The best approach

[loml]

I recently had a conversation with someone who works for "Victim Services". This person would be the be the one to come and "talk" with an individual , say, for example there had been a fire or a car accident or an assault, getting statements before police and interpreter arrive.


They are trying to find out how do they best approach a deaf or hard of hearing person and help them in these types of situations. These people are volunteers, and at this time, emmersing themselves in ASL is not an option. Perhaps some PSE but not full blown ASL.

How would you like to see this handled? What do you feel are the most important things that you would need in a stressful situation and these hearing people are trying to basically maintain calm and relay information?

What do you feel these people must know, to help in this situation?

What do you feel is the best approach for everyone in order to be effective?

 

[loml]

Curious

I am curious as to why people have chosen not to reply

To me it is an opportunity to educate hearing people of the unique needs of other people.

 

[Rose Immortal]

Please allow me to be honest with you. I think people saw the title of your thread and assumed it was another one of your advertisement-like threads for Cued Speech. Most of your threads deal with one thing only so people may skip over them, assuming they're all the same--even if they ARE different like this one.

 

[loml]

Please allow me to be honest with you. I think people saw the title of your thread and assumed it was another one of your advertisement-like threads for Cued Speech. Most of your threads deal with one thing only so people may skip over them, assuming they're all the same--even if they ARE different like this one.

Rose Immortal,

Indeed, I am a supporter of CE/CS. One of the many things I support.

However, if people are "skipping" over my posts, then why are they even bothering to view them?

I was sincerely hoping that the diverse group of individuals here could give me some insight so that the VS hearing individual could start improving their interaction with D/deaf and hoh people.

 

[Liza]

When in doubt, break out the ol' pen 'n paper! That's the best approach, and it shows respect for the deaf/hoh person involved in an emergency. Not everyone is able to lipread or use voice. Sometimes, there may be a hearing spouse or friend willing to interpret in a case of emergency... but it's best to make sure the deaf person gives her or his consent to family or whoever that can interpret at the scene. I personally prefer pen 'n paper to a lousy and slow interpreter.

Personally, I think the very, very best solution is to set up an emergency interpreters network to come immediately when called.. like a fireman Of course, there's always room for improvement... but it won't improve until we start somewhere.

 

[Cheri]

Paper and pen is not always the best approach because some people have lousy handwriting skills and hard to read what they're trying to write, for example my experience at the hospital without an interpreter the doctor wrote everything down and his handwriting was horrible.

I feel that some hearings should know some emergency sign language, to communicate until an interpreter arrives. Or learn to clear their mouth/lips in order for a deaf person to read lips. That's just my opinion.

 

[jazzy]

I don't trust them, I guess it come with my experince with them. I would never write paper and pen with them. I must have a skilled certification interpeter, not so so signers cuz they can not read me.

 

[loml]

Liza, Cheri, Jazzy,

Thankyou for your responses.

Indeed, things have to start somewhere. It was mentioned to me that they do use pen and paper, sometime being successful, sometimes not.

VS has a sincere desire to be able to do their job to the best of their ability with D/d and hoh people. As jazzy mentioned she would want to wait until a certified interpreter was available, This VS unit covers a large rural area, my concern with the need for immediate action, is there not something they could do for you jazzy?

 

[jazzy]

Liza, Cheri, Jazzy,

Thankyou for your responses.

Indeed, things have to start somewhere. It was mentioned to me that they do use pen and paper, sometime being successful, sometimes not.

VS has a sincere desire to be able to do their job to the best of their ability with D/d and hoh people. As jazzy mentioned she would want to wait until a certified interpreter was available, This VS unit covers a large rural area, my concern with the need for immediate action, is there not something they could do for you jazzy?

VS is good idea but I do not think they have it here yet. We are building a new hospital and hopefully they will have VS for us soon. It had been 10 years since I had bad experience with paper and pen, so have not been to any er yet. I do not know much about it there. Lucky for me I goes to this place ( my doctor's office) where they have interpters with certification provide for us.

 

[Reba]

I recently had a conversation with someone who works for "Victim Services". This person would be the be the one to come and "talk" with an individual , say, for example there had been a fire or a car accident or an assault, getting statements before police and interpreter arrive. ..

In order to avoid misunderstandings, it might be best to wait until the interpreter arrives.

Perhaps the Victim Services person could carry clearly printed cards with the minimum necessary information such as, his/her name, title, and mission, and a statement that an interpreter will be contacted and will arrive as soon as possible. Depending on the victim's response, they can continue communication thru notes, or they can wait for the terp. During the waiting time, the Victim Services person should stay with the victim. Even if they can't communicate, just having someone consistant and present who can mediate thru all the confusion can be reassuring.

Also, for any Deaf who can communicate thru ASL only, or have weak reading skills, perhaps the VS person could carry a small DVD player with a video presentation of his/her message in ASL. I know that some police departments use ASL videos for Miranda Rights statements.