When scheduling an appointment with an ASL interpreter, be prepared to provide details information about the assignment. This helps the interpreter ensure their skills match the requirements and allows them to deliver an accurate interpretation. During the session, direct your communication to the person you are addressing, not the interpreter, who serves as a communication conduit. Speak in first person, slowly and clearly, and allow time for accurate interpretation between languages.
Confidentiality and Compliance
Using a Sign Language Interpreter is not a HIPAA violation. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, interpreter services are considered a healthcare operation function. "A covered health care provider might use interpreter services to communicate with patients who speak a language other than English or who are deaf or hard of hearing, and provision of interpreter services usually will be a health care operations function of the covered entity as defined at 45 CFR 164.501."
Sign Language Interpreters can be certified by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) or the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID). Certified interpreters adhere to strict ethical standards and abide by a Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, ensuring client confidentiality and privacy.
Responsibility for Payment
Entities legally required to provide accommodations, such as under the ADA or Section 504, must cover interpreter service costs. These entities include:
- Employers
- Medical providers
- Government agencies
- Public and private service providers
- Educational institutions
- Public events and performances (whether publicly or privately funded)
