comstock7583@ wrote:
Hello there my name is Heather Comstock, and I work with a
deaf student in Washington and she has been invited to go on
a trip to Australia this summer but the plm is that the co
will not pay for the interpreters trip, and she was told by
the student that u interp for that ur trip is paid by the co
and we are trying to figure out how that happend since they
refuse to pay they keep saying it is the students
resposnibility to pay for the interp's trip but I think it
is ADA law that they are to provide an interp. So if u
could help us out asap that would be great, with any
information.
Thanks Heather Comstock
comstock7583@
Hi Heather,
Your situation is familiar to me. I have been working together
with another interpreter, providing interpreting services for a
Deaf young woman in our area with a similar experience. The
organization hosting the upcoming trip has paid for our services
several times over the last few months during their orientation
and interviews with the Deaf student, but we have not been
retained for providing services during the actual trip yet. We
were initially told by the organizers that we could go along and
interpret at half the cost
charged to the students. The look on my face and brief
explanation that we were providing services for which
we normally receive an income (not pay out) was met with
confusion on the part of the organization. It was not the right
time nor place to pursue it at that initial meeting (the young
woman's family was there to look into the logistics of the trip,
not to watch the interpreters hash out interpreting issues with
the organization), but I forsee it will soon become a topic of
discussion as the trip draws near.
The ADA is clearly the best support for both our situations. I
would have to look in-depth to find the exact wording, but
basically: The Federal Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 (ADA) permits persons with disabilities (Deaf and hard of
hearing) the legal right to be provided with reasonable
accommodations without extra charge levied. The reasonable
accommodations in this case would be sign language
interpreting--thus providing equal access for the Deaf consumer.
The organization is very large, by no means a small
business, so it does not fall under the small business
exemption.
The organization may suggest that since the trip is happening in
Australia the law is null and void outside of the USA.
However, the organization sponsoring the trip is headquartered
in America, the students and staff are American, and the
familiar mode of communication used by the Deaf consumer (which
they've already accepted into their program) is American Sign
Language.
I'm CC'ing this to the other interpreter in my area who has been
working with me on this. Maybe together we can all work out
something to best benefit both young women, providing them with
a fair and equal opportunity-- and a great Australian
experience.
Please contact me with any thoughts you have.
~Lynda Park