The interpreter's role and deaf students' autonomy in mainstream classrooms.

Area of Science:

• Deaf Education
• Educational Interpreting
• Inclusive Education

Background:

• Mainstream classrooms present unique challenges for deaf students.
• The role of educational interpreters is crucial for deaf student participation and autonomy.
• Understanding perspectives from both deaf individuals and interpreters is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the interpreter's role and approaches in K-12 mainstream classrooms from the perspectives of deaf individuals and interpreters.
• To investigate the influence of the interpreter's role on deaf student autonomy and participation.
• To identify factors contributing to confusion regarding interpreter roles and responsibilities.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research involving 41 formerly mainstreamed deaf individuals and their interpreters.
• Gathering insights on the interpreter's role and its impact on deaf students' classroom experience.
• Analyzing perspectives on autonomy, participation, and role negotiation.

Main Results:

• A significant correlation exists between the interpreter's role and deaf students' perceived autonomy.
• Deaf students often lack understanding of interpreter functions in educational settings.
• Lack of explicit role communication by educational teams negatively impacts deaf students' autonomy.
• Deaf students are not adequately trained to negotiate interpreter roles.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing deaf student autonomy requires a clear understanding and defined role of interpreters.
• Recommendations are provided for deaf education and interpreter education to improve collaboration and student support.
• Future training should equip deaf students with skills for role negotiation.