The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID) and the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) come together in collaboration and in support to commend the New York City mayor’s office in the hiring of a Certified Deaf Interpreter working with a second interpreter, known to be seated in one of the front rows, to assure communication access for all viewers at the press conference on Friday, October 24, 2014, regarding the Ebola virus. Seeing best practices in interpreting services utilized in emergency situations is a testament to the commitment of our government leaders in providing essential communication to all constituents.
The RID and the NAD also commend the great work of the Certified Deaf Interpreter and his team interpreter for the quality interpretation provided to everyone who viewed the press conference. These services should be common place in all communication settings, regardless if the information is of an urgent matter or not.
From the media coverage and public comments that have ensued as a result of the interpreting services at the October 24, 2014, press conference, RID and the NAD recognize the need for the greater public to have a better understanding of the role of interpreters and communication access for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in all settings. As such, we have drafted a joint and collaborative editorial that is in the process of being distributed to a wide array of media outlets, from online sources to print, TV and radio.
The attention that American Sign Language (ASL) and the sign language profession have received of late; including a spoof on Saturday Night Live, the fake interpreter at the Nelson Mandela celebration of life ceremony, and now the attention brought to the interpreter during a press conference about a Ebola, brings to the spotlight the conversation surrounding a culture, language, and profession that has largely been ignored and marginalized by the greater society.
At a time like this, when the interest of the general public is piqued by seeing a Certified Deaf Interpreter at work, we encourage the media and members of the public to seek understanding from those with knowledge. We ask the media and members of the public to be allies in the efforts for linguistic rights – the rights that provided access at the press conference in the first place.
We hope that our editorial will run in every paper and get the same level of attention that the language and profession have received thus far. We ask those who are already allies to our effort to share in our advocacy to bring an understanding of the language, the culture, and the interpreting profession.
RID and the NAD have worked for some time to ensure accessible communication; however, we are still faced with situations that remind us we are still only in the beginning stages of our advocacy efforts. While New York City has implemented practices to ensure their citizens have access to vital information, we are well aware that this approach to access is not achieved or even attempted in most areas of the country. This is an area in which there is a great deal of effort and work being done by RID, the NAD, and each organization’s affiliate chapters as we continue to advocate for the availability of interpreting services – not only in emergency settings but everywhere a deaf or hard of hearing person may encounter someone who does not know ASL. The bottom line is, if access is not provided then information is not being shared in an equal and accessible way with a large, contributing population of this country.
Our hope is that this attention will bring more allies to our side so that our efforts are stronger and our impact greater. We ask members of RID and the NAD to share this editorial to enhance and expand upon our community of allies. While this editorial is by no means all inclusive for an individual to fully understand the language or profession – it is a start and a way to engage people who want to be engaged in achieving the joint vision of both RID and the NAD in which linguistic rights are seen as human rights; where interpreted interactions between and among individuals who use signed and spoken languages are as rich as direct communication; and the language, culture, and heritage of deaf and hard of hearing Americans will be acknowledged and respected.
Please note, the person in the video is Lewis Merkin, RID Region I Representative.
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The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is the nation’s premier civil rights organization of, by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America. The advocacy scope of the NAD is broad, covering a lifetime and impacting future generations in the areas of early intervention, education, employment, health care, technology, telecommunications, youth leadership, and more – improving the lives of millions of deaf and hard of hearing Americans. The NAD also carries out its federal advocacy work through coalition efforts with specialized national deaf and hard of hearing organizations, as well as coalitions representing national cross-disability organizations.
About RID
The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID), a national membership organization, plays a leading role in advocating for excellence in the delivery of interpretation and transliteration services between people who use sign language and people who use spoken language. In collaboration with the Deaf community, RID supports our members and encourages the growth of the profession through the establishment of a national standard for qualified sign language interpreters and transliterators, ongoing professional development and adherence to a code of professional conduct.
For Release Immediately
Tina Maggio (RID) [email protected]
Lizzie Sorkin (NAD) [email protected]