Without qualified interpreters, iCanConnect becomes iCannotConnect

iCanNOTConnect Logo. The National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program

This latest post explores one of the most frustrating yet fundamental issues DeafBlind people constantly deal with. We are talking about the basic right to communication we all are endowed with to get ahead in life. Specifically, we discuss the essential role a qualified sign language interpreter plays in facilitating access to this human right.

Do certified interpreters guarantee DeafBlind people effective communication access?

There is a tendency among non-DeafBlind people to believe that the key to effective communication through a sign language interpreter is certification bestowed upon an individual meeting standards established by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID). While we generally agree that certification may provide an important quality assurance measure, there are many reasons why certification isn't always what it is trumpeted to be, especially for DeafBlind tactile sign language users. Here are a few of such reasons:

• Many of the best interpreters aren't certified but have learned to excel through practice and a commitment to lifelong learning.

• Some of the worst interpreters hold top-notch certifications.

• For many DeafBlind people, size, style, and color are critical factors in effective communication.

• A lot of interpreters over-sell their DeafBlind interpreting qualifications because they want to be part of the experience or simply looking to profit off an acute shortage of genuinely qualified DeafBlind interpreters.

• It is more likely than not that a lot of interpreter agencies purporting to hire only certified interpreters rarely have even close to half of a certified pool of such interpreters to dispatch. And here is the thing: it is even less likely that the requesting entity will bother to verify that whoever is sent afield is indeed certified.

Now, don't get us wrong: we commend those who devote many hours preparing to acquire certification. Valuable knowledge can be gained through such expenditure of time and energy. Indeed, the eventual certificate holder may turn out to be one of the best interpreters in the world.

However, knowledge gained through dedicated study and the ability to always act ethically based on a code of professional conduct is only two of the many crucial ingredients in the making of a well-qualified interpreter for DeafBlind people. The arrangement of tables and chairs in a given setting is just as important. And so is the way the interpreter's hands move under the palm of a DeafBlind client, which may significantly influence the effectiveness of the communication process. When these vital aspects are not fully considered, not only will the DeafBlind person be unable to communicate effectively, but there is also a greater likelihood of physical injury to both the interpreter and the DeafBlind client. Proper posture and ergonomics should therefore always be factored in; after all, unlike Deaf people, a DeafBlind client's hands are continuously moving during a tactile communication occurrence.

Personality and size matter when it comes to tactile interpreting

There is a saying that variety is the spice of life. This is a fitting adage for the astonishing diversity in human personality and size. Psychologists divide personality traits into 5 major distinct categories (also called "The Big Five"): openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

Personality differences also mean people make different lifestyle choices. Some smoke tobacco, others drink alcohol regularly. Still others like to wear strongly-scented fragrances. Moreover, one person's sense of dress may differ from another, and so does an individual's sense of personal hygiene.

Yet, DeafBlind people need to constantly be in very close proximity to an interpreter. Both people are touching each other's hands. The brain of a DeafBlind person should focus on processing information, not be distracted by "that weird smell." Deaf people, on the other hand, can usually situate themselves anywhere in the room, perhaps only touching an interpreter with a ten-foot pole – or watching the interpreter from another room through the glass – if they do not want to be seated close. This is not about being judgmental but respecting each other's lifestyle choices, as well as protecting everyone from potential adverse medical reactions like allergies.

As noted earlier, size is also an important factor in effective communication. A pairing of a six-foot tall interpreter and a 5-foot tall DeafBlind client would cause significant strain to their bodies, but this is irrelevant in the case of Deaf people. In addition, hand size, the shape of the fingers, and even the normal pace of an interpreter's moving hands may also influence how well a DeafBlind person processes information. For some DeafBlind people, even hairy or sweaty hands have a less positive effect on communication.

When a DeafBlind person is uncomfortable with a particular interpreter due to lifestyle choices, last-minute reassignment of an interpreter is virtually impossible. This is especially true in the case of tactile users. DeafBlind clients cannot just tell an interpreter to go home and change their clothing, or else disrobe right at the site of assignment. That's why an appropriate match is vitally important.

But does this mean a certificate is not necessary?

First, we must note that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require interpreters to be certified, just as it does not require certificates for guide dogs. The ADA, which supersedes all state anti-discrimination laws that go below its requirements, classified sign language interpreters as part of the "auxiliary aids and services." The U.S. Department of Justice, which enforces Titles II and III of the ADA, in 2014 released guidelines that defined an interpreter as "someone who is able to interpret effectively, accurately, and impartially, both receptively (i.e., understanding what the person with the disability is saying) and expressively (i.e., having the skill needed to convey information back to that person) using any necessary specialized vocabulary."

