Driving Miss Daisy
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Deaf unprofessional “interpreter” translating for deaf, how do you feel about this?
Deaf unprofessional “interpreter” translating for deaf, how do you feel about this?
What exactly do you mean by "unprofessional"? Do you mean not certified, or do you mean a volunteer? Or do you mean someone who behaves in an unprofessional manner?
Can you give an example of the situation?
That's right, we're ravenous carnivores here! ROAR!Thank you PFH for resounding my same feeling.
Please share the meat of the story than just tossing out the fat first.
That's right, we're ravenous carnivores here! ROAR!
Sorry for the frustration It won't be no more one sentence here.
Here is a story. The agency did not want to hire ASL interpreters because of this deaf client tends not to show up. They cancelled her appointments 4 times. However, one day this deaf client did confirm the appointment date. They were uncomfortable hiring an interpreter, because they would be throwing money away if there is no interpreter needed. So they decided to get a hard of hearing counselor from their worksite, interpreting for this client and her case worker to discuss her immigration case. It is a heavy and legal stuff, how do you feel if it was you and your case. Mind you, this hard of hearing counselor does not know much about the immigration stuff. Yet, she speaks well and signs well.
How does interpreters handle cancellations? Do they still make people pay . How do they handle spanish interpreters when a spanish speaking client cancel it 4 or 5 times?
I do know that in my husband's workplace, they have hired people who know how to speak spanish so they could communicate with spanish speaking people on the phone. And they are not really certified.
The only certification I like to see is if my life is at stake.. like hospitals or courts (sometimes even banks because of the legal stuffs that goes with it) .
Correct. Same standards for private practice (freelance) interpreters.In the above scenarios, they were not cancellations; the client just didn't show up but the interpreter (s) did. Most of the time if it is an agency interpreter, they still bill for the 2 hr minimum; some might be more understanding and bill for just one hour.
In a legal, financial, or medical situation I would want a certified interpreter. Most especially ones who have a lot of experience in interpreting in these specific situations.
However, I can also side with the agency that sends out an interpreter for a client and the client fails to call in a cancellation or schedule change at least 24 hours in advance, and has done this a total of four times.
In this situation, a written notice needs to be sent to the client stating the policy regarding the use of interpreters and that in the future if she must cancel an appointment she must cancel at least 24 hours in advance or she will be billed for the service regardless if she failed to show up. JMHO.
On the surface, it seems reasonable. However, government agencies, which I assume this immigration meeting belongs to, aren't allowed to bill deaf clients for intereter services. They can emphasize to the deaf client how difficult it is to reschedule terps, and how these delays may adversely affect the client's case.Dixie, at first blush, your last paragraph sees like a very good idea. Maybe Reba can weigh in and let us know if she's ever seen/heard of that being applied. Why this is a good idea, to me is: PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY