Faculty Do's and Don'ts While Working with Sign Language Interpreters
The following information can assist faculty in providing effective communications for students who use Sign Language Interpreters in their courses:
Do's
DO speak directly to the D/deaf student and maintain respectful eye contact.
DO speak in your regular tone of voice and at your natural pace. The interpreter will ask you to slow down or clarify if needed.
DO make sure the interpreters are present when you communicate with a D/deaf student. Students can request interpreting services for scheduled meetings from DSS by contacting [email protected]. If a student is not sure what to do, please refer them to the DSS.
DO provide handouts to the D/deaf student and interpreters prior to the class.
DO use sign language interpreters to provide interpreting services in classes or meetings.
Don'ts
DO NOT talk to or look at the interpreter as if the D/deaf student isn’t there, or talk about the D/deaf student in the third person (“Tell them…”)
DO NOT speak slowly or over-enunciate.
DO NOT ask the interpreter to sit next to the D/deaf student or have the interpreter stand at a distance from you.
DO NOT assume the D/deaf student can read lips. Even proficient lip readers only get about 35% of what is said; the rest they guess by context.
DO NOT ask a student or colleague who knows sign language to act as an interpreter.