Arizona Council for the Hearing Impaired

The Council needs to develop a strategic plan for increasing the number of qualified interpreters in Arizona. Not only is there a shortage of interpreters in Arizona, but only 76 of the State’s approximately 400 interpreters meet national standards. Specific actions in the plan should include working with the Legislature, the two existing interpreter training programs at Phoenix College and Pima Community College, and the three Arizona universities to establish a four-year bachelor’s degree interpreter training program. Other items in the plan should include making persons aware of career opportunities in interpreting, including the fact that certified interpreters can earn $40,000 to $50,000 annually.

The report also recommends that the Council explore the possibility of contracting out its teletypewriter (TTY) distribution program to determine whether any cost savings and/or operational efficiencies can be achieved. If contracting out the TTY distribution program is not feasible, the report recommends that the Council make improvements to the program, as the current inventory-tracking system cannot properly account for over 800 of the 7,000 TTYs it has distributed. While improvements to the program may require minimal additional funding, these additional expenditures could be potentially offset through a reduction in lost TTYs and operational efficiencies.