Best Practices: How To Use an ASL Interpreter 101
Written by Kelsey DeLonis & Hannah Schumacher Working with an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter for the first time can seem intimidating. Don’t worry, we are here to help! As a hearing person, you instinctively look towards the direction of sound. Maintaining eye contact with a Deaf person is crucial in any setting. It is important to remember that the interpreter is not your client and that speaking directly to your Deaf client empowers them as an equal participant in the interaction. It can feel confusing to be looking at a person who is not verbally responding to you and possibly isn’t making eye contact with you (depending on where the interpreter is placed). Deaf people rely heavily on facial expressions and can often determine what is going on from mouth movements. This does not always mean they read lips , though. It may seem rude or...