Can Video Remote Interpreting Help with Educational Interpreter Shortages?
Friday January 11, 2008
A high school in Aberdeen, South Dakota has turned to video remote interpreting after being unable to find enough educational interpreters. So far, it has worked fairly well but is not as good as a "real" interpreter. If you had a deaf or hard of hearing child in a mainstream classroom, would you accept the use of a video remote interpreter as a last resort if the school system could not find an interpreter for your child?
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Related article on About.com: Video Remote Interpreting
Comments
Absolutely not! Educational interpreters are part of the educational team, and SHOULD prepare before the interpreting assignment, be aware of the teacher’s goals for the lesson, do enough prep work to make sure they remain conceptually accurate and use the appropriate signs. AND STILL SCREW UP. These are children’s educations! Interpreting is not a perfect process, even less so when you throw an interpreter in unprepared. The child would be at a SEVERE disadvantage.
In an ABSOLUTE EMERGENCY I would be okay with this. Certainly not on an ongoing basis. More than likely this is NOT a question of not being able to find enough interpreters but more than likely an unwillingness to pay for the services.
(Just the opinion of a mom with a interp daughter and a deaf daughter.)