Interpreting Services
The Commission on the Deaf and Hearing Impaired (CDHI) provides “certified” Sign Language Interpreting services to the community on a fee for service basis, 24 hours per, seven (7) days a week. Interpreting requests are welcome from both the private and public sectors. Advanced notice of seven (7) to ten (10) business days is preferred for interpreting requests. Service is contingent upon resource availability. Police, protective service, and hospital emergencies do not require advanced notice. Once an interpreter request is received, CDHI endeavors to insure equal access for those deaf and/or hard of hearing through service provision. CDHI interpreters are utilized in a variety of settings including those that are classified as educational, legal, medical, counseling/mental health and vocational.
CDHI monitors an Interpreter Registry. All interpreters for the deaf and/or hard of hearing receiving reimbursement for services provided in State must register with the CDHI Interpreting Department (registration forms are available by request). All interpreters working in Connecticut must be “certified” by a nationally recognized board. Additional information on the Registry and other efforts impacting interpreter quality control are available at CDHI.
Evening and weekend EMERGENCY interpreting services may be accessed at (860) 231-7623 TTY/voice.
Interpreting Department Vendor Policy
Interpreting Services Request Form (Word, 32 kb)
JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY – FULL TIME
Based out of our Boston Office, the Communication Access Outreach Training Specialist - Deaf focus - is responsible for delivering statewide trainings, workshops and educational exhibits on all related issues to communication accessibility for deaf, hard of hearing and late deafened persons, with a particular focus on Deafness from a linguistic and cultural perspective. This position will further be responsible for production of electronic multimedia informational and educational resources to be disseminated through our website, CD and DVD media, and printed publications. This material will be produced in ASL, requiring a thorough understanding of video creation, conversion, compression and editing for specific output formats, using existing video, computing and software components available at MCDHH. Position will actively outreach to prospective training hosts in conjunction with Director, and will gather information from constituency and professional entities alike to determine new areas of outreach and identify information gaps to be filled. Ability to communicate using American Sign Language strongly preferred.
For a detailed description of this position, minimum entrance requirements, or to send your resume, please visit http://ceo.hrd.state.ma.us/
If you have any questions, please contact Mary Kate Loughran, Human Resources Liaison, at 617-740-1632 (v) or 617-740-1732 (tty), or email at marykate.loughran@state.ma.us
Part-time Interpreters
Part-time/per diem positions responsible to provide deaf interpreter services. Requirements include national certification, four (4) years relevant interpreting experience with at least three (3) years in a medical setting.
Send resume to: Director of Human Resources, FSW, 475 Clinton Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06605. M/F/H/V
MANDATED INTERPRETER REGISTRATION
On June 8, 1998, Governor John G. Rowland signed Public Act No. 98-252 concerning the registration of interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing into law. This registration of all Sign Language, Oral and Cued Speech Interpreters became effective October 1, 1998. If you are currently interpreting in the state of Connecticut, please print and complete the Registration Form (Word, 27 kb) and mail to: CDHI, 67 Prospect Avenue, 3rd Floor, Hartford, Connecticut 06106. Interpreter Registration must be completed annually.
Connecticut General Statute Mandating Interpreter Registration
Sec. 46a-33a. Registration of persons providing interpreting services.
(a) For the purposes of this section:
(1) "Interpreting" means the translating or transliterating of English concepts to specialized vocabulary used by a person who is deaf or hard of hearing or means the translating of a deaf or hard of hearing person's specialized vocabulary to English concepts. Specialized vocabulary concepts include, but are not limited to, the use of American sign language, English-based sign language, cued speech, oral transliterating and information received tactually;
(2) "Legal setting" means any criminal or civil action involving the Superior Court or its agents, any investigation conducted by a duly authorized law enforcement agency, employment related hearings and appointments requiring the presence of an attorney;
(3) "Medical setting" means medical related situations including mental health treatment, psychological evaluations, substance abuse treatment, crisis intervention and appointments or treatment requiring the presence of a doctor or nurse; and
(4) "Educational setting" means a school or other educational institution, including elementary, high school and post-graduation schools where interpretive services are provided to a student.
(b) Commencing October 1, 1998, and annually thereafter, all persons providing interpreting services shall register with the Commission on the Deaf and Hearing Impaired. Such registration shall be on a form prescribed or furnished by the commission and shall include the registrant's name, address, phone number, place of employment as interpreter and interpreter certification or credentials. Commencing July 1, 2001, and annually thereafter, the commission shall issue identification cards for those who register in accordance with this section.
(c) On and after July 1, 2001, no person shall provide interpreting services unless such person is registered with the commission according to the provisions of this section and (1) has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test and holds a level three certification provided by the National Association of the Deaf and documents the achievement of two continuing education units per year for a maximum of five years of commission-approved training, (2) has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test and is a graduate of an accredited interpreter training program and documents the achievement of two continuing education units per year for a maximum of five years of commission-approved training, (3) holds a level four certification or higher from the National Association of the Deaf, (4) holds certification by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (5) for situations requiring an oral interpreter only, holds oral certification from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (6) for situations requiring a cued speech transliterator only, holds certification from the National Training, Evaluation and Certification Unit and has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test, or (7) holds a reverse skills certificate or is a certified deaf interpreter under the National Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf.
(d) On and after July 1, 2001, no person shall provide interpreting services in a medical setting unless such person is registered with the commission according to the provisions of this section and holds (1) a comprehensive skills certificate from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (2) a certificate of interpretation or a certificate of transliteration from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (3) a level four certification from the National Association of the Deaf, (4) a reverse skills certificate or is a certified deaf interpreter under the National Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf, (5) for situations requiring an oral interpreter only, oral certification from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, or (6) for situations requiring a cued speech transliterator only, certification from the National Training, Evaluation and Certification Unit and has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test.
(e) No person shall provide interpreting services in a legal setting unless such person is registered with the commission according to the provisions of this section and holds (1) a comprehensive skills certificate from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (2) a certificate of interpretation and a certificate of transliteration from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (3) a level five certification from the National Association of the Deaf, (4) a reverse skills certificate or is a certified deaf interpreter under the National Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf, (5) for situations requiring an oral interpreter only, oral certification from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, or (6) for situations requiring a cued speech transliterator only, certification from the National Training, Evaluation and Certification Unit and has passed the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written generalist test.
(f) The requirements of this section shall apply to persons who receive compensation for the provision of interpreting services and include those who provide interpreting services as part of their job duties.
(g) The provisions of subsection (c) of this section shall not apply to any person providing interpreting services in an educational setting until July 1, 2003.
NAD-RID National Interpreter Certification
The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) has information available for the NAD-RID National Interpreter Certification (NIC) knowledge (written) test as well as information for the Interview and Performance Test. For more information visit the RID website at www.RID.org
Cued Speech Certification
To register to take the Cued Speech Certification contact Testing, Evaluation & Certification Unit, Inc. (TECUnit) at (301) 434-1137 or (301) 593 6571 FAX or www.TECUnit.com
Content Last Modified on 1/16/2008 4:19:05 PM
