Faculty who are deaf have been facing major issues at Fresno City College due to the lack of a designated American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for instructors. The issues they face include some instructor’s inability to be notified of emergencies, competing for interpreters with students, and inefficient accommodations for training.

This has been going on for over two years according to FCC foreign language professor Etienne Harvey. 

The three full time faculty impacted, Salvador Garcia, Etienne Harvey and Nancy Mitchell-Carroll, said they have to use the Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) to request interpreters. To do this they must fill out a form and put in a request with the possibility of it being unfulfilled. 

“We are not students, we are faculty, but we are having to compete with students for interpreters,” FCC foreign language professor Nancy Mitchell-Carroll said.

Fighting for resources has caused stress on teachers who require interpreters for most of their daily responsibilities. The faculty shared that requesting interpreters on top of an already busy schedule is a burden. 

Faculty who are deaf expressed that they were not able to properly communicate with students after classes or during office hours. Having an ASL interpreter clears misunderstandings, helps students express themselves more effectively, and ensures good communication instead of relying on note writing and lip reading to speak.  

Accessing professional workshops, development activities, and attending meetings are difficult for deaf faculty to attend because of the 2-3 month notice required to request an interpreter, but non-deaf faculty can register the same day or even be late. 

According to Harvey, in some cases scheduled department meetings had to be canceled due to no interpreters being available which affects connections among peers. 

“The district hired us, therefore it is responsible for accommodating us,”  Harvey said.

Harvey also expressed not being notified of emergencies when they happen because there are no flashing lights inside of his office.

“When an emergency happens I don’t know what’s going on,” Harvey said, “Students are willing to alert me that an alarm has sounded or that an announcement is being made.” Students will write on the board what is being said or announced and have also been taught to sign “emergency.” 

FCC President Robert Pimentel has been aware of the lack of interpreters and said there is a state and nationwide shortage.

“There’s a lot of reasons why these issues are happening, but most of them are out of our control,” Pimentel said, “I want people to know we are working on hiring more interpreters.” 

Pimentel said discussions are being made to improve the pay for a full time interpreter, and that there was an internship program in development that would boost interpreter recruitment to better help the shortage.