What are guidelines for hiring an interpreter for parents who are deaf or hard of hearing?
While the basic function of educational interpreters is the same as that of freelance interpreters, a critical difference is often the skill level in understanding the message of the deaf adult who uses American Sign Language. Not all educational interpreters are able to perform the task of interpreting for parents in meetings or for other school programs made available to the public therefore a district may need to consider hiring a freelance interpreter. Best practice is to ask the deaf parents if they have a preference and attempt to contact that interpreter. Parents may request an interpreter with Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) certification or Wisconsin Interpreting/Transliterating Assessment (WITA) level (1=high, 4 = low), or they may request an interpreter by name. To contact freelance interpreters, see the list at the back of this bulletin. 12. How are educational interpreter services written into the IEP? The services of the educational interpreter can be stated o
