It takes a team to make communication effective. All students who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing and who utilize interpreting or transliterating services, are requested to work with their interpreter/transliterator. It is essential that the following guidelines be considered in order to ensure effective communication in all class sessions.

Discuss your communication preferences with your interpreter/transliterator prior to the first class meeting. Indicate whether you want this person to voice for you when you participate in class sessions and define an appropriate location for the interpreters placement during the class.

If you will be late for class or do not plan to attend class, notify Disability Services and, when possible, the interpreter. If you do not attend your first class of the day, your interpreting services will be canceled for the remainder of the day. If you miss your first class, but intend to attend classes later in the day, contact Disability Services so that they will not cancel your interpreters.

Be assertive when the interpreter informs you that information has been missed. Ask the class instructor or other speaker to speak up, repeat, or slow.

If you have a substitute interpreter, inform him or her of signs that you have “invented” for the purposes of your course.

Inform Disability Services at least three days in advance if you have an interpreting request such as a field trip or review session. Jamison Burnside, our Assistant Director for Communication Access is an experienced ASL interpreter and handles most equipment loans and interpreter/captionist scheduling. Please reach out to her specifically if you have any questions or concerns related to your communication accommodations.