Sign Language Enhancer Products

The requirements for an educational interpreter, as set forth in the Educational Interpreter for the Deaf Act (70 O.S. § 13 - 1 15.3) and the State Board of Education rules (OAC 21 0: 15 - 13-4), are summarized below:

An educational interpreter must have completed one of the following:

1. An interpreter training program;
2. Obtained a bachelor's degree; or
3. Worked three or more years in an area related to the field of deaf education, which could include interpreting in noneducational settings, such as a church, etc.

In addition to the above requirements, an educational interpreter must also maintain one of the following:

1. Certification by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID);
2. National Association for the Deaf (NAD) Level IV or better;
3. Quality Assurance Screening Test (QAST) Level I11 or better;
4. National Council for Interpreters (NCI) Certification;
5. Signed Exact English (ESSE) Level 3.5 or better; or
6. Educational Interpreters Proficiency Assessment (EIPA) Level 3.5 or better in the area for which they are certified (elementary or secondary).

In state law, certification of a QAST level 111, or comparable level of proficiency (EIPA 3.5 or ESSE 3.9, is required by July 1, 2006. Several districts have expressed concern regarding a shortage of training opportunities for their interpreters. In response to this feedback, the Oklahoma State Department of Education, Special Education Services, has purchased, some instructional DVDs from American Sign Language Productions, Inc. These instructional DVD sets are a great resource to both educational interpreters and educators serving deaf and hard of hearing students. These DVDs are available for loan from the  Oklahoma State Department of Education.  If you would like more information, please contact Mark Everhart at (405) 521-4963.