Public service interpreting work occurs wherever individuals connect with their communities. Their "office building" is any public space in that community. Officially, public service interpreters facilitate conversation between Limited English Proficient (LEP) people and the public institutions from which they require services, skills or information. Such institutions can include public libraries, local courtrooms or public schools and anything in between. Unofficially, they use their skills to help LEP individuals- or those with disabilities- to receive accurate information and access essential services from public institutions.
For these client populations, family members are often present at your public service interpreting appointments- usually to provide emotional support for your client. Which is a reasonable thing to expect, and is relatable on a basic human level to want support... as long as that is where the family member's role begins and ends. Because for this clientele specifically, family members often double as interpreters. Which can present some problems of it's own...
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Public Service Interpreting Shouldn’t Include Your Family
