The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), amended in 2008, is a federal law intended to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities. It applies to employers, state and local government agencies, places of public accommodation, transportation facilities, telephone companies, and the U.S. Congress. Under Title II of the ADA,…

Finding good help is difficult enough these days, but trying to hire a qualified sign language interpreter can be especially difficult if you don't know what to look for. This paper provides some ideas that may help in your search. These include such considerations as using an interpreter referral agency versus direct hiring and certification and…

Finding good help is difficult enough these days, but trying to hire a qualified sign language interpreter can be especially difficult if you don't know what to look for. This paper provides some ideas that may help in your search. These include such considerations as using an interpreter referral agency versus direct hiring and certification and…

These communication guidelines, for mainstream teachers whose classes include deaf students, stress courtesy. Specific guidelines include (1) maintain visual lines of communication, (2) attend to the speaker (not the interpreter), (3) use pauses to let the interpreter catch up, (4) recognize speakers, and (5) foster a relaxed atmosphere. (DB)

Reviews the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act which is designed to improve accessibility of programs and services for a diverse group of people. Provides information that will help interpreters improve the accessibility of their programs. (DDR)

This tipsheet explains that an interpreter's role is to facilitate communication and convey all auditory and signed information so that individuals with and without hearing may fully interact. It outlines the common types of services provided by interpreters, and discusses principles guiding the professional behaviors of interpreters. When working…

Provides tips and resources to help science teachers of the deaf. Discusses how to counter myths, how to use an interpreter, and communicating during the lab. (DDR)

Emphasizes the importance of effective communication in ensuring that deaf children have an appropriate and successful physical education experience, looking at issues related to the psychomotor abilities of deaf children, discussing the need for educational interpreters in the physical education class, and explaining the communication…

A discussion of the use of sign language interpreters for deaf college students looks at the interpreter's role, classroom organization, pacing of speech, testing, and class discussion. Teachers are encouraged to use the interpreter's presence and expertise as an opportunity to reassess and enhance classroom communication dynamics. (MSE)

This module regarding support services available for special needs students in vocational education programs in Missouri identifies the following support personnel: vocational resource educators; basic skills instructors; special needs counselors, counselors and placement specialists; vocational evaluators; supplemental teachers; vocational…

Words in English often have multiple meanings, causing concepts to be paired with incorrect signs when working with deaf students, such as the concept of "made up" meaning either "invented" or "decided." A method called "sentence chains" is recommended as a drill to learn to link concepts with their appropriate signs. (JDD)

A project was undertaken to continue development of a curriculum for training interpreters for deaf persons enrolled in vocational education programs in Texas. Utilizing field consultants for specialized course development, project staff completed 11 interpreting modules and accompanying audiovisual prototypes. In addition, on-site visits were…

This manual is designed to familiarize adult basic education (ABE) teachers with the special needs of deaf individuals and strategies for integrating deaf students into ABE classes. The manual is prefaced with a brief discussion of the Comprehensive Program for the Deaf of the Columbus Speech and Hearing Center in Columbus, Ohio. The following…

A project was conducted to develop a curriculum for training interpreters to use American Sign Language (ASL) to serve the deaf. The three-phase project involved (1) a task analysis to catalog the skills needed by interpreters and location of existing materials to determine areas where material needed to be developed; (2) development of a model…

Students who are deaf and hard of hearing have special needs that must be accommodated before they can fully benefit from various types of classroom presentation technology. An optimal classroom situation for learners who must depend primarily on visual input includes careful consideration of factors such as room set up, legibility of the media,…