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"Health is More than Communication Access" by Matt Starr

English Translation by Doug Bowen-Bailey and Matt Starr My name is Matt Starr.  I work at the University of Rochester in New York at the National Center for Deaf Health Research.  The focus of the research is on the health of the deaf population.  The focus is not on hearing health research, but on overall […]

Importance of Certified Interpreters for Medical Appointments

by Jimmy Beldon Translation by Doug Bowen-Bailey I have a story to share with you that is so typical of doctor’s offices who claim to have an interpreter working for them when the person isn’t actually qualified and doesn’t hold any certification. Generally, it takes some effort to educate the office about the importance of […]

The Clothes Make the Interpreter?

English Translation by Jeanna Couillard and Doug Bowen-Bailey I have gone to many eye doctor appointments and medical doctor appointments where I have had an interpreter present. At one appointment, the interpreter showed up wearing a bright yellow shirt. I am DeafBlind, so when she signed, all that I saw was one big blur. When […]

Managing Waiting Time

English Summary We received a question from an interpreter who works often in a hospital setting wondering how to manage the waiting time if a Deaf patient is in a hospital room?  If there is no preference expressed by the patient or hospital staff, should you sit in the room with the patient?  Or sit […]

The Importance of Explaining How to Work with Interpreters

by Jimmy Beldon I want to share a story with you that illustrates the importance of having a pre-appointment discussion with health care providers to make sure they know how to work with interpreters. In many doctors’ offices, a variety of people come in and out of rooms to interact with the patient. In the […]