Sertoma Club, Rotary Club, Quota Club, and Lions Club. These are examples of civic organizations that place emphasis on working with children or individuals with hearing loss. Zonta International and Quota Club are both civic organizations for professional women who have historically demonstrated interest in deafness related endeavors. You can get a listing of local civic organizations and their areas of interest from the public library.

Foundations, grants, and scholarships may also be available. For example, the RID has several scholarship programs for students of interpreting. In seeking funding, collaboration is key. Work in conjunction with your local non-profit Deaf organization, interpreter organization, or other stakeholders in the provision of qualified interpreting services. Finding common needs, and collaborating to find the funding to meet those needs creates a Win-Win situation for all involved.

In addition, the RSA Region VII ITP has funds available for professional development training. If your local interpreting community identifies specific training needs, organizations within the community can apply for funding to support those needs. The RFP process emphasizes collaboration within your local community, state and/or regional areas.

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How can I network with members of the Deaf Community ?

It is important for individuals who want to become fluent in communicating with deaf and hard of hearing persons to engage in regular interaction. Of course, in approaching such endeavors, the right to privacy and independence of deaf and hard of hearing persons must always be respected. So, what options exist for connecting with the Deaf Community? Consider some of the following community-based options.

• Make contact with the state association of the deaf. The NAD Web site has a listing of the state chapters. These associations can provide information on social events that are open to non-deaf persons who want to connect with the Deaf Community. These events are often recreational or fund-raising events that attract a large representation of the Deaf Community and are open to others interested in supporting the goals of the Deaf Community.
• Through state agencies (Commission for the Deaf, Catholic Charities, United Way agencies, Vocational Rehabilitation, Schools for the Deaf, etc.) serving the needs of deaf and hard of hearing individuals, you can seek out opportunities for volunteering. Volunteer activities with youth and senior citizens are often available for individuals interested in sharing their time and resources. In exchange, volunteers have an opportunity to connect and communicate with deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
• The yellow pages provide a listing of houses of worship and often indicate which services are accessible to deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Sometimes access is through an interpreter. Sometimes the access is through a minister, pastor, or rabbi who signs (and might be also be deaf). Participating in worship services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals provides another mechanism for connecting with the Community.
• Subscribe to local, state and national newsletters and publications by and for the Deaf Community. NAD has several publications that are good place to start. Go check our their Web site. Public events are frequently listed within these publications. Here are some other valuable national publications within the Deaf Community.

Silent News http://www.silentnews.com

Deaf Life http://www.deaflife.com

Deaf and American Sign Language Books http://unm.edu/~jmacfarl

• Some local Deaf Communities have a social/recreational club or meeting hall that is open to members of the Deaf Community during the weekend. These clubs host a variety of social events and meetings. For example, some offer Bingo on a scheduled basis or Pot Luck Dinners for socialization. Making contact with your state association of the deaf will lead you to these clubs. Talking with interpreters and deaf leaders in your community will give you the necessary insight into the local 'culture' and the degree to which non-deaf people are encouraged to participate in Deaf Community events. Some communities have a very open and inviting approach to the inclusion of non-deaf people, where other communities approach Deaf Community events as a unique and special opportunity for deaf individuals to come together and enjoy their common identify and experiences. If you are in a community that prefers the latter, don't take it personally. Instead, seek other ways to connect and participate.

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Where do I find resources ?

In particular, visit the DO IT Center Web site at http://au.frcc.cccoes.edu/~doit/ and explore the materials available for loan from the RSA lending library.

Also, using your Internet browser and entering key words such as: Deaf, Deaf Culture, Sign Language, Interpreting and American Sign Language will take you a large number of sites that will provide you with a cross-section of resource information. Enjoy the exploration!

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Where can I take Sign Language Classes ?

Sign Language Classes are offered each year by Outreach Services For the Deaf/Hard of Hearing with the Wyoming Department of Education.  Sign Language Classes are also available at Laramie County Community College and at University of Wyoming.  I am sure that many colleges in Colorado also offer sign classes.

Also, many colleges in Colorado also offer sign classes.

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Where can I find instructional materials/videos to help me learn sign language ?

There are sign language instructional/educational materials available at the Outreach Library in Casper (#307-261-6113). The child development center in Cheyenne (STRIDE) has sign language materials available to parents of children receiving services at STRIDE (307) 632-2986.

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Where may I find information on working with deaf and hard of hearing children in a educational setting ?

For information on working with deaf/hard of hearing children in an educational setting, I would also refer you to our resource library in Casper.  In the near future (hopefully near) we will have the library materials on line so that people throughout the state can browse through and see what is available to check out. 

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Source from Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Interpreter Training Project Resource Guide and Wyoming Department of Education Outreach Consultant for Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The DO IT Center give permission to copy all or portions of this information so that the information can be shared between interpreters, consumers and service providers.

The DO IT Center makes no guarantees, express or implied, about the quality of any of the resources listed in this document. It is simply trying to provide pertinent resources in many different areas. Similarly, the DO IT Center does not guarantee the availability of all the web sites lists as resources, we can only state that all the listed sites were working at that time this Resource Guide was developed.