Flipping the Interpreter Script: Perspectives on Accessibility

• In Event: At the Crossroads of Bilingual Education and Special Education

Abstract

This academic essay presents experiences and frustrations of the co-authors with American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting availability in higher education settings, where ableism persists. As language and/or deaf education researchers, they advocate for a paradigm shift in how interpreting is framed. Drawing from a webinar featuring a deaf scholar, the authors highlight the mishandling of interpreting in academia and reveal communication barriers between deaf and hearing students and scholars. They argue for transformation in the ableist mindset, emphasizing the need for hearing individuals to learn from disabled individuals. Additionally, they propose integrating signed languages into the field of multilingual education. The article urges institutions to prioritize equitable access to sign language interpreters, fostering an inclusive and diverse academic environment.

Authors

• Jessica Scott, Georgia State University

• G. Sue Kasun, Georgia State University

• Stephanie J. Gardiner-Walsh, Commonwealth University