Request for Interpreter
Please allow up to five (5) business days’ advance notice to fulfill your request.
Short notice or urgent need? We’ll always do our best to make it happen!
Use this Request Form if you are a:
- Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing student and need a sign language interpreter outside of class for a one-time event/meeting (example: interpret for tutoring session, club meetings, advisor meeting, etc.)
- OSU-OKC Faculty/Staff member working with a Deaf or Hard-of Hearing student and need a sign language interpreter outside of class to provide communication.
Are you a Deaf/Hard-of-hearing OSU-OKC faculty/staff member needing accommodations
to fulfill your job requirements?
Please contact Melissa Herren in Human Resources at 405-945-3298 or melissa.herren@okstate.edu and be sure to inform your direct supervisor of your accommodation request as well.
Are you an OSU-OKC faculty/staff member coordinating an OSU-OKC sponsored event?
Please see our Disability Accommodation Access Policy for OSU-OKC Sponsored Events for information on providing accommodation access, including who to contact for assistance.
Tips for working with a Sign Language Interpreter:
- When addressing a student who is deaf/hard-of-hearing, speak directly to the student, not the interpreter. The interpreter is not part of the conversation and is not permitted to voice personal opinions or enter the conversation. The interpreter is required to interpret everything that is said; they do not screen information or leave things out at the speaker’s request.
- Interpreters function as a provider of support services, supplying communication/cultural facilitation. Interpreters do not function as tutors or note takers in class.
- Please provide the interpreter with a class schedule/outline, along with any handouts or specialized vocabulary related to the course.
- In some instances depending on length of class and/or class subject material, interpreters may work in teams. If the class is more than 1.5 hours, please plan 5-10 minute breaks for the interpreter if he/she is working without a team.
- Interpreters will wait a minimum of 15 minutes for a class less than 1.5 hours long and 30 minutes for class longer than 1.5 hours before leaving the assignment if the student has not shown or made prior contact that they will be arriving late.
- If you or the student need interpreting services outside of class time for educational reasons (such as office hour visits), the student or instructor should complete a Request for Interpreter form online at least five (5) business days in advance of when the interpreter will be needed. Every effort will be made to fulfill an accommodation request made with less than five (5) business days' advance notice, however we cannot guarantee the accommodation will be available.
- If you are planning to show media in class or online (such as videos or audio files) that are not already accurately captioned, please review how to get your materials captioned. Making sure media is captioned for those in your class who are deaf or hard-of-hearing reinforces our commitment to providing equal access!