Employment Status
- The vast majority of National DI Survey respondents indicated that they worked part-time (82%) and on a freelance basis (80%).
- The majority who worked full-time had staff positions; part-time interpreters were working freelance.
- The majority of Deaf Interpreters (61%) reported that they worked exclusively in a Deaf-Hearing interpreting team; however numerous respondents (29%) reported working alone at least some of the time, depending on the requirements of the work setting.
Work Settings
Social services and medical appointments were the two most common work situations for all DI respondents. 48% of respondents indicated that they work in these settings.
- 27% indicated that the majority of their work was in healthcare settings (mental health and medical).
- 15% indicated that the majority of their work was in the legal setting.
- 41% indicated that the majority of their work was in settings other than legal and healthcare. Included in “Other” was education, indicated by 16% of respondents.
Referral of DIs
The survey asked: “Who most often decides that your interpreting services are needed?” Respondents indicated that on average, they referrals come from these sources:
- Interpreter Referral Services 51% of the time
- Deaf Consumers 42% of the time
- Hiring Agencies 40% of the time
- Hearing interpreters 32% of the time