After several emails are passed back and forth between me, Steve, and the Deaf Ward counselor in the bishopric, it becomes clear that the LDS Church is severely lacking in ASL interpreters, and/or we are on our own. I still have faith that after Sister Walker feels ready to help, she will be more than willing to help me. Of all the people I have talked to about this issue, she is the only one who understands how I personally feel, which makes sense she is also a hearing wife of a deaf man in the LDS church.
As with many other people, the counselor suggests that we attend the Deaf Ward. “The deaf wards/branches are established so that deaf members could attend church in their own language and serve in any ward calling. 99% of the callings in the Valley Deaf Ward are filled by deaf members. We have very very few hearing members and almost all of them are not skilled enough to serve as interpreters.”
Many people have asked us why we do not attend the Deaf Ward (which happens to be 30 miles away in the big city). I always defer that question to Steve since it is his decision to attend our local ward where his friends are. The issue has caused me much pondering and prayer. Why would a person prefer to attend a hearing ward when all of this stress (my stress anyway) would be eliminated by attending a Deaf ward? I guess we are not the only couple in the Church in this situation. (We need to start a support group.) I write to the counselor that if I could have my way, I would attend the Deaf ward, but the Lord seems to have other plans.
From what I understand, it is the goal of the Deaf Community to eliminate the focus on deafness. I have absolutely no problem with that whatsoever. Before Steve and I met (we communicated on the internet), he wrote that he is deaf. I wrote back, “Fine with me.” I had no clue what “I am deaf.” meant. I was thinking, ‘So what?’ Little did I know what I was getting myself into. You might think I am unhappy. Far from it. My life has never been so much fun.
On one hand, I understand the push to get us to attend the Deaf Ward where life would be free from stress (ok, my stress). On the other hand, it seems like expecting a person to attend a ward that is far away from his friends is a bit like segregation. And isn’t that putting the focus on his deafness? I suggested to Steve that if we are to eliminate the focus on his deafness, we have to teach our friends Sign Language.
Somehow we have to get more interest, perhaps develop a powerful awareness of the need to learn. For some time I have had an idea in my mind on how to do that. We could become a host ward for deaf people in this valley. This area is growing rapidly and there might become a need for a host ward. I never mentioned this idea to anyone. A couple of nights ago, I was talking to our organist sister who got the same idea. If we are to become a host ward, we will have to become far less ignorant about Deaf people. If other people in the ward and Stake get this idea, I think we would generate more interest in the entire Stake.
I get someone to put a bug in the ear of a member of the Stake Presidency, and wait for results.
Filed under: Deaf in a Hearing Church, Sign Language
I don’t know if you’d say the church is SEVERELY LACKING in LDS interpreters. There’s actually a lot of them around. I think it usually depends on the individual interpreters who will be willing to interpret outside of their daily jobs that they do full-time. We do have a lot of them that do interpret in my area and if we ask them they will do it if they can depending on their schedules. What I don’t understand is wherever you are located that there’s none around? If you are in Utah, you should not have problems getting one.
Granted, there are not too many interpreters that do Signed English. Way to easy to get far behind the speaker. If you contact any Deaf Wards/Branches, I’m sure you will get a name or two of who to contact to interpret.
Steve and I both contacted the Deaf Ward in SLC. We were given a list of names and email addresses they have on file. I mass emailed all of them with only one response that said she was too busy.
I’m tired from listing everything we have done to find a qualified interpreter for Church.
Hi, I am a qualified NZ Sign Language Interpreter in the Waterview stake, Auckland, New Zealand.
Your concerns are the same over in this part of the world too. We have a wonderful member in the Mt Roskill stake who is very active in lobbying for Deaf members. She has pushed long and hard to have the 8th ward become the Host ward for Deaf members.
I started going occasionally to help her out with interpreting for the members but found that I needed to be fed spiritually.
After moving areas, I have found that there is a Deaf member in my ward, so instead of driving the distance that we would remain in our own ward and I would interpret for her.
I have found that by putting my own needs aside, put this members need for access to the gospel first I am blessed.
Once a month there is an activity called ‘Silent Night’ where members from both wards have an opportunity to attend and have a taste of a Deaf members world.
Its a fun activity evening, students who are on the Interpreting course are also invited and in this way there are non members, members and Missionaries learning and teaching from each other.
I implore, admire and have great faith in what you do for your husband. I understand as an interpreter the strength one needs to be on as an interpreter let alone a full-time 24 hour interpreter such as yourself.
Keep up the great work and a big pat on the back for all your helpers along side you, you guys are doing a great job.
We recently have had a new investigater who is deaf,coming to our Branch and I love the response from our members there is especially a sister who interprets to her during sacrament, it’s not something she has been trained to do, and she does it very well. Love speaks all language.