Clear Message Interpreting Service F.A.Q's
Q. Why is it my responsibility to provide a sign language interpreter?
In 1990, the United States congress passed a federal law called the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). President George Bush signed this bill into effect and it became the responsibility of a variety of businesses to make their services available to the general public. This is called making an accommodation. For Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals, a sign language interpreter is an appropriate accommodation.
Title III of the ADA requires hotels, restaurants, movies and theaters, auditoriums, doctors’ offices, lawyers’ offices, offices of other professionals, hospitals, nursing homes, drug stores, insurance agencies, retail stores, museums, banks, libraries, parks, private schools and colleges, amusement and recreation facilities, exercise spas, and day care centers to make their services accessible to individuals who are disabled.
Q. When is a Deaf person entitled to an interpreter?
An interpreter should be used when the deaf person needs this service to communicate effectively and to get equal access to services. Any time an interpreter is requested by the deaf person, accommodations should be made.
Q. Who is a “qualified” interpreter?
A qualified interpreter is defined to mean “a licensed interpreter who is able to interpret effectively, accurately, and impartially both receptively and expressively, using any necessary specialized vocabulary. The interpreting skill needed for some types of communication may be higher than for other types of communication. For example, an interpreter in a doctors’ office must be able to interpret complex medical terminology. Similarly, a high skilled interpreter may be needed for a court proceeding or a theater production.
Q. Can asking family members or friends of the deaf person to interpret satisfy the obligation to provide effective communication?
Generally, no. Family members often do not have sufficient sign language skills to interpret accurately. Even if they are skilled in sign language, a family member of friend may not be “qualified” in certain situations, because of emotional or personal involvement or the deaf individual’s need for privacy.
Q. I have a staff member who can sign fairly well. May I use this person?
No. The law requires the individual providing the interpreting service must be a qualified interpreter. There is a major difference between “signing” and “interpreting”. A qualified interpreter is able to impartially interpret spoken language into the equivalent of signed language.
Myths and Misconceptions
Myth: Deaf people cannot hear anything?
- Hearing loss ranges from mild to profound
- Most Deaf people have some residual hearing
Myth: All deaf people can read lips
- Deaf people can understand some of what is said
- 40-50% of English sounds cannot be seen on the lips
- Some sounds look the same (ie: p,b, and m) Requires a good English language background
Myth: Most deaf children have deaf parents
- only approx 10% of deaf children have even one deaf parent
- approx 90% of deaf children have hearing parents
Myth: Deaf children cannot attend school
- Early 1970 ’s, 48% of school aged children attended residential schools
- In 1984, 74% attended day classes, while living at home, while 15% attended regular classes with hearing students
Myth: All deaf people wish they were hearing
- Most deaf people are happy with their lives
- Young deaf people may say they would want their hearing restored
- Older deaf people often say they would NOT want their hearing restored
Myth: Deaf people cannot drive
- They can drive
- In general, have good driving records
- Research; deaf people are involved in ¼ of the accidents of hearing people
- 97% of signals that reach drivers are visual
Myth: All deaf people know Sign Language
- 90% use a form of manual communication
Myth: All deaf people know Sign Language
- The person may hear more soundsthe person may understand speech a little better
Information Statistics
American Sign Language (ASL) is used by at least 250,000 deaf, deaf/blind and hard of hearing Americans today.
Everyday, 33 babies are born with permanent hearing loss.
Ten percent of the US population is deaf, deaf/blind or hard of hearing.
North Carolina alone has approx 733,000 deaf, deaf/blind or hard of hearing individuals.
Most hearing do not know how to use sign language in order to communicate with their deaf or hard of hearing children.
Myth: Hearing aids restore normal hearing
- The person may hear more soundsthe person may understand speech a little better
Deaf Culture and Community
The Deaf Community does include hearing individuals, however the hearing individuals must be totally supportive of the goals and objectives of the Deaf community. They must work together to achieve these goals!
Attitude, Knowledge, and Language are all very important in Deaf culture and their community.
History
1550’s- A Spanish monk named Pedro Ponce de Leon, taught deaf children from wealthy families.
1760- First Deaf School in Paris, France founded by Abbe de l’Epee, the father of LSF (French Sign Language).
1779- Pierre Desloges, a deaf man, published the “first” book regarding the deaf-world.
1817- First North American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut, taught by Laurent Clerc.
1830- American Sign Language as the Language of Instruction.
1860’s- An Oral School for the Deaf established in Massachusetts.
1864- Gallaudet University founded.
1880- The Milan Conference: The Congress of Educators of the Deaf voted to ban the use of sign language from the classrooms and to utilize the oral method (reading lips) to teach children.
1880- Formation of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD).
1988- Deaf President at Gallaudet University.
Communication Styles
American Sign Language (ASL)- An actual language with grammatical and linguistic structure.
Manually Coded English- Utilizes various signing methods which reflect English grammar.
Lipreading (Speechreading)- Only has 20% accuracy; One out of five words are understood.
Simcom (Simultaneous Communication)- Signing while speaking aloud.
Cued Speech- set of hand shapes made around the mouth that describe different sounds.
SEE (Signed Exact English)- very literal; signed in exact English word order.
Pidgin Sign English- American Sign Language (ASL) signs in English word order.
Rochester Method- Strictly fingerspelling.
Facts
Deaf and hard of hearing people believe that there is nothing wrong with them, that their culture, language, and community are just as fulfilling as the ones experienced by the mainstreamed society.
People who are deaf often differ in language preference or skills, such as upbringing, communication mode, educational background, etc.
Some deaf individuals deal with prejudice continuously
Being deaf does not affect intelligence
People who are deaf have a rich, unique culture that is different than the mainstream (hearing) society, including: Language, folklore, jokes, poetry, art, theatre and community