Nearly 50 people picketed an Illinois hospital today over the use of video interpreters. The Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria has used VRI (Video Remote Interpreters) for about a year. But deaf patients say the system is flawed. There areconstant equipment problems, difficult-to-see video screens, miscommunication over signs based on the regional differences between the patients and the interpreters, and the loss of human contact. Some carried signs reading I Want a Live Interpreter and Honk for Deaf Rights.
Sign interpreters at this year's New Orleans Jazz Fest got a treat while they were translating the performance of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. The Boss decided to join them for a moment and you see the result in a video below. Holly Maniatty and Edie Jackson even got Springsteen to sign along with them.
The University of Louisville is graduating its first students from the school's ASL interpreter program. The 10 students will be recognized night in a special ceremony as well as at tomorrow's commencement. The bachelor’s degree program started in 2010 at the Kentucky school - and now, more than 50 students are in it. They graduate after completing more than 450 hours in a practicum with a nationally certified practicing interpreter. For more information, click here.
Dentists are required to provide sign language interpreters for their Medicaid patients. Doctors in practices with fewer than 15 employees can get reimbursement for the interpreter's fee, though the physician is still responsible for arranging for the service.
An Iowa hospital will pay nearly $200,000 for failing to provide interpreters for deaf patients. The settlement comes out of a lawsuit from Jessie Fox. Her 7 year old daughter, Addison, was headed into surgery at Trinity Regional Medical Center in 2009. The hospital staff ignored Fox's request for an interpreter and instead, had Addison interpret for mother. This led to confusion about post-surgery medication. Two other deaf patients joined the lawsuit, saying they had faced a similar situations at the hospital. Trinity says it will change its procedures and offer VRI services or in-person interpreters.
The New Zealand Parliament made history today, Mojo Mathers, the first deaf member of the body, gave her first speech. Since Mathers' speech was translated into sign language, the 13 other members of the Green party who spoke had their speeches translated into sign language as well. Ironically, Parliamentary Services is refusing to pay for Mathers to have an electronic note taker during sessions, saying she should pay for it herself. During her speech, Mathers addressed the issue, saying, "No (member of Parliament) with a disability should be expected to fund their participation in the House in this way." She also called on Parliament TV to offer captioning so that all New Zealanders could have access to political debate. Read more about Mathers here.
The University of Iowa could get its first sign language interpreter training program if a group of school officials and students get their way. A summit was held over the weekend to promote the idea. They hope to see a deaf studies major added to what the school presently offers, deaf studies certification.
A deaf woman has lost her case against a Missouri hospital. Amanda Crider says when she was admitted for the birth of her child she told the staff at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital that she wanted to have a natural childbirth - no epidural or other pain medications. Yet nurses still gave Crider an epidural injection anyway. Crider says it was without her consent because she thought it was a medical necessity. This wouldn't have happened, according to her complaint, if the hospital had provided interpreters. To make matters worse, Crider says the injection left her in constant pain and disabling symptoms. A trial court dismissed her complaint, saying Crider did not file the right paperwork. An appeals court has just upheld that decision. Hospital lawyers refused to talk about the case.
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Nearly 50 people picketed an Illinois hospital today over the use of video interpreters. The Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria has used VRI (Video Remote Interpreters) for about a year. But deaf patients say the system is flawed. There areconstant equipment problems, difficult-to-see video screens, miscommunication over signs based on the regional differences between the patients and the interpreters, and the loss of human contact. Some carried signs reading I Want a Live Interpreter and Honk for Deaf Rights.
