Editorial: Interpreters key for deaf Nevadans

Tuesday, June 13, 2000 | 9:37 a.m.

Half of the states mandate that professional sign-language interpreters be licensed, a requirement that typically means an interpreter can reliably provide assistance for the hearing impaired. But as the Sun's Steve Kanigher reported Sunday, Nevada hasn't yet adopted licensing requirements, so thousands of this state's residents sometimes are left without the aid of a qualified interpreter who can handle sign language's complexities.

Although the Community College of Southern Nevada does provide a two-year deaf studies program that provides students with some knowledge of sign language, the graduates don't have enough training to enable them to work in some of the more rigorous settings, such as that necessary for a courtroom during a trial. Advocates for the deaf plan on asking the 2001 Legislature to pass a new law that would require interpreters to be licensed; they also hope the state will offer interpreter training programs, which should improve the quality of service for the 2,000 to 3,000 deaf Nevadans who regularly need a professional interpreter.

The services offered by a professional interpreter for someone who is deaf can sometimes be as vital as a public building's ramp is for a handicapped individual who is confined to a wheelchair. And while licensing alone won't automatically result in a dramatic increase in the number of interpreters who are needed to keep up with the growing demand, it definitely would be a step in the right direction.