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Hello, my name is Tim Wood, and I am a member of the Florida Association of the Deaf (FAD),
and I also represent them as their Legislative Coordinator. Lately, Fad has been working
in collaboration with the Florida Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (FRID). Our goal
is to pass into law the requirement that requires all interpreters in the state of Florida to
be licensed. People ask, "Why have licensing?" Many hearing folks think that if an interpreter
is provided, we should not complain....no, the consequences are deeper than that - suppose
if you have a poor or low-qualified interpreter, it can affect you negatively as an individual,
as a group, or even affect you on a worldwide basis..one good example? Now, many people
were thinking, "What is he saying? What is he doing? Obviously a lousy interpreter, or
some are calling him a fraud. But just to let you know, I know a secret - I'll let you
in on this...what he was doing was actually practice...people will look at me and ask,
"Practice? Practice for what?" The practice is for...That explains a lot. Really, all
humor aside, this is a serious issue because the quality of interpreters can affect you
in many different ways of life. I'll give you three examples....first, suppose you had
a heart problem, and had to have surgery. When speaking to a doctor, it is important
that you have a top-quality interpreter so the doctor can be able to provide accurate
information or you can be able to ask questions. You cannot afford for the interpreter to misunderstand
or miss pieces of conversation. That could mean the difference between life or death.
Second, suppose if you had been arrested, and you need to speak to a lawyer or you need
to speak to a judge? Of course, your freedom depends on your interpreter. If the interpreter
relays the wrong thing, it could mean jail. Third, just as important, education. Last
year, FAD helped pass a law for the Bill of Rights for Deaf &Hard of Hearing Children.
Part of that package involved effective communication for children going into mainstream, or deaf
schools, or whatever. The whole point to have licensed interpreters is to provide that effective
communication for the children. Otherwise, what would have been the point? Many interpreters
presently really follow low or no standard. The emphasis of this bill is for interpreters
to meet at lest the national standard of RID. Once the standard is met, it would mean that
the deaf can feel confident that the interpreter is highly skilled and very qualified to be
able to interpret. Another good example: Suppose you have a very important meeting, suppose
your money is at risk, your interpreter walks into the room, and you start talking. You
ask, "What are your qualifications?" The interpreter responds, "I took 2 classes in college in
ASL, 2 semesters...I'm qualified!" That' the problem, and it's been going on too long.
Now it's time to do something. In the last few weeks, FAD and FRID had been going to
Tallahassee to meet with state legislators, to discuss, inform, and to educate them about
our problem with interpreters. Many of them were shocked, not realizing that the problem
was more severe than expected. So, now we've done our part, now, it's your turn...on March
25th, we will host a Deaf Awareness Day at the Capitol building in Tallahassee. We will
be hosting an all-day event, and we want to see an army of deaf flocking to Tallahassee.
I don't want some people to assume, "Oh, others will go, I'll stay home...I want everyone,
and that means you, you, you, you, you, you, and you....yes, you. When we arrive in Tallahassee,
I don't want legislators to open their curtains and see this....No, I want legislators to
open up and see THIS - If legislators can see a crowd, they will realize three things:
1. That we as a whole, mean business, that we need to do something. 2. They will realize
that maybe the interpreter problem may be more severe than they expected. 3. The crowd
represents votes, that we have the power, so we can be able to do something, use our
votes to help resolve our problems. Now, it is all up to you - If we succeed in getting
the bill passed into law, we can celebrate, because me have just made a part of Deaf history
in Florida. So, I'll see you, you, you, yes, you too, in Tallahassee on March 25th...Thanks!