A deaf interpreter, also known as a sign language interpreter, is a person who communicates between people who are deaf or hard of hearing and people who speak. Some deaf interpreters have passed the National Interpreter Certification (NIC) exam, while others have been certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) or the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) (NAD). Generalist Certification and Specialist Certification are the two types of certification available. What a deaf interpreter does will, to some extent, depend on whether or not he or she is certified, and if so, whether as a generalist or specialist. RID has also defined twelve different roles for interpreters.
As a deaf interpreter, generalist certification indicates that the certificate holder is capable of interpreting and transliterating in a variety of situations. However, the type of certification can still indicate what the holder is capable of. For example, RID’s OTC (Oral Transliteration Certificate) is only certified in the use of silent oral techniques and natural gestures to transliterate a spoken message from a hearing person to a deaf or hard-of-hearing person. Individuals who meet the standard in both voice-to-sign and sign-to-voice skills are awarded a NAD Certificate, on the other hand.
The Ed: K-12 certificate is a separate certificate that is listed under generalist but serves a specific segment of the population (Education Certificate). The Boys Town National Research Hospital administers the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA). This certificate is for classroom interpreters, but it is not restricted to a single sign system. The certificate is for interpreters who work with students who use ASL, MCE, or PSE (Pidgin Sign English) and can demonstrate voice-to-sign and sign-to-voice proficiency. Both specialist certificates for interpreting in legal settings are currently available.
Another way to look at what interpreters do is to look at the roles that RID defines in its Standard Practice Papers for interpreters (SPPs). As an example, as previously mentioned, a deaf interpreter may work in a school setting, both in the classroom and accompanying students on field trips, athletic competitions, and other situations outside of the classroom. A deaf interpreter may also work in a legal setting, such as a courtroom, as previously mentioned.
A deaf interpreter may also work in a health-care setting, such as during appointments, providing patient education and counseling, or assisting a patient in being admitted to an emergency room. A mental health care setting is a more specialized example of where a deaf interpreter might be employed. For example, you could assist in a psychiatric evaluation, a self-help group, an emergency room, or a residential facility.
A religious setting, such as a worship service, weddings or funerals, or retreats or religious education classes, is another place where an interpreter might work. Another aspect of interpreting is conferences or performances where the speaker, presenter, or actor’s words are signed or transliterated. Video Relay Service (VRS) interpreting allows people who communicate with ASL to make phone calls, and it is staffed by a large number of deaf interpreters to ensure constant access.