These procedures are to help you better understand our policies when utilizing interpreter services.  An interpreter is part of the support services team. If a situation occurs in the classroom which may have an influence on the educational process, it will be reported to key members at Disabled Student Services (DSS). If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ruth Usher, Lead Interpreter, at (909) 869-3271.

HOW TO RECEIVE INTERPRETER SERVICES

You must request interpreters by filling out a Support Services Request (SSR) form before the beginning of the quarter. At the time you register for classes, it is highly recommended that you turn into the DSS office your tentative SSR form. This will give the coordinator time to schedule services before the first day of classes and give you more efficient services. If requests are made after the quarter begins, a reasonable effort will be made to fulfill the request as soon as possible. We cannot guarantee that you will get an interpreter immediately, particularly when there is a shortage of available skilled interpreters. However, reasonable accommodation will be made in the interim, such as notetakers or Real-Time Captioning services.

REQUESTING SPECIFIC INTERPRETERS

You can speak with the Lead Interpreter if there is a reason as to why you would prefer an interpreter for a specific class. We will try to accommodate requests, but there is no guarantee as to whether you request will be fulfilled due to the high demand of classes which need to be filled.

WHAT TO DO IF AN INTERPRETER DOES NOT SHOW UP TO CLASS

If your interpreter has not arrived to class after 5 minutes, you should call the DSS office from the nearest phone, or find the closest department secretary to call for you. All Department Secretary's have TTY's. We may be unaware that the interpreter is not there. We will do our best to locate an interpreter to substitute. If there is a consistent problem with your interpreter being late to class, please notify the Lead Interpreter.

WHAT TO DO IF I AM GOING TO BE ABSENT FROM CLASS

It is expected that students will notify the DSS office if they will miss a class or if they will be late. Students should call (909) 869-3333 at least 1 hour prior to class. 

CONSISTENT ABSENCES

If you have 3 "No Shows" in any class without notifying the DSS office, it will be assumed that you have dropped the class and the interpreter will not return to your class. If you have 3 absences with or without notification during the quarter, then you must notify the Lead Interpreter for an advising appointment. A counseling appointment will be required with the Support Services Coordinator before the interpreter returns. Reasonable accommodations will be made in the interim.

REQUESTING INTERPRETERS FOR FUNCTIONS OTHER THAN CLASSES

You must come into DSS and fill out an Interpreter Request Form. Requests for up to 2 hours and during weekdays must be turned in, at least, 3 working days in advance. Requests for more than 2 hours and during weekdays must be turned in, at least, 1 week in advance. Requests which require extra planning/scheduling of interpreters ( such as weekend function, fieldtrips, all-day conferences, graduation ceremonies) must be turned in, at least, 3 weeks in advance. Requests which place a great demand on interpreters (such as theatre productions) must be made no later than 6 weeks in advance to allow interpreters to study the scripts and for rehearsal time. If requests are late, a reasonable effort will be made to fulfill the request.

INTERPRETER RESPONSIBILITIES

An interpreter is there to allow the hearing-impaired (Deaf) student equal access to classes and campus services or functions. This means that the interpreter is only there as a tool that allows the Deaf student to be equal to the hearing student.

The interpreter will come to class and wait 15 minutes for an hour class, 20 minutes for a 2-hour class, 30 minutes for a 3-hour class, etc. After that time, the interpreter will report back to DSS. If you run into your interpreter while s/he is on her/his way back, s/he should return with you to class. It is up to the discretion of the interpreter as to whether to return to class. This decision should be based on such issues as the amount of time left in the class, if this is a frequent occurrence and the other work s/he has to do. The interpreter is not required to explain what the instructor says. If you do not understand, you should raise your hand and ask the instructor to explain. The interpreter may try to add ASL signs to clarify some things to the student to be helpful.

The interpreter cannot answer your questions. Please ask the professor yourself. The interpreter is a facilitator through which the information is interpreted from one language to another.

If an interpreter has more than one Deaf student, s/he must communicate to all of the students, and will need to consider all students' communication preferences.

If the instructor does not finish talking about his/her ideas, or does not finish his/her sentences or tell jokes that you do not understand, it is the responsibility of the interpreter to communicate it anyway even if it causes confusion.

If you write notes for yourself, do not pay attention, or sleep in class, it is still the responsibility of the interpreter to continue to communicate. The interpreter cannot help the deaf student catch up if s/he is not watching the interpreter. The interpreter is there to provide interpreting for the professor as well as the student. YOU MAY HOWEVER, REQUEST THE INTERPRETER TO STOP SIGNING.

It is not the interpreter's responsibility to wake you when you fall asleep in class.

Remember, your interpreter can only hear and interpret for one person at a time. You may have to raise your hand and explain to the instructor or classmates if you are missing information because your interpreter cannot catch everything which is going on at the same time.

The interpreter needs to be close to the instructor in the classroom in order to hear everything the instructor says or to interpret videos that are not captioned. If you decide to sit towards the back of the class, you will be missing important information.

If you do not understand a new sign the interpreter uses, ask the interpreter to explain what the sign means. Work with the interpreter on inventing temporary signs for technical vocabulary when needed. Books and video tapes on special signs are available in the office.

DEVELOPING PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS W/ INTERPRETERS OUTSIDE OF CLASS

It is highly advisable that both students and interpreters maintain a professional relationship while working together. It is understandable how personal friendships can develop when personal/professional boundaries are crossed. Often when a student/interpreter relationship becomes too personal, it can cause conflicts in providing quality professional service to students. Please use caution when disclosing personal information to your interpreters. Counselors are available for discussing personal issues. Interpreters and students should not involve each other in their personal lives.