Louisiana Commission for the Deaf to publish first-ever interpreter grievance policy

Interim Executive Director Jana Broussard said the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf will publish a formal grievance process allowing community members to report concerns about interpreters and interpreting services. The process will include a form for complaints related to interpreter qualifications, breaches of ethics, and inappropriate behavior by hiring agencies; LCD will collect information and, as a neutral party, facilitate investigations with the organization named in the complaint.

The policy, Broussard said, is the first of its kind in Louisiana. "This is the first time this has ever existed in Louisiana," she said, explaining that the commission will meet as a neutral party with the organization conducting the investigation and help find a solution. Broussard said the grievance process will be published and that LCD will hold public discussions once more details are available.

Broussard framed interpreter standards as LCD's first priority and emphasized that additional standards and questions will be answered by staff in time. She also said the commission is working on related workforce supports, including establishing standards for interpreters and supporting training and workforce development. The timeline for publishing the grievance form and the investigation procedures was described only as forthcoming; Broussard said more questions "will be answered by LCD in time."