Individuals who are Deaf-Blind
Individuals who are Deaf-BlindThe spectrum of consumers who utilize Deaf-Blind interpreting services consists of individuals withdiffering degrees of vision loss and hearing loss. The amount and type of vision and hearing a personhas determines the type of interpreting that will be most effective for that individual. Environmentalfactors must be taken into account in order for effective communication to take place. In addition,many Deaf-Blind individuals require support service providers (defined below) in order to fully accessthe environment. Each of these factors, as well as considerations for hiring interpreters, is explainedbelow.There is a continuum of vision and hearing loss among people who are Deaf-Blind. Persons withinthis community are not necessarily fully deaf or fully blind. Some Deaf-Blind people have a substantialamount of usable vision while others have little (limited vision and/or legally blind) or no usable vision(blind). The same is true regarding the degree of hearing. Individuals may be hard-of-hearing withusable hearing while others are profoundly deaf. The range and degree of both hearing loss andvision loss will determine critical communication factors between the consumer and the interpreter.Factors that contribute to the diversity in communication within the Deaf-Blind community include: type, degree and age of onset of hearing and vision loss whether current vision and/or hearing is stable, progressive or fluctuating level of language competencies in American Sign Language (ASL) or other signedlanguage systems and/or English family, ethnic, socio-economic and educational backgrounds physical, cognitive or other disabilitiesInterpreting for Deaf-Blind IndividualsThe type and extent of the combined hearing and vision loss determines an individual’s mode ofcommunication and needs regarding visual accommodations. Individuals who are Deaf-Blind employone or more of the following communication modes: sign language at close visual range (less than 4 feet) and/or within a limited visualspace (often a small area including and just below the signer’s chin to signer’s chest) sign language at a greater visual range (4-8 feet) to accommodate those individualswith limited peripheral vision sign language received at close visual range with the use of tracking [hand(s) is/areplaced on the interpreter’s wrists/forearms for the receiver to maintain signs within theirvisual range] sign language received by sense of touch with one or two hands (tactile)
fingerspelling received by sense of touch (tactile)
Print-on-Palm (block letters drawn on the palm)
speechreading at close visual range
hearing with assistive listening devices
reading via text-based devices and services (e.g., real-time captioning connected to a
large visual display or refreshable Braille output)
sign supported speech
Experienced interpreters who work with Deaf-Blind people are knowledgeable about and sensitive to
environmental factors that may significantly affect the interpreting process. Skilled Deaf-Blind interpreters
are able to incorporate the speaker’s message while also transmitting visual, auditory and environmental
stimuli that contribute to the context of the interpreted message.
Dependent on the Deaf-Blind consumer’s preference, the following components should be considered
and may be incorporated during to the beginning of the meeting/workshop/conference:
the layout of the room (position of windows, color of walls/platform background,
tables, chairs, doors)
specific visual background (signer’s shirt in contrast to skin color, high-necked collar,
minimal jewelry/accessories)
seating positions (need for distance or proximity; logistics for teaming)
auditory factors (background noise; use of assistive listening devices)
identify who is speaking and location of the speaker
the speaker’s emotional affect and gestures
unspoken actions and reactions of people in the room
information from handouts, Powerpoint slides, other audiovisual materials
when a person enters or exits the room
The amount of information incorporated is at the discretion of the Deaf-Blind consumer and also
requires considerable skill and judgment on the part of the interpreter.
Arranging for interpreting services
A person who is Deaf-Blind presents unique circumstances for gathering information about the world
around him or her as well as the people and interactions encompassed within it. Interpreters and support
service providers (SSPs) are often the essential link to the array of information people who are
Deaf-Blind need in order to be informed, active participants within society. Careful matching of a qualified
interpreter and a consumer who is Deaf-Blind is critical so that the intricate and individualized interpreting
needs are met.
Interpreters must be versatile and flexible because of the unique communication needs of Deaf-Blind
individuals. For the same reason, the ratio of interpreters to consumers must be appropriate so that
these needs can be satisfactorily met. The number of Deaf-Blind individuals in an environment will
greatly influence the number of interpreters or interpreting teams that will be needed.
In situations involving one Deaf-Blind individual, only one interpreter or interpreter team may be
needed. When two or more Deaf-Blind individuals are present, more teams may be required. For example,
one team might interpret via tactile sign language (hand-over-hand communication) with a single
consumer, while another team may interpret at close visual range with a group of two to four consumers
and yet another team may provide audible interpretation using an FM system. Team interpreting is standard
practice for any event of an hour or more in duration and/or because of the complexity of content
or for platform situations.
2 Interpreting for Individuals who are Deaf-Blind
Interpreting for Individuals who are Deaf-Blind 3 STANDARD PRACTICE PAPER
Another reason two or more interpreters may be needed is that interpreting with Deaf-Blind persons
can be physically and mentally demanding, which may require frequent rest breaks or relief (in addition
to their teaming responsibilities). For assignments under one hour with a person with close or low vision,
one interpreter may be sufficient though the need for additional rest times should be considered. Any
assignment with a tactile consumer with duration over thirty minutes however, should utilize a team of
two interpreters due to the physical demands of that type of communication.
An interpreting team may include one or more interpreters who are deaf. In these instances, the deaf
interpreter receives the speaker’s message visually (either from the speaker directly or through another
interpreter), processes the message, and then transmits it in a style that is suitable to that particular
Deaf-Blind individual.
Professional standards of practice when arranging for interpreting services include:
asking for consumer preferences regarding communication mode(s) and specific interpreter(
s)
engaging interpreters who are skilled in working with Deaf-Blind consumers
engaging an appropriate number of interpreters
agreeing on the specific role and responsibilities of the interpreter prior to the event
arranging for any special communication equipment needed (e.g. microphones, FM
systems)
ensuring that the visual environment is conducive to communication for the Deaf-Blind
participant(s)
ensuring that the interpreters hired wear clothing which is in high contrast to their skin
tone and with a crew neckline or higher; clothing material should not be made of shiny
or patterned fabric or be heavily buttoned and should not reflect light
ensuring that the interpreters hired minimize the use of jewelry and accessories
allowing 15 to 30 minutes prior to the assignment to establish communication, rapport
and preferences before interpreting begins
note that not all interpreters are qualified to work with Deaf-Blind consumers
Support Service Providers
Individuals who are Deaf-Blind may request additional services that are not typically associated with
interpreting for individuals who are deaf. For example, an individual may wish to receive an orientation
to a conference hall where they will be attending activities for the day, ask that someone be available to
function as a guide to the restroom or request assistance through a buffet. These types of services are
often performed by a SSP, a specially-trained guide who is familiar with the Deaf-Blind person’s communication
needs and is able to provide environmental information and assistance before, during and/or
after a scheduled event takes place. Qualified interpreters accepting assignments with deaf-blind consumers
should be aware of and sensitive to these potential needs. It must be noted that while interpreters
can often function as SSPs, it is not the case that a SSP is necessarily a qualified interpreter;
although they may be able to facilitate brief, informal communication.