Students - Student’s rights regarding interpreters

Deaf and hard of hearing students have a fundamental right to understand their hearing loss, their communication needs, and how to accommodate communication with hearing adults and peers. For many students, interpreters will become a frequent accommodation as they become adults, build careers, continue life-long learning, and have children.

As we explore what students should know about interpreting, let’s start with their rights. What follows is a Student’s Bill of Rights.

Interpreters and Kids: A Bill of Rights

• Students who use interpreters to access the general education curriculum have rights. These include:
• The right to access communication in my preferred language and mode.
• The right to a competent, and knowledgeable interpreter.
• The right to interpretation in the student’s preferred language and communication mode
• The right to access to all curricular and extra-curricular aspects of education
• The right to equality and respect.
• The right to consumer education that is developmentally appropriate.
• The right to be included in discussions concerning interpreting for me.
• The right to learn how to manage my own interpreting.
• The right to developmentally-appropriate independence.
• The right to professional boundaries and behavior from the interpreter.
• The right to be a developing human, who learns from support as well as mistakes
• The right to an informed family about my interpreting situation