INTERPRETING SERVICES

Alan Hughes, Director of Communication Services

KCD has provided quality sign language interpreting services for more than 20 years. KCD is often contracted to provide interpreting services outside our region and state due to responsiveness, cost and quality. Having access to an interpreter referral agency saves our customers the normal expenses associated with having additional staff.

A 1997 member survey revealed overall satisfaction by deaf persons. Most deaf and deaf-blind person prefer KCD interpreters.

All of KCD's current service staff are evaluated qualified interpreters. This provides quality assurance for customers by assuring that interpreters have been assessed, are required to follow a certification maintenance program and agree to adhere to ethical conduct and professional standards.

KCD employs a Director of Communication Services who is responsible for overseeing the qualifications, dependability, ethical behavior, consumer and customer satisfaction of individual interpreters and the interpreting program in general.

Interpreting assignments are coordinated by a certified interpreter who has in-depth knowledge of the region, of situational needs and of interpreter skills. Proper coordination allows for better customer and consumer matches, thus making communication more effective and comfortable. Proper care is taken to achieve a proper balance between individual needs and interpreter skill, interpreter availability and travel distance.

Interpreting services for emergencies are available 24 hours a day. A staff person is on call every day of the year. On call services are for legal, medical and other emergencies. While situations involving scheduled appointments can be provided for at any time, one must call the office to schedule an interpreter during regular business hours. Even when our offices are closed, interpreters are working, including nights, weekends and holidays.

A local registry of interpreters used by KCD is maintained and updated regularly, utilizing certified and other qualified interpreters who are working toward certification. This includes interpreters, deaf relay interpreters, deaf-blind specialists, interpreter trainers and others who collectively make up the largest and most qualified interpreting pool in the region.

Cancellation policy – to avoid a one-hour charge, appointments must be cancelled no later than the close of business (5 PM) on the last weekday preceding the scheduled appointment. In such cases where appointments must be cancelled, no travel time will be charged.

No-Show/cancelled on site policy – when the interpreter is in route or goes to the assignment and the deaf person does not show, we will charge mileage and a one hour interpreting fee, but we will not charge travel time.

*If your business or organization does not allow you to pay travel time or mileage, please contact us at ahill@kcdtn.org or call us at (865) 579-0832 to arrange for an adjusted Interpreting Fee.

Team interpreters available

KCD assists in assessing the need for and coordinating teams of interpreters for assignments of long duration and complex information. Professional interpreting teams protect the quality and accuracy of the communication.

KCD is an independent community service center. Any surplus generated by the interpreting program is used to benefit the deaf, deaf-blind and hard-of-hearing communities by being able to continue with the provision of services and programs needed and desired by those communities.

Community Partners:

United Way Member

Partially Funded:
Tennessee Department of Human Services