Parents - What is the role of an educational interpreter?

Communication Access Support

Educational interpreters provide communication access to students who are deaf or hard of hearing by faithfully and accurately representing the instruction, dialogue and/or sound information in the mode of communication used by the dhh student. There are different types of interpreters based on the mode, or language, and/or the method the child uses to communicate, such as American Sign Language, SimCom, Signed Exact English, Oral, Cued Speech, PSE, CASE, etc... The interpreter’s role is to assure that the student can fully and effectively access all sound information. Interpreters can convey both “receptive” (incoming) and “expressive” (what the student has to say or sign) communication.

In the school setting, an interpreter’s role takes on greater complexity because this human being is not just a “mini adult” who is deaf or hard of hearing. Their charge is to act in the best interests of the child. As such, the educational interpreter will be constantly weighing a host of individual student considerations including language-level, academic competency, social/emotional, interpersonal, developmental, professional and ethical factors. So the interpreter wears many hats, but some should definitely not be donned.

Not a personal disciplinarian

Maintaining a healthy student/interpreter relationship is also dependent on the shared understanding of each other’s role, and mutual respect. for some teachers, educational interpreters are delegated the role of “classroom cop” when a general educator lacks the competence or confidence to communicate directly with the deaf or hard of hearing student about problem behavior. Since the interpreter is an adult in a position of authority with an established relationship and has the ability to communicate with the child, an assumption is often made (consciously or unconsciously) that discipline will be handled by him/her.

This can send a mixed message to the dhh student who realizes s/he is being treated differently than the other kids. It subjectifies the connection between student and interpreter, i.e., “she’s upset with my behavior, should I even tell her I don’t understand what the teacher is saying?” In other words, the student may perceive his/her right to communication access as variable depending on his/her behavior. This scenario usually results in serious dysfunction for the interpreter and the student, and the stakes are high. Fall-out between interpreter and student results in a breakdown in communication access and flow for the deaf or hard of hearing learner. This must be avoided by a proactive strategy to which all parties agree that maintains focus on the classroom teacher as authoritarian and disciplinarian.

A Changing Role Based on Student Age/Grade

The interpreter’s role is a changing one—not only from student to student, but from early elementary age kids to high schoolers. As the child matures into adolescent and teenager, the educational interpreter can play a significant role in empowering the student into self-advocacy. Encouraging the student to take a more active role in determining his/her access needs is crucial. Interpreters can assist in this process by shifting responsibility for communication access to the student. By high school, a deaf or hard of hearing student should be expected to know how to request interpreter support for classes and extra-curricular activities.

Click here for more information on the role and responsibility of the student.