Training of Interpreters for Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Individuals Who Are Deaf-Blind

摘要

The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services proposes priorities and definitions under the Training of Interpreters for Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Individuals Who Are Deaf-Blind program. The Assistant Secretary may use these priorities and definitions for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2005 and later years. We take this action to focus on training and education as an identified area of national and regional need. We intend for the priorities to establish a National Interpreter Education Center and a Regional Interpreter Education Center or Centers that will work through Local Partner Networks to provide interpreter education to interpreters at all skill levels. The goal of these priorities is to improve the quality of interpreters in the field by providing quality educational opportunities with consumer involvement throughout the process and with a specific focus on interpreters working with consumers of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services. Distance technologies and distance education will be a critical component to the work of these centers.