Sign language interpreters facilitate communication between DeafBlind and hard-of-hearing individuals. They can be found in many settings, including education, legal, and employment.
They must be certified by a national interpreting organization. They also follow guidelines and strict ethical standards from that organization.
American Sign Language (ASL)
American Sign Language (ASL), is one of the most popular languages in the United States. It is a complex and rule-governed language, which consists of linguistically specified handshapes, locations, movements, palm orientations, and non-manual markers to convey information (Valli, Lucas, Mulrooney, & Rankin, 2011).
The American School for the Deaf in West Hartford, Connecticut, was the first to use ASL. Students who graduated from the school went to different states to set up new schools for deaf people, and they passed down to the next generation the “contact language” that has become ASL.
Many TV programs have an ASL interpreter, so that hearing-impaired people can understand the program. This is required by federal law under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Lip-Speaking
People who are hard of hearing and deaf can benefit from the ability to lip-read. It helps them to understand speech sounds that are hard to hear and can be particularly helpful if they’re in a noisy environment.
However, it’s important to note that lip reading is not a substitute for the ability to hear and access communication effectively. Interpreters for disabled people need to be able to identify the needs of the individual they are working with and work to meet these needs.
For example, many people born deaf don’t have access to sign language so lip-reading is used with British Sign Language (BSL). It can also be used in conjunction with sign supported English (SSE), which uses signs from BSL for normal English communication.
Tactile or Cued Speech
Tactile, or Cued Speech, is a visual method of communication for hard-of-hearing and deaf people. It uses manual cues, such as hand placements and shapes around the mouth, to communicate words that are spoken in a language such as American Sign Language (ASL).
Interpreters use tactile or cued-speech to communicate with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. They use the hands, fingers, and facial expressions to help the person understand what is being said.
The American disability service providers melbourne Act requires that public accommodations provide auxiliary aids and services to individuals with vision, hearing, or other speech disabilities. Qualified note takers, sign language and oral interpreters as well as tactile or cued-speech translators, real-time captioning and written materials are all included.
Disability Services must be contacted at least two weeks in advance to request interpreters for people with disabilities. The request must include the date, time, and location of the event.
Written Materials
Written materials can be a useful tool for communicating information to those who are deaf, blind, or have low vision. They are used frequently in the contexts of training sessions, medical visits, and other health-related situations.
Many factors influence the level of comprehension of written material, including the client’s reading skills and the language used to communicate the information. Deaf people may be better able to comprehend written material if they are translated by sign language interpreters.
As well, people with low vision or blindness may need assistance in reading legal papers and medical forms. This requires a qualified reader to read the information clearly and in a way that the person who needs it can understand. The reader will also need to be able to fill out the forms. Written materials can be provided in many formats, including large print, Braille, taped or electronically formatted for use on a computer screen-reading program.
