(or transliterator)
Role of an Educational Interpreter/Transliterator:
The role of an Educational Interpreter or Cued Language Transliterator's goal is to provide visual/ equal access to auditory information that may be missed without the visual supports.
Interpreters and transliterators are required to have specific credentials. These credentials are different by state. In the state of Indiana, they should be licensed by the Department of Education. You can look up a specific person's credentials in the LVIS license lookup.
The interpreter/ transliterator has an essential role in ensuring access. That role is more involved than just conveying the message. Although, an educational interpreter/transliterator (EI/T) must "effectively communicate classroom information between the teacher, the deaf student and other hearing students according to the language level of the student and the goals of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP)" (Classroom Interpreting). However, EI/Ts are also a critical component to the implementation of the IEP, as well as a member of the IEP team. The EI/T is also an essential part of modeling language to the student. Often young students are still acquiring the language that is being interpreted/transliterated. As a result it is important to remember that the EI/T is not a teacher, instructional assistant/para educator, or other member of school staff that is responsible for disciplining students or helping with classroom management. This greatly impacts a students ability to access language.
It's also important to remember that the role of the EI/T is one that changes "...not only from student to student, but from early elementary age to high school. As the child matures into adolescent and teenager, the educational interpreter can play a significant role in empowering the student into self-advocacy. Encouraging a student to take a more active role in determining his/her access needs is crucial. Interpreters can assist in this process by shifting responsibility for communication access to the student. Before graduating, a student who is deaf or hard of hearing should be expected to know how to request interpreter support for classes and extra-curricular activities" (Classroom Interpreting).
