Scottish Borders Disability Forum

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RNID Communication Services

Information for deaf and hard of hearing people.

Sign Language Interpreters
RNID SpeedText
Lipspeakers
Deafblind Interpreters
Notetakers
Palantype

If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you might need an interpreter for:

Health appointments
Education lectures
Church services
School parents, evenings
Bank/Building Society meetings
Police and solicitors meetings
Job interview
DSS interview

What kind of communication service do you need?
RNID can book sign language interpreters, lipspeakers, deafblind interpreters, notetakers,RNID SpeedText and palantype, depending on your requirements.

WE NEED TO KNOW:
The date and time of the meeting
The kind of meeting (eg job interview, hospital appointment, training course)
Where the meeting will be held
Length of the meeting
What supporting papers are available

BEFORE THE MEETING
Some points to bear in mind to make sure the appointment goes well when you arrive:

Make sure everyone knows you have an interpreter with you and what their role is.
If you have only one interpreter, tell the meeting organiser that the interpreter may ask for a short break during the meeting.
Sit where you can see the interpreter clearly.
If you are speaking to a group and have a speech written down, give the interpreter a copy before the meeting. If you are showing a video tell the interpreter what it is about and how long it is for. If you have a transcript the interpreter will find this helpful.
Explain that the interpreter is impartial and that anything said at the meeting is completely confidential.

IN THE MEETING
If you are signing, look at the person you want to talk to not at the interpreter.
If you do not understand something , ask the speaker to say it again.
The interpreter will communicate everything that is said in the meeting.
If a person says something which everyone can hear, the interpreter will communicate this.
Don't ask the interpreter to communicate other people's private conversations. You could ask for any private conversations to be held out side the meeting.

PROBLEMS
If you have booked an interpreter, write down the date and time in your diary
Please remember that interpreters have to be paid, even if you do not turn up.
If you have to cancel you meeting, please let us know immediately.
If you cannot understand the interpreter, think about cancelling your meeting and reorganising.

AFTER THE MEETING
The meeting is private and confidential. The interpreter will not discuss it with anyone else.
The interpreter is neutral and wil not give advice. You should never ask what she/he thinks of a meeting.
If you are not happy with the communication service, you can write to the senior coordinator at the relevant Communication Service Unit (CSU)

HOW TO BOOK
Please phone your regional CSU during office hours
(9am-5pm) Always try and give as notice as possible.
When you call be ready to tell us your name, address, and telephone/textphone number and information about the meeting, so we can arrange for the interpreter to be there.

YOU LOCAL CSU IS:
0141 550 5760