This program
administers the statewide contract to purchase sign language interpreter
services. State of Washington agencies are obligated to provide sign
language interpreters upon request to deaf or hard of hearing individuals
who are seeking accessible government services. The program monitors
contractual compliance including quality of services, certification
of interpreters and adherence to best practices.
April 01, 2005
News Release: DSHS To Administer State Sign Language Interpreter Contract
Olympia -
The statewide sign language interpreter services contract will be transferred
from the Department of General Administration (GA) to the Office of
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Department of Social and Health
Services.The Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) will oversee
referral agencies and freelance interpreters providing sign language
interpreter services. GA has been administering the sign language contract
since 2002. DSHS expects to receive bids from providers this April
and sign contracts that will be effective July 1.ODHH Director Eric
Raff said DSHS clients consume 95 percent of all statewide sign language
interpreter services from the current contract. GA currently contracts
with approximately six interpreter referral agencies and has registered
approximately 300 sign language interpreters.ODHH has been working
with several DSHS administrations, including Medical Assistance, Economic
Services and Aging & Disability Services, to address both DSHS
and clients’ needs and improve the quality and delivery of services.
The new contract under DSHS is expected to be made available to other
state agencies which serve deaf and hard of hearing people.
Washington
has approximately 650,000 residents with hearing loss – including
14,000 who are deaf.
Modification Date: January 9, 2008
Ask
ODHH for more information about service offerings. For more ways to get in
touch with the Department of Social and Health Services go to the DSHS
Contact Information web page. Technical Site Comments: DSHS
Webmaster.
