Kirsi Majuri-Langdon

How To File a Complaint about an Interpreter

• Before filing a complaint, it is suggested to try approaching the interpreter and sharing your concerns. Often, this will resolve the situation.
• Consider talking with their supervisor or the person responsible for contracting or arranging the interpreter to express your concerns. 
  • My supervisor at Gallaudet Interpreting Service (GIS), at time of this post in March 2022, is Leela Chaitoo and you can contact her at Leela.Chaitoo@gallaudet.edu and/or GIS Leadership Team at gis.leadership.team@gallaudet.edu
• If you have exhausted all avenues of conflict resolution, you should examine RID's EPS Policy Manual to see if RID has the authority to review and process the complaint.
  • Must be submitted within 90 days of the first alleged infraction. 

To File a Complaint with GIS: 

• Initially, you may file a complaint by sending an e-mail to GIS@Gallaudet.edu. 
• Make sure you include my name and the date/time of the alleged infraction in your e-mail.
• That e-mail will be referred to GIS Leadership Team for their review of your complaint.  Each case is handled differently so it is important to communicate your desired outcomes/next step (such as do you want to have a meeting with me or do you want me to be removed from your request or do you just want to file a complaint in my folder and nothing more?)
• Be explicit so the management team knows what you'd like them to do with your complaint. 
• If you are not satisfied with the outcome from GIS, you may move next to contact Registry of Interpreter for the Deaf (RID) as they are the organization responsible for my interpreting certification.  

To File a Complaint with Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID):

• Please understand that RID's time frame to review a complaint is 90 days from the alleged infraction. You must submit a complain within that time frame to have it being reviewed.
  • To review more information about RID's EPS system, please visit:  https://www.rid.org/ethics/file-a-complaint/?doing_wp_cron=1527965499.2248959541320800781250.
• If you are not sure about your complaint or have unanswered questions, please contact RID's Ethical Practices System Department before filing a complaint.  
• It is recommended that you compose your required narrative in a separate Word document and save this document for your records.
• You can then send this along with your Official Complaint Form.  
• You can submit your complaint:
  • via e-mail to ethics@rid.org,
  • via fax to 703-838-0454,
  • or via postal mail to RID, ATTN: EPS, 333 Commerce Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
    
    

*****************************

DeafBlind Interpreting
Below excerpt is from "DeafBlind Interpreting: Toward Effective Practice" (2018). Available online at DBI. 

•  The type and extent of the combined hearing and vision loss determines an individual’s mode of communication and needs regarding visual accommodations. Individuals who are DeafBlind employ one or more of the following communication modes:
  • sign language at close visual range (less than 4 feet) and/or within a limited visual space (often a small area including and just below the signer’s chin to signer’s chest) 4
  • sign language at a greater visual range (4-8 feet) to accommodate those individuals with limited peripheral vision
  • sign language received at close visual range with the use of tracking [hand(s) is/are placed on the interpreter’s wrists/forearms for the receiver to maintain signs within their visual range]
  • sign language received by sense of touch with one or two hands (tactile)
  • fingerspelling received by sense of touch (tactile)
  • Print-on-Palm (block letters drawn on the palm)
  • speechreading at close visual range
  • hearing with assistive listening devices
  • reading via text-based devices and services (e.g., real-time captioning connected to a large visual display or refreshable Braille output)
  • sign supported speech

Experienced interpreters who work with DeafBlind people are knowledgeable about and sensitive to environmental factors that may significantly affect the interpreting process. Skilled DeafBlind interpreters are able to incorporate the speaker’s message while also transmitting visual, auditory and environmental stimuli that contribute to the context of the interpreted message. Dependent on the DeafBlind consumer’s preference, the following components should be considered and may be incorporated during to the beginning of the meeting/workshop/conference:

• the layout of the room (position of windows, color of walls/platform background, tables, chairs, doors)
• specific visual background (signer’s shirt in contrast to skin color, high-necked collar, minimal jewelry/accessories)
• seating positions (need for distance or proximity; logistics for teaming)
• auditory factors (background noise; use of assistive listening devices)
• identify who is speaking and location of the speaker
• the speaker’s emotional affect and gestures
• unspoken actions and reactions of people in the room
• information from handouts, PowerPoint slides, other audiovisual materials when a person enters or exits the room

The amount of information incorporated is at the discretion of the DeafBlind consumer and also requires considerable skill and judgment on the part of the interpreter. (Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, 2007)