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There are a few factors that contribute to challenges related to the provision of sign <br />language interpreters in victim service settings. <br />Lack of Qualified Sign Language Interpreters <br />For Deaf survivors to effectively access systems of support and safety (such as shelter -based <br />services, medical and legal services), highly qualified American Sign Language interpreters <br />are critical. Inexperienced or improperly assigned interpreters can cause significant barriers <br />and harm. Yet, there is a dearth of qualified sign language interpreters for a number of <br />reasons. First, in some communities, especially those that are remote, interpreters may not <br />exist at all. In the 2017 Language Access in Victim Services survey, 23 percent of respondents <br />reported that no sign language interpreters exist in their community at all.[41] Second, in <br />communities where interpreters do exist, many lack basic fluency in American Sign Language: <br />many interpreters only have high school level fluency but are regularly hired to interpret high <br />risk interactions. Finally, few interpreters have received the specialized training necessary to <br />interpret effectively for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. As a result, it is not <br />uncommon for no interpreters or unqualified interpreters to be used in victim services with <br />Deaf survivors. In the same 2017 survey, 21 percent of respondents indicated that they use <br />spouses or adult family members of survivors as interpreters, 19 percent rely on gestures and <br />pictures, and 12 percent have used children of survivors as interpreters. <br />1 IN 10 <br />PROGRAMS USE <br />CHILDREN OF <br />SURVIVORS AS <br />INTERPRETERS <br />20 <br />