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Samantha Hayes ReportingIn Utah, like the rest of the country, there is a shortage of people who know sign language. That shortage affects every service that is required to provide interpreters. Salt Lake Community College says it can help. A new program that is using state of the art technology to fill the need.
It usually takes many years to be able to communicate like this woman, and her skill is in high demand.
Pat Nola, Sorenson Communications: "The need for interpreters is tremendous."
Salt Lake Community College is responding with a new program, funded by Sorenson Communications and the Public Service Commissions.
Dr. Cynthia Bioteau, SLCC President: "Instead of two to three years to get into the work force, six months to a year."
The college will be able to do that with a new lab that will allow students a fast track to graduation.
Katie Hoover, Student: "We could be obviously in a college setting. We can go in if there's a deaf student or a deaf teacher, which we have in Utah. We interpret between teachers and students."
Students hone their interpretation skills in real time with a video relay lab. It is a large part of the level two certification required for many jobs.
Chad Bergeson, Sorenson Communications: "In my opinion, it's a difficult language to learn. It's somewhat complicated. You must hear in English, but then manually put that out on your hands. It's difficult and complicated."
The fast track program is expected to turn out a far greater number of graduates than before.
Pat Nola, Sorenson Communications: "We can take as many interpreters as can graduate. And get the load to increase by three to five hundred percent."
Salt Lake community college is currently graduating three or four interpreters a year; they hope to increase that number to about 30.
