Home / Future Students / Disability Services / Policy and Procedures

Interpreter Services

 

Policies and Procedures – No. 10
Interpreter Services

 

 

PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy and procedure is to establish guidelines for the provision of interpreter services and to ensure that all qualified students receive appropriate interpreter, CART, or C-Print services designed to meet their individual needs. Second, the policy establishes procedures, timelines, and a fee structure for non-academic and non-qualified services in an effort to control costs and to ensure availability of services to all those in need of such services. These services are mandated under the American with Disabilities Act; therefore, we strive to ensure that all qualified individuals receive appropriate services that will meet their needs.

 

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

To access interpreter, CART, or C-Print services students must present documentation of a qualifying disability to the Disability Support Service Office, located in room 102 of the San Jacinto Building, at Central College. The department requires a sixty-day notice of the need for services in order to provide reasonable assurance that services will be available when needed. In some situations, it may become necessary to hire additional staff and it is not always possible to locate qualified interpreters on short notice. The department will attempt to obtain services requested with less than sixty days notice, however, available interpreter services are provided on a first come first served basis. If an interpreter is not available when classes start, the students is to meet with the Lead ADA Counselor, in Room 102 of the San Jacinto Building, to discuss reasonable alternatives that would enable the student to attend class and complete course requirements.

 

ELIGIBILITY

Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and who are able to use ASL or signed English to communicate will be eligible to receive interpreter services on a first come and first served basis. The college will make a good faith effort to provide interpreters in a timely, efficient and effective manner consistent with availability of qualified interpreters in the service area of the college. The college makes a best effort to employ a sufficient number of full-time and part-time interpreters to ensure that we do not need to contract for outside interpreter services. Provided that students apply for services well in advance of the need, we should be able to provide appropriate interpreter services without the need to outsource. Under special circumstances the college will contract for outside services; however, all such requests must have the prior approval of the Dean of Student Services and the President of the College, or a designated representative.

 

PROCEDURES

Students planning to attend any of the Houston Community Colleges should contact the Disability Support Services Office, located in room 102 of the San Jacinto Building, at Central College, sixty (60 days) prior to the commencement of the semester to establish eligibility for services.

1. The student must present documentation of a qualifying disability which meets the Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TCDHH), “Certificate of Deafness Waiver” that pays tuition fees only, or documentation of a qualifying disability under the Americans with Disability Act or Section 504 of The Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, (See Policy No. 1 for acceptable documentation of disabilities).
2. The counselor assigned to work with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students will provide assistance and intake services. During the intake process, the counselor will discuss the type of services required and refer the student to the Supervisor of Interpreter Services, if interpreter services are required. All interpreter services will be scheduled by the Supervisor of Interpreter Services and must be arranged well in advance of the date the service(s) is/are needed.
3. If the student has not registered for assistance with the appropriate Texas Rehabilitation Commis sion Office (TRC) the counselor will encourage the student to register with the office nearest the student’s home. However, students are not required to register with TRC in order to obtain interpreter, CART, or C-Print services.
4. If the student is eligible for assistance from TRC, the Supervisor of Interpreting Services will work closely with the designated Texas Rehabilitation Commission Counselor to arrange payment for contracted services. Every effort will be made to balance courses and to provide reduced course loads when there are substantial reasons to believe that the student would have difficulty with a full academic load.

 

Procedures:

1. The student will decide which classes to enroll in with the assistance of the assigned counselor and in cooperation with the coordinator for interpreter services.
2. After consultation with the Supervisor for Interpreter Services, the counselor will prepare an advising enrollment form listing only the course prefix and course number, initial the selected courses, and send the form to the Supervisor of Interpreter Services. This will enable the supervisor to schedule interpreter services in an efficient manner and ultimately to reduce the over-all costs for services.
3. The Supervisor of Interpreter Services and the student will select the appropriate CRN numbers and class times. Deaf and Hard of Hearing students will be given priority registration assistance from DSSO office staff.

Special requests for interpreter services, such as field trips, workshops, or system requests are to be handled on an individual basis. System requests are to be charged the current prevailing rates established in the community.