Wow! $100/per hour? Or was that two interpreters for a two hour class at
$25/hr? Following the Mass. example of interpreting services who put
interpreting services under the state commission, competency as well as
costs are regulated. Private practice interpreters are not successful in
Mass. and the public (hearing and deaf) seem to be satisfied with the state
subsidized service. Sounds good to me!
Sue
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Hamerdinger" <shamerdinger@...>
To: <aldmh@yahoogroups.com>; <almhi@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 8:33 AM
Subject: [ALMHI] Staff Interpreters More Efficient Burbank Concludes


> From the newsroom of the Burbank Leader, Burbank, California,
> Wednesday,
> July 23, 2003...
>
> City sends message loud and clear on interpreting
>
> Officials believe hiring in-house sign-language interpreters will save
> money and could improve service.
>
> By Ben Godar, The Leader
>
> BURBANK - A move by the city to hire its own sign-language interpreters
> instead of contracting for such services is intended to save money, but
> officials also hope it will improve services for the hearing-impaired.
>
> The City Council recently authorized establishing a sign-language
> interpreter position because of the increasing need for such services in
> Park, Recreation and Community Services classes.
>
> Presently, the city hires interpreters as needed from Lifesigns, a
> program of the Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness. While the work
> done by those interpreters has been exemplary, Park, Recreation and
> Community Services Director Mike Flad said the hourly rate of $100 was
> too costly.
>
> "In some cases, we may charge only $50 for a cooking class and then it
> costs $100 to serve some of those folks," he said.
>
> Interpreters hired by the city will be paid $20 per hour, and Flad said
> outside help may still be contracted if scheduling and circumstances
> warrant. While the interpreters will work primarily with recreation
> programs, Flad said they could be assigned to other city functions, such
> as translating at a City Council meeting.
>
> Although saving money was the major reason for the change, Flad hopes
> interpreters more familiar with the city will be a better resource for
> hearing- impaired individuals.
>
> "It definitely has the potential to improve service," he said. "There's
> real value in having someone who knows where all the parks are and what
> all our services are."
>
> The Burbank Unified School District employs its own interpreters for
> cost effectiveness. Sandra Gaynon, the district's director of special
> education and psychological services, said their familiarity with the
> schools also makes them a better option than contracted translators. She
> also said working with the same interpreter is beneficial to students,
> particularly if there is a lot of technical information or complex
> terms.
>
> "If something is very technical, a change in interpreters might be
> detrimental," Gaynon said. "The best situation is not to change."
>
> Copyright 2003 Burbank Leader
>
>
> ____________________________________
> Steve Hamerdinger
> Director, Office of Deaf Services
> ALDMHMR
> 100 North Union, Montgomery, AL 36130
> (334) 353-4301 (TTY)
> (334) 242-3643 (Voice)
>
>
>
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