Tips for Deaf-Blind Consumers Working with Interpreters

1. Screen Your Interpreters:

Request interpreters who are experienced, trained, and skilled in interpreting for deaf-blind consumers. For example, ask what kind of interpreting they provided in the past (tactile, close vision or distant) as well as how long and how often.

Keep a list of your preferred interpreters.

2. Advocate for your Communication Needs to Interpreter Agencies.

Be clear about your needs, and let the interpreter coordinator know what they are. For example, you could let him or her know that you need an interpreter to wear high contrast clothing, to sign in a small space, and fingerspell more slowly than normal.

Another way to do this can be to type or write out your needs or have someone else write or type your needs like a job description. Below is a sample job description for an interpreter working with a specific deaf-blind professional:

Interpreter for deaf-blind professional staff person

--must be able to mentally juggle and feed visual and environmental cues; copy/chunk coworkers’ comments in small group to large group meetings; must have fluidity of fingers, sharp and clear signing to accommodate client’s vision needs; interpreter must be flexible-e.g., to adjust from ASL/PSE distant interpreting to tactile interpreting and from sitting to standing; preference for light-skinned interpreters and black/navy blue ¾ sleeve and high neck shirt for purpose of signing clarity; must be able to work in a team and be receptive to feedback from team interpreter and Deafblind client; must be able to meet after or before proceeding meeting for feedback. You will get paid for pre-meetings and/or post-meetings; prior SSP experience preferred.

Note: In some cases, deaf-blind individuals may request an interpreter with light skin because they have a hard time seeing clearly the signs of people with darker skin.

3. Advocate for your Logistic Needs in Meetings:

For small meetings, you may want to inform the leader and interpreters about your seating preferences a few minutes before the meeting begins.

For example, let them know if you need to sit up front, away from the window, or need more lighting.

For larger meetings, workshops or conferences, you may want to find out who the logistics coordinator or contact person is. If there is a logistics coordinator or contact person for a workshop or conference, you may want to explain to him/her your seating preferences and other accommodation needs when you register by fax, phone or email. You also may want to arrive 15-30 minutes prior to a workshop or large meeting to discuss your needs and seating arrangements with the leader/presenter and interpreters.

Ask that the meeting participants follow these communication rules: