Deaf Students:
When talking to the professor, sign to the professor. The interpreter will voice your signs.
When talking with other students in class, sign to the other students. The interpreter will voice your signs.
When you do not want the interpreter to voice your signs, you must tell the interpreter not to voice your signs.
It is the student's responsibility to ask for help in homework. The interpreter will not ask for the student, but the interpreter will voice the student's signs.
The interpreter is not the tutor. If the student who is deaf needs tutoring, the student must make arrangements to meet with a tutor. If the student would like an interpreter to interpret, they must submit an Interpreter Request Form in advance.
If the student signs during a test, the interpreter will voice the signs to the professor. This will be done to avoid the student and the interpreter being blamed for cheating.
Professors:
A student who is deaf has all the academic responsibilities of students who are hearing.
When talking to a student who is deaf, look at the student and speak. The interpreter will sign what you are saying.
Do not turn to the interpreter and say, "Tell the student. . ." The interpreter is there to facilitate communication, not act as the professor. The professor must speak to the student who is deaf.
Do not ask the interpreter for private information about the student. The interpreter is bound by confidentiality and cannot relay certain information. Also, the interpreter is there to assist in communication. The interpreter may not know the private information about the student.
The interpreter is not the professor. The professor still maintains control of the classroom. If the student who is deaf is not paying attention, is talking, etc., it is the professor's responsibility to tell the student to pay attention. The interpreter will sign what the professor says.
Because it is important for all students to have access to information given in class, it is imperitive that all videos be shown with captions. Interpretation of videos is not considered equal access. If a video without captions is being shown the instructor must provide a transcript of the video to the deaf student prior to viewing.6
