In follow up to several inquiries about Missouri Deaf Community's lost confidence in Missouri Interpreters.
Several incidents the past few months have lead us to lose confidence.
Some interpreters may be rotten apples at the bottom of barrel.
This is to clarify not all interpreters are that way, however they need to kick those bad apples out and set them straight on the right track.
Where is the peer pressure to make them to do the right things?
There was an incident where an interpreter told a deaf advocate to sit down during the meeting when that person tried to make a discussion.
There was an incident where some interpreters had heated arguments with some deaf advocates at a recent meeting.
There is an issue about using NIC. (National Interpreting Certification)
They prefer that NIC, Advanced and Masters all go into Level 5 MICS (Missouri).
We preferred that Masters go to Level 5, Advanced go to Level 4 and NIC go to Level 3.
They got into heated arguments... and showed disrespect to us.
As a compromise, we suggested Masters and Advanced go to Level 5. NIC go to Level 4.
Some are not too happy about it. Some even threatened to use lawyer to settle this matter.
There have been some meetings that they excluded deaf consumers.
Is it in violation of Missouri's Sunshine law?
There will be a meeting soon to review it.
We do question the legitimacy of certification of certain interpreters. Some cannot do the job, yet they are "certified". They cannot even read when we use ASL. We do not need to use our voices to make them understand. They lack perception skills so why are they certified?
I thank many people for responding publicily and privately on this issue. I do agree it is important to bring it out in open and review those matters that are dear to our hearts.
We do need interpreters and at the same time, they need to respect us and respect the ethics that are provided to make them professional.
We do wish there is a sound system where grievances can be heard and have due process taken care of those bad apples.
When the system is corrected, we may have new confidence in Missouri Interpreters.
Thanks,
Paul J. Kiel
A tireless Deaf Advocate
October 17, 2007
5 comments:
I've been hearing about the growing disrespect of some interpreters toward deaf consumers. This concerns me. It seems the interpreters forget that if it's not for the deaf consumers, they won't be getting paid for their work. Apparently some interpreters don't like the concept of empowered deaf people. Something is very wrong with this picture.
This paternalism and disrespect by the interpreters to their deaf clients need to be condemned. I am glad you are addressing this publicly. It's been happening to many other deaf communities, too, much to my dismay.
Hey, Paul
Glad you are still your old self! Keep up the good work!
I saw your story in SIGNEWS! Congrats for getting the SPOTLIGHT!
It is October 2007 issue.
You know me Me asl you oral
We went to Gallaudet College a long time ago!
Guess who?
Wow, thanks for letting me know with the update report while I was too busy.. Oh darn that I have to take a shower before I have to drag myself to work later...Big HUGS, Shawn
Interesting article.
I just posted a blog yesterday about deafhood, and discussed the role that interpreters have on Deaf culture itself.
This comment rings especially relevant to my blog:
"We do need interpreters ..."
Good timing. Interpreters are going to play a much larger and more adversial role with regard to Deaf culture in the future. Licensing boards stocked with a mix of Deaf/deaf/HOH people and interpreters will soon be reduced to warring factions between interpreters and everybody else.
Snitch systems will develop and I know it's already happening in New Mexico. Out of these snitch systems will bring about increased politicalization of the licensing board itself, which will have a trickle-down effect, spreading to both communities.
God forbid the day interpreters unionize.
:o)
Paotie
To: Deaf Community of Missouri
Don't give up your work, please. Keep up fighting until the system is changed better. Okay?? I hadn't been heard from Doug Bahl. How is he? I just wonder.
Thanks.
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