Page 241 - Reading Between the Sign Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters

226 Reading Between the Signs

by our talents and imagination. If we do not happen to possess
the ability to repair a car or sew a costume, we can always give
someone a ride or help someone move.
There is one special skill, however, that as interpreters we all
possess—the ability to interpret between ASL and English. When,
therefore, is it appropriate for us to donate our services and inter-
pret for free? The RID Code of Ethics cautions us that if we pro-
vide gratis services, we must maintain the self-respect of the con-
sumers while ensuring that we do not endanger the livelihood of
other interpreters. With those considerations in mind, here are
some possibilities that I would suggest. We may feel fine about
interpreting informally for our friends at a social gathering. At
emotionally laden occasions such as a funeral or wedding, it may
feel more appropriate to donate our services than to haggle over a
fee. (Some agencies have a policy of not charging a fee to the Deaf
consumer for a funeral, while absorbing the cost and still paying
the interpreter). Interpreting at a fund-raising event for the Deaf
community can be seen as part of our contribution, which would
also hold true for political or social causes that we may strongly
support.
Sometimes, however, working out the details is tougher than
the decision to donate our services. For example, in order not to
endanger the livelihood of interpreters in general, it may be bet-
ter that the organization officially pay you a fee (so that the line
item for interpreters can remain in their budget) with the under-
standing that you will give them back a check, fully or partially
equivalent to the one you received. Or you might say that you
would be willing to volunteer your services but would like a letter
for tax purposes documenting your donation. If you know that
Deaf people would have to pay you out of their own pockets (in-
stead of the hospital, school, state agency, or employer), you might
tell them you have a sliding scale and charge them less than your
normal fee, or nothing at all.
It would be difficult to list all the possible situations where one
could comfortably work for free, since it depends on many factors
specific to each person and each event. Sometimes your “dona-
tion” may not take place at a formally structured occasion. It could
happen on the spur of the moment, such as a phone call you
don’t mind interpreting after your paid assignment is over. When-

09 MINDESS PMKR 226 10/18/04, 12:03 PM