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Interpreters/Deaf Mentors

Compliance with Interpreter/Translator Enrollment Requirements (8/08) pdf

Beginning March 1, 2008

Individuals who are bilingual or an interpreter for the deaf may enroll to bill as an interpreter. Upon application for enrollment, the bilingual applicant must identify the languages for which he/she is applying to interpret and/or translate and document completion of Early Intervention Systems Training as defined in Section 500.60(f) and Early Intervention approved training for bilingual interpreter/translators and oral and/or written language proficiency using approved testing procedures. By September 1, 2008, all enrolled bilingual interpreters must have documented completion of Early Intervention approved training for bilingual interpreters/translators and oral and/or written language proficiency using approved testing procedures to maintain enrollment. 225 ILCS 443 Interpreter for the Deaf Licensure Act of 2007 became effective January 1, 2009. In part this statute states the following:
Sec. 15. Licensure requirement.

  1. On or after January 1, 2009, no person shall practice as an interpreter for the deaf, hold himself or herself out as a licensed interpreter for the deaf, or use the title "Licensed Interpreter for the Deaf", "Licensed Transliterator for the Deaf", or any other title or abbreviation to indicate that the person is a licensed interpreter, unless he or she is licensed in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
  2. On or before January 1, 2011, a person who, as of July 1, 2007, maintained valid and unencumbered registration under the Interpreters for the Deaf Act, may be issued a license as an interpreter for the deaf upon filing an application and paying the required fees. A person licensed under this subsection (b) must meet all applicable licensure requirements of this Act on or before January 1, 2011.

Deaf adults who have been certified by Hearing and Vision Connections as a language mentor for the deaf may enroll to bill. Language mentors are not required to obtain a credential.

Use the following to enroll as an interpreter/deaf mentor as appropriate to the type of enrollment desired:

Bilingual interpreters and Interpreters for the deaf provide services necessary during the rendering of other EI services in order to communicate with the child and family and written translation of EI documents into the child/family's native language. If the interpreter is authorized to interpret service sessions for a provider/family, the interpreter may assist that provider in scheduling service appointments for that family. This does not include interpreter services that would otherwise be provided at no charge to the family or interpreter services by the same person rendering the service(s).

Deaf Mentor Services are provided by a language mentor for the deaf who interacts with the child by modeling language in the chosen communication mode, shares information about the deaf culture and provides first hand knowledge of deafness with the family and introduces the family to the local deaf community.