The fact that RID alone establishes the standards under which the qualification to interpret "effectively, accurately, and impartially" is determined raises several questions. First, with the available pool of certified interpreters dominated by hearing interpreters who are new to the realm of tactile communication, let alone the principles that underpin DeafBlind interpreting, what does this say about RID's credibility in determining what counts as "qualified"? Are DeafBlind people's unique communication needs truly reflected in RID's standards?

The second issue is the very low number of Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDIs) and the perception among many within the Deaf community that RID's standards are inherently biased against the Deaf. We cannot say that the claim of bias is grounded in reality because we do not have solid data to assess its validity. But one thing is clear: RID's certification authority is being challenged because not all signing communities are adequately represented in its testing standards, as well as the lack of alternative testing authorities to provide both greater accountability and more choices for those who do not want to be RID-certified but wish to embark on an interpreting career.

What's the solution, then?

This post is not an attempt to critically examine the wisdom of requiring interpreters to be RID-certified. What we want to stress here is that just because an interpreter is certified does not guarantee that DeafBlind people will have access to effective communication. The ADA broadly uses the term "qualified," while DOJ notes that "any necessary specialized vocabulary" is the key to ensuring DeafBlind people can understand information. That to us means respecting individual needs and using any language or mode of communication that suits each person.

There is a principle called informed choice within the vocational rehabilitation field first instituted by the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992. According to the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Management and Concepts Training, "The upshot of the informed choice process is to enable the individual to make decisions in ways that reflect their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, and interests." A similar approach should be embraced when providing qualified sign language interpreters to both respect the letter and spirit of the ADA and assure the equal participation of DeafBlind people in our society. In short, DeafBlind people should always have a say in the provision of sign language interpreters, rather than covered entities making decisions for them.

The consequences of failing to allow DeafBlind people to make carefully considered choices about effective communication access are numerous. Every person with a hearing disability deserves qualified interpreters, but DeafBlind people have far fewer avenues for accessing important information – especially of a medical, legal, or technical nature --  if they are faced with an interpreter who isn't an appropriate match for their particular mode of communication. It is also very plausible that every DeafBlind person has experienced a situation where they were sent an interpreter who either never heard of tactile ASL or wasn't properly trained to work with DeafBlind people.

How is this relevant to iCanConnect?

At the heart of our demand to de-certify LightHouse is its ongoing practice of either forcing DeafBlind people to accept ASL interpreters or rejecting their reasonable choices. LightHouse has consistently required, since at least 2023, that all interpreters be RID-certified, thereby dramatically limiting the availability of qualified interpreters. Meanwhile, the organization's management deployed various tactics, such as requiring a so-called "vendor agreement," imposing contracts (usually without any semblance of serious negotiation) that appear designed to act as roadblocks to hiring interpreters that are appropriate matches for DeafBlind consumers and workers, or simply running out the clock to prevent the hiring of qualified interpreters.

A business gets a permit to operate, not a license to discriminate

Some have argued that a business establishment has the right to decide with whom it wants to engage in a business transaction. (Would this same logic apply to denying service to customers with guide dogs because the business owner dislikes dogs, or to establishments that don't want to serve parents because the owner doesn't like children, or even to allow women into the establishment because only men are allowed to dine in?) A business is free to operate however it wishes to do so to succeed – or fail – according to the owner's interests, ideas, goals, or values, but it still has to comply with myriad rules, depending on its size and purpose: licensing, annual reporting, disclosure, taxation, health code, building code, and so on. Add to the list, of course, anti-discrimination laws.

In LightHouse's case, which is a public benefit corporation rather than a private business, we do not think there was a legitimate business reason for denying qualified interpreters. What's more troubling is that the iCanConnect program fully pays for ASL interpreters, so it is unconscionable that LightHouse would go to such extents to deny effective communication access through qualified interpreters. We therefore believe that the decisions of LightHouse's leaders are largely driven by ego: the desire to maintain a sense of authority.

Finally, it is worth noting that iCanConnect is all about technology. Providing specialized equipment and training involves a vast knowledge of Assistive Technology (AT) vocabulary. RID-certified interpreters are not, by default, trained to interpret for any kind of AT-related setting, let alone Braille-based products. iCanConnect is a unique program requiring highly specialized vocabulary that only a very few interpreters can master.