Disability Support Services  (DSS)

DSS is a department of Student Affairs, Jacksonville State University.  DSS was established in 1985 as a Line Item of the State Budget.  The need for this type of service (first known as the Postsecondary Program for Sensory Impaired) was due to two students who were Deaf that wished to become specialists in teaching students who were Deaf or Hard of Hearing.  Dr. Susan R. Easterbrooks, the newly hired Program Head for Deafness, encouraged these two students to come to JSU.  She approached the University President, Dr. Theron Montgomery, who was able to secure funding for a comprehensive program of support services.

DSS has been recognized for its endeavors to provide quality services by the American Association of State Colleges & Universities/National Organization on Disabilities, and the J.C. Penney Foundation for expanding educational opportunities for individuals with disabilities.  In February of 1991, DSS became the Alabama Outreach and Technical Assistance Center through a Federal Contract with the Postsecondary
Education Consortium (PEC).

Ethic/Knowledge Test

The enactment of the Alabama Licensure Law for Interpreters and Transliterators prompted DSS to carefully assess its ability to provide support services to students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and require services of Interpreters and Transliterators.  A small task force of individuals who had already passed the benchmark RID Generalist Test was
assembled to begin the ambitious task of preparing the DSS Interpreter Pool to comply with the legal mandates.  It was decided to follow the steps of basic psychometrics and create a JSU test that could be presented to the Licensure Board.   Daniel L. Miller, Director, worked with Cindy Camp, Deafness Specialist, and Dawn Liggett, Interpreter to fashion this unique assessment that would nurture budding Interpreters and be in compliance with the State of Alabama Code.  Success was achieved on Thursday, September 2, 1999 when the State Board approved this Test as one of two in the area of ethics.

Test Categories

The test is divided into the following categories:
Code of Ethics, Application of the Code of Ethics Interpreting, American Sign Language, Sign Language
Deaf Culture / Deafness, Laws, and Organizations.  Below is a breakdown of the percentages of each category.  Each category represents an important aspect of the interpreting profession.  The questions are designed to test the theoretical and practical knowledge of professional interpreters.

Suggested Reading List for Interpreter Ethics/Knowledge Test

Fishberg,  Nancy
 Interpreting: An Introduction
 Silver Springs, MD: Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., 1990

Humphrey, Janice H. and Bob J. Alcorn
 So You Want to be an Interpreter
 Amarillo, Texas: H&H Publishers, 1994

McIntire, Marina, Ed.
 1985 RID Convention
 Silver Springs, MD: RID Publications, 1985

RID Standard Practices Papers, RID Publications
 available online at http://www.rid.org/spp.html

Seal, Brenda Chafin
 Best Practices in Educational Interpreting
 Boston:  Allyn and Bacon, 1998

Moore, Matthew, and Linda Levitan
  For Hearing People Only
  Rochester, New York: Deaf Life Press, 1993

Solow, Sharon Neumann
 Sign Language Interpreting: a Basic  Resource Book
 Silver Springs, MD: National Association of the Deaf, 1981

Valli, Clayton & Ceil Lucas
 Linguistics of American Sign Language
 Gallaudet University Press, 1998

Testing Dates

Testing date tests will be given by appointment only.  Tests may be schedule Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Groups of 5 or more can schedule testing on Saturdays.

Once scheduled the date and time of test are final.  An applicant may petition in writing for a change of date in case of family emergency or serious illness, appropriate documentation should be attached.  If an applicant is unable to show up for his or her scheduled test and does not follow the approved procedure the application fee is forfeit.

All tests will be administered at Disability Support Services (DSS) at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, AL.  DSS is located on the third floor of the Theron Montgomery Building.  Those wishing to register for the test should fill out an application and return it to DSS along with a check for $100.
Click HERE to view an application.

Testing Procedures

Test applications and a cashier check or money order must be received 10 working days prior to the testing date.  Once the application is received a letter of confirmation; stating date, time and place of the test,  will be sent  to the applicant.

Test takers will have a maximum of two hours in which to complete the test.  The test is in computerized format; however, test takers need not be proficient in the use of a computer. The test consists of 75 multiple choice questions.  Test takers need only use the mouse to select the correct answer and click.  Questions may be reviewed and answers may be changed at any time within the two hour limit.

Test results will be mailed within 10 working days of the completed test date.  Results will include an overall score for the test along with a break down of the number of questions missed in each category.  75% or better is a passing score.  A maximum of 18 questions can be missed and still obtain a passing score.  Scores are not rounded.  Those receiving below 75% will be allowed to retake the test three (3) months from their last test date.  Those receiving a passing score will receive an official letter and a certificate of achievement.

This test has been approved by the Alabama Interpreters’ Licensure Board as a Code of Ethics test in compliance with the Alabama Interpreters Licensure Law.

National Association of the Deaf Code of Ethics

The National Association of the Deaf has set forth the following principles of ethical behavior to protect and guide interpreters and transliterators and hearing and deaf consumers

This Code of Ethics applies to all interpreters certified through the NAD testing system.

Ø All information in an interpreting assignment is to be kept in strictest confidentiality.

Ø Interpreting services shall always be competent, impartial and professional

Ø Messages shall be rendered faithfully, always conveying the content and spirit of the communicator.

Ø In accepting assignments, discretion based on skill setting and the consumers involved must be used.

Ø Counseling or interjecting of personal opinions is never permitted.

Ø Information on the role and appropriate use of interpreting services shall be provided to the consumers when necessary.

Ø Professional judgment should be exercised in assessing whether communication is understood.

Ø Information on available resources as appropriate should be provided.

Ø Compensation for services should be pursued in a professional manner.

Ø Further knowledge, increased competency, and maintenance of standards should be pursued.

For additional information, please contact:
The National Association of the Deaf
814 Thayer Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301)587-1788 Voice
(301) 587-1789 TDD
(301) 587-179 FAX

RID Code of Ethics
The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. has set forth the following principles of ethical behavior to protect and guide interpreters and transliterators and hearing and deaf consumers. Underlying these principles is the desire to insure for all the right to communicate.

This Code of Ethics applies to all members of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. and to all certified non-members.

Ø Interpreters/transliterators shall keep all assignment related information strictly confidential.

Ø Interpreters/transliterators shall render the message faithfully, always conveying the content and spirit of the speaker using  language most readily understood by the person(s) whom they serve.

Ø Interpreters/transliterators shall not counsel, advise or interject personal opinions.

Ø Interpreters/transliterators shall accept assignments using discretion with regard to skill, setting, and the consumers involved.

Ø Interpreters/transliterators shall request compensation for services in a professional and judicious manner.

Ø Interpreters/transliterators shall function in a manner appropriate to the situation.

Ø Interpreters/transliterators shall strive to further knowledge and skills through participation in work-shops, professional           meetings, interaction with professional colleagues, and reading of current literature in the field.

Interpreters/transliterators, by virtue of membership or certification by the RID, Inc., shall strive to maintain high professional standards in compliance with the Code of Ethics.

Test Application
                     Click below to view the test application.

TEST APPLICATION

Return application to:
Disability Support Services
Jacksonville State University
700 Pelham Road North
Jacksonville, AL 36265

(256) 782-8380 v/tty
(256) 782-8383 fax
dss@jsu.edu