Q2: What is the best use of an interpreter during early intervention home visits?

<Susan Hodges>
  
Some providers may feel the family is making more of a connection to the interpreter because they speak the same language. However, with a few considerations, it is possible to promote a meaningful connection between the English-speaking provider and the multi-cultural families they serve.  
It is advantageous to talk to the interpreter for at least a few minutes before seeing the family for a home visit to review the family’s outcomes and to share what is included in a home visit. It’s also a good time to come to an agreement on how the interpreting will be done.  It is most conducive for the provider to use short, clear sentences or reflective questions, and have the interpreter repeat them, immediately after the provider.  Likewise, it is important that the interpreter provides input from the family to the early interventionist, immediately after they have offered a response or question. In this way, both the provider and the family can more organically include joint planning, observation, action/practice, reflection and/or feedback.  Also, it might be worth considering the physical location or proximity of the interpreter to the family or child.  The interpreter needs to hear what everyone is saying, but it’s possible they can position themselves so they are less distracting and more fostering of the provider-family relationship.  This will also make it easier for the provider to be mindful of looking at the caregiver or child while they’re speaking, instead of to the interpreter, so that their partnership can continue to be developed.