An Assessment Of The Views And Qualifications Of Educational Interpreters For The Hearing Impaired In Fairfax County In Virginia

Author : Leilani J. Johnson
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780994027030
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (27 download)

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Download or read book Complexities in Educational Interpreting written by Leilani J. Johnson and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Education unlocks lifelong opportunities, and by law every child in the Unites States has the right to a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. This education right is guaranteed by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, by the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94-142) of 1975, and by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA). A highly qualified educational team is essential for students who are deaf and hard of hearing to build their futures in the K-12 classrooms of today. Identified as Related Services Personnel, educational interpreters are key members of the educational team for students who rely on sign language interpretation. Interpreting is complex and multifaceted, and the complexity increases when the task involves students in their day-to-day public education. Like other students in the school, each student who accesses the general curriculum through an educational interpreter is a unique person with his or her own background, ways of interacting and learning, interests, and vision of who he or she wants to become. Educational interpreters who have mastered general interpreting competencies also must acquire specialized competencies to become integrated members of the educational team. In addition, educational interpreters must understand their role in support of students who are deaf and hard of hearing, to include providing access to communication outside of classroom instruction, such as conversations with friends during lunch and extra-curricular activities. They must also understand the roles undertaken by other members of the educational team such as school audiologists and career counselors (Antia et al., 2011; Fitzmaurice, 2017; La Bue, 1998; Marschark et a l., 2005a, 2005b; Patrie & Taylor, 2007; Russell & Winston, 2014; Winston, 2004; Wolbers et al., 2012), and school interpreters must know how to effectively interface with others in the school who support and interact with students who are deaf and hard of hearing. In 2004, the reauthorization of the IDEA identified educational interpreting as one of 11 primary categories of Related Services Personnel such as school nurses and speech pathologists needed to support students with special needs. Four decades of research and federal actions regarding interpreting in K-12 settings have resulted in a body of evidence which demonstrates that educational interpreters, like other Related Services Personnel, are professionals who should be required to have, at minimum: 1. Academic credentials—a rigorous four-year preservice program that leads to mastery of specific knowledge sets and interpreting skills related to K-12 students; 2. Professional credentials—demonstrated and documented knowledge sets and interpreting skills relevant to working with K-12 students; 3. Continuing education—a commitment to ongoing professional development in the field of educational interpreting; and 4. Supervision and accountability system—a defined assessment and evaluation system to monitor the quality of services provided. The first and second foundations—academic and professional credentials—are required before interpreters are hired. The third and fourth foundations—continued professional development, and supervision and accountability systems—are most applicable once they are working interpreters, especially as employees of a school system."--