Interview with Regan Thibodeau on White House using Deaf Interpreters

Alex Abenchuchan: Hello!

Alex: Can you introduce your name, tell us where you’re from, and elaborate on your position and experience in the interpreting field?

Regan Thibodeau: I’m Regan. I’m from Maine, I’m trying to make this sign more common. [F handshape below shoulder as opposed to the handshape M]. I’m a certified interpreter, and I teach and give training in America and internationally about deaf interpreting, including what interpreting is like and how to do it. I also provide consultations and advocate to raise the standards of this field.

Alex: You’ve been one of the strongest advocates for the use of deaf interpreters for emergency communications. With COVID, that need for interpreters has hugely increased with some differences - some use deaf interpreter and some use hearing interpreter. The White House in their recent briefings have fluctuated a bit between both. I’m curious, what is your view? Should a deaf interpreter be used all the way? Why?

Regan Thibodeau: Yes. I’ll explain why with a simple answer. When a hearing interpreter takes the lead for a live event, only half the access is given. The White House pays for half of that access, because we have to put in the effort to figure out what is being said and what they mean. With a deaf interpreter, the interpreting access is complete and effective. That’s key to reducing confusion and misunderstandings. That process is better, just as how two heads are better than one. We are a bilingual and bicultural team, and that makes it complete and creates a bridge. We can’t have a bridge with only one side. It’d fall apart. Right?

Every time a hearing interpreter accepts a job without a deaf interpreter, they only provide half the work. That violates tenet two. Let me look at the specific numbers… 2.3 and 2.4

[Description: Photo of RID and NAD’s Code of Professional Conduct. The text reads as follows:

“2.0 Professionalism. Tenet: Interpreters possess the professional skills and knowledge required for the specific interpreting situation. Guiding Principle: Interpreters are expected to stay abreast of evolving language use and trends in the profession of interpreting as well as in the American deaf community. Interpreters accept assignments using discretion with regard to skill, communication mode, setting, and consumer needs. Interpreters possess knowledge of American deaf culture and deafness-related resources.” Below that is “Illustrative Behavior - Interpreters” and tenet 2.3 and 2.4, which Regan mentioned, are as follows: “2.3: Render the message faithfully by conveying the content and spirit of what is being communicated, using language most readily understood by consumers, and correcting errors discreetly and expeditiously.” and “2.4: Request support (e.g. certified deaf interpreters, team members, language facilitators) when needed to fully convey the message or to address exceptional communication challenges (e.g. cognitive disabilities, foreign sign language, emerging language ability, or lack of formal instruction or language).”]

Regan: Tenet 2.3 says render the language that is clear and the best fit for the audience. If we don’t know who will be watching, that means we have to provide interpreting that meets the needs of a wide range of backgrounds, skills, and language use. For an interpreter to take this role, it would be impossible for them to do this and it’d be incomplete. That means they’re marginalizing a group. People might say “Look at the captions”, but the marginalized group typically struggle to get access. Their one opportunity every day to get that information is through sign language that’s inclusive and accessible to everyone possible with complete, clear interpreting.

Tenet 2.4 says “request for support” such as “certified deaf interpreters” when the audience involves individuals with communication challenges. Some people recently moved to America and are new here, so it’s important for their benefit to be able to understand. Hearing interpreters repeatedly opt out of this, knowing that there is such a wide range of skill sets in the audience, and their interpreting is not fully accessible and clear for the audience. These are violations, in my professional opinion. That’s what the CPC means.

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Alex: Do you feel that if a deaf person were to be involved in the White House it would be better? What do you think the White House should have done from the beginning?

Regan: The White House should have appointed a deaf interpreter, and a full team, for full interpretation for all possible viewers. It seems a position has to be created: interpreter coordinator. The deaf community asked me to create a petition, so I did and shared it with the public. The last portion clearly stated “Please hire a qualified ASL interpreter coordinator to assess, evaluate and schedule interpreters.

[Screen recording of the petition website. The title is “Deaf Interpreters (D/H Teams) to interpret for the White House”. 11,057 people have signed. There is a photo of President BIden speaking and a smaller screen on the same screen shows April Jackson, a Black Deaf female interpreter. The last paragraph says “Please hire a qualified ASL interpreter coordinator to handle all hires, screening, evaluations for the White House”.]

Regan: I’ve met many hearing interpreters who feel so honored to work with deaf interpreters and feel that it’s safe for the deaf community to have full access. Many who don’t feel that way might be insecure in their work, afraid to lose their job, and afraid of criticism. No. We value hearing interpreters very much, and we want more. Again, training will help.

Alex: There are best practices for this. There are two states that have been a model for other states so far, from my understanding, and these states are Maryland and Georgia. In Maryland, Kelby Brick has ensured that interpreters are accompanied by CDIs. Georgia with All Hands On, with David Cowan, has done this even before COVID-19. Since the coronavirus spread, this has been more widespread including for the Black Lives Matter movement. In Minnesota there were CDIs used not for COVID, but for emergency announcements. And remember, RID shared a position statement emphasizing the use of CDIs for press releases.

[Screen recording of a RID webpage. On the top of the page it reads “Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. RID Position Statement: CDIs at Press Conferences.” There is a video of Branton Stewart, RID DMAL, signing.]

Branton Stewart: Ok, now, RID recognizes that qualified CDIs must be used for press conferences on TV at all times. We support that.

Alex: You won’t stop speaking up until the White House has CDIs every day. And it’s never ending, because tomorrow is a new day. You believe that the White House should have CDIs everyday…

Regan: Yes.

Alex: ...for their full administration going forward.

Regan: Yes, definitely. That should be the standard approach. What might future changes look like later? I don’t know. For now, I predict in the next four years there for sure will be a deaf and hearing team, yes. Until something else comes up, then fine. We must be flexible for this field. As the community changes, we change our services. That’s a must. For right now, our services for the deaf and hard of hearing is required. It’s loud and clear.

Alex: I think that’s all. Thank you so much for your time.

Petition: https://bit.ly/3d71h5s

RID Position Statement: https://rid.org/rid-position-statement-cdis-at-press-conferences/

RID CPC: https://rid.org/ethics/code-of-professional-conduct/