State of Maryland

An American Sign Language Interpreter II, CI is the full-performance level translating between spoken English and manual (American Sign Language) communications to support deaf and hearing-impaired patients, families, and health professionals in a court involved facility operated by the Maryland Department of Health. Employees in this classification translate between deaf or hearing-impaired patients in court involved State-run facilities, clinics, and residential treatment centers, to facilitate treatment planning, access to care and rehabilitation resources, and patient and family education. At times, the work may include collaborating with and overseeing the work of volunteers. Employees in this classification may be required to work evenings, holidays, weekends, and/or during several shifts. The work may require employees to travel off-site to provide interpretation services, such as home visitations.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from an American Sign Language Interpreter Supervisor, CI or a higher-level health professional, administrator, or program-level manager. Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria defined in the Nature of Work and Example of Work sections of the class specification.

The American Sign Language Interpreter I, CI and American Sign Language Interpreter II, CI are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees. The American Sign Language Interpreter I, CI performs the intermediate level of work under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed, whereas the American Sign Language Interpreter II, CI performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision. The American Sign Language Interpreter Supervisor, CI is differentiated from the American Sign Language Interpreter II, CI in that the American Sign Language Interpreter II, CI performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision from the American Sign Language Interpreter Supervisor, CI whereas the American Sign Language Interpreter Supervisor, CI provides supervision to lower-level Sign Language Interpreters under general supervision from a higher-level health professional, administrator, or program-level manager.

Translates between deaf or hearing-impaired court involved patients in State-run facilities, clinics, and residential treatment centers. May provide similar services for patients’ families and professional staff involved in patients’ treatment;

Arranges interpreting situations, when possible, by choosing appropriate background, lighting and positioning of participants so that hands and faces are readily visible for manual signing or lipreading;

Teaches classes in American Sign Language, as well as how to utilize an interpreter and how to use various devices to aid the deaf;

Produces and performs as an interpreter in instructional or public awareness videos upon request from the facility;

Gives presentations to further public and/or agency awareness of deafness as a disability;

Keeps records of time spent in actual interpreting and time spent in training activities / instruction;

Submits monthly activity and progress report to supervisor;

May sponsor sign language classes to teach basic manual communication skills to facility employees or the public;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the vocabulary and emotional expression in American Sign Language;

Knowledge of behavioral and mental patterns and special needs of deaf and hearing-impaired individuals;

Knowledge of the optimal conditions for lipreading and/or manual sign language interpretation. Knowledge of various mechanical devices to aid the deaf or hearing-impaired;

Skill in translating spoken English to manual sign language;

Skill in reading and understanding manual sign language and translating it to spoken English;

Ability to keep accurate written records of services performed.

Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Three years of experience providing interpretative services, at least two of which have been in an inpatient, residential, or long-term care facility setting serving patients and/or clients with high acuity or higher support needs, such as the following: patients and/or clients that are aged, physically ill, or have physical disabilities; patients and/or clients who have behavioral health diagnoses, psychiatric health diagnoses, or intellectual or developmental disabilities; patients and/or clients struggling with addiction or substance abuse disorders; or individuals who have been incarcerated, court-ordered, or otherwise involved with the legal system.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the completion of 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 15 credit hours in health or human services, education, or the behavioral sciences and one year of experience providing interpretive services in the above-mentioned settings for up to two years of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute the possession of an Associate of Arts degree from an accredited college or university with a specialization in the treatment of in a mental health or closely related curriculum to include a supervised clinical practicum in a developmental disability or similar behavior modification setting and two years of experience providing residential services in a developmental disability or similar behavior modification setting for up to two years of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a specialization in the treatment of developmental disabilities in a mental health or closely related curriculum to include a supervised clinical practicum in a developmental disability or similar behavior modification setting for up to two years of the required experience.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Hospital Corpsman classifications or Health Care Specialist and Medical Services specialty codes in the health related field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. State law requires all sign language interpreters in Maryland to be licensed by the State Board of Sign Language Interpreters (SBSLI).

2. Must possess either a RID/BEI certification.

1. Will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

2. Licensed ASL interpreters who specialize in behavioral health settings are required to accumulate 16 continuing education units (16 hours) in behavioral health ASL interpreting every two years.

3. All licensed interpreters must pass a background check.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit F, Social and Human Service Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.