Sign Language Interpretation 6/2010
What is Sign language?
Sign Language is commonly used by people to communicate with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Sign Language is also used to communicate by people who can hear, but who cannot speak or have speech difficulties. There are many different types of sign languages in the world. The form of sign language primarily used in North America is known as American Sign Language (ASL).
Sign Language Interpreters / Interpretation Services:
People who work as sign language interpreters are employed in all types of agencies that work with or serve people who have hearing impairments or speech difficulties. Hospitals and medical centers, for example, offer services for hearing impaired patients and/or their companions. These services include amplified phones, and assistive listening devices as well as oral interpreters, and sign language interpreters. Other agencies may offer sign language instruction and interpretation as part of their outreach programs for people with hearing impairments and speech difficulties.
The State of Idaho’s Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing provides direct services and is involved in public and private sector programs and policies as they relate to persons with hearing impairments. The Council's goal is to improve the quality of life for Idahoans who are deaf or hard of hearing by providing services such as newsletters, brochures, workshops on communication access, information and referral, advocacy, assistive device demonstration centers and workshops, and by coordinating and advocating for increases in services and access to services provided by other agencies. The Council serves as a resource for other state agencies regarding the needs of persons with hearing impairments and how to meet those needs.
The Council provides demonstration and loan of assistive devices for people who are deaf or hard of hearing through demonstration centers throughout Idaho. There are five centers located in Moscow, Boise, Twin Falls, Idaho State University, and Idaho Falls.
Numerous brochures are available from the Council on the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act for public and private agencies to provide reasonable accommodations and communication access for Idahoans who are deaf or hard of hearing; a statewide directory of sign language and oral interpreters; Help and Hope, a Resource Guide for Parents of a Child with a Hearing Loss; Opportunity, a newsletter published quarterly.
Visit the Idaho Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing’s web site at: http://www.cdhh.idaho.gov
Or call: (800) 433-1323 or TTY: (800) 433-1361