Educational Interpreting Services

The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing provides educational interpreting services for our students enrolled in our Governor Baxter School for the Deaf site-based programs (Portland and Brewer), Public School Outreach students attending their local school districts, and for education related meetings (eg. IEP meetings, concerts, testing and evaluations, etc.) for students and their families. The MECDHH interpreters/transliterators support the development of many important domains – cognitive, social, and linguistic. We foster many forms of development, not just learning classroom content or academic milestones

The interpreter is an important member of the educational team, with a responsibility to help implement the student’s IEP and maximize learning. The word “educational” in the title “educational interpreter” is an important distinction. It means working with a developing child, and this is reflected in your everyday practice.

Classroom interpreting is more than just knowing how to sign competently. Interpreters must process language quickly and accurately, and they must think about spoken English and sign language simultaneously. Interpreting is also about being able to support the educational goals and outcomes as defined by the student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP).

Interpreting for children and youth is different than interpreting for adults. Childhood and adolescence involve the development of many important domains – cognitive, social, and linguistic. Schools foster many forms of development, not just learning classroom content. By working with a student, all adults automatically become role models, language models, and disciplinarians as well as many other roles.

To learn more information about educational interpreting, please find the following resources:

• Classroom Interpreting
• National Association of Interpreters in Education (NAIEDU)
• An Overview of K–12 Educational Interpreting: Standard Practice