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Special points
of Interest: |
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 I
started
working for
SLR as a
coordinator
in April
2003. I
brought with
me my
previous
coordinating
experience
of 2 years.
Before that,
I had no
experience
with
coordinating
and had
never even
met a Deaf
person. I
only knew of
sign
language
from seeing
the
interpreters
in the
little box
on the TV
screen.
This was a
whole new
experience
for me. I
learned most
of what I
know from a
previous SLR
employee,
who some of
you may
know, Kathy
Kolar. She
was an
excellent
teacher and
not only
taught me
how to
coordinate,
but how to
advocate for
Deaf people
as well.
Some people
may think
that a
coordinator’s
job is
easy. Take
the request,
call the
interpreter
and the
interpreter
goes to the
job. I
quickly
found out
that is not
the case.
Taking the
request is a
project all
on its own.
SLR’s policy
is to get as
much
information
for the
interpreter
as
possible.
We always
ask for
basic
information
such as name
and address
for billing,
name,
address and
phone number
for the
location,
date, start
and end
time, name
of the Deaf
person,
language
needs even
though most
of the time
the
requestor
does not
know and on
site contact
name and
phone
number.
Easy,
right?
Wrong! The
type of
assignment
will bring
on a whole
number of
additional
questions.
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For parent/teacher
conferences I ask, what
is the student’s name,
are they the deaf person
or is it the parent, if
it’s the parent then
will the student be in
the meeting and names of
the other people involved
in the meeting.
For educational
interpreter requests,
what kinds of classes is
the student taking and
the start and end times
for each class to
determine whether one or
two interpreters are
needed and when is the
school closed for
vacation/holidays. For
medical appointments,
what is the name of the
doctor and why is the
patient going to the
doctor. For court
requests, what is the
name of the judge,
docket number, name of
the case, what are the
proceedings for (ex,
restraining order, child
support, etc), how many
Deaf are involved, their
names, are they on the
same side or opposing
sides and do they have
attorneys and if so,
what are their names and
phone numbers and does
the Deaf person require
a Deaf/Hearing team.
For Depositions, we will
always ask for a copy of
the complaint to pass
onto the interpreter in
addition to the previous
court information. We
also receive requests
for technical meetings,
conferences, trials,
jury duty,
attorney/client
meetings, mental health,
hospital, staff meetings
and let’s not forget
Vesid. This can involve
meetings for the vesid
counselor to meet with
consumers, consumers to
meet with potential
employees, short term
trainings, long term
trainings, college
classes, driving lessons
and even travel
training. With each
request |
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comes
a whole new set of questions depending on the circumstances surrounding
the request.
Some of our
requestors call regularly, so we already have a contracts set up with
them for payment. Many times, we receive calls from new customers who
most of the time, have never worked with a Deaf person before. At any
given time, I can spend an hour or more explaining to a new customer,
why they need to provide an interpreter and how hiring an interpreter
works. This can involve advocating for the Deaf person because the
customer does not understand why they are responsible to pay for the
interpreter. Once the American’s With Disabilities Act is explained and
it is understood that they are required to provide an interpreter, they
usually ask questions such as, how much will this cost, why is there
always a 2 hour minimum even if it’s a 15 minute appointment, why do I
have to pay for travel expenses, why is it more expensive if it’s a
night or weekend request, if the consumer cancels last minute, does not
show up, the doctor is sick, we loose electricity; why do I still have
to pay the interpreter and why can’t we just reschedule for the next
day, why do I need more than 1 interpreter, why does the interpreter
need a break, why do I have to pay the interpreter during the break, why
do I need a Deaf/Hearing team and my favorite question of all……why isn’t
there an interpreter just sitting around waiting for me to call with the
date and time that works for me?
(more)
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