When interpreting's not nearly enough

Feb 20
Today I went with Evelyn and her mom to the psychologist. It seemed like mostly a waste of time. Well, that's an overstatement; Evelyn's mom felt better I think, but Evelyn’s painfully shy so we were back to mere head nodding from her. The psychologist couldn’t communicate with her at all, and I couldn’t understand if she was understanding me or her mom. It definitely made me think twice about the reliability of interpreted therapy. How is the doctor to know if the patient is uncomfortable with the topic being discussed, or just uncomfortable with the interpreter, for example? Ironically enough considering my profession, in my ideal world there would be almost no need for interpreters.

In any case, the psychologist told Evelyn’s mom (Mrs Che) the same thing Elodia had told her, which was that Evelyn’s never going to get better as long as she remains in an overly stressful environment (eg, her current school). She encouraged Mrs. Che either to send her full time to Mary Hill or Orange Walk, or send someone with Evelyn to her current school. Mrs. Che said Evy’s older brother who signs well had thought about doing that. I tried to encourage them to send her to Orange Walk with me, even if it’s just Fri &/or Monday, b/c even tho she’s better off at Mary Hill emotionally-speaking, as far as language goes it’s the same mostly-isolated situation. Carlos, the hard-of-hearing boy, only comes to Lupita’s class when I’m there, Christopher has CP and doesn’t converse much, and the teachers and other students know just a few signs. Mrs. Che seemed to think Evy’s brother could bring her into Orange Walk one day a week, so I’m hopeful we might be able to ease her into Nancy’s class, where she’d have friends and Nancy!

I’m getting increasingly stressed out about what I can/cannot do for the kids/teachers for the short time I’m here. Nancy was talking tonight about how it’s really not very effective to come in and out like this with kids, which I have said too. I feel really pulled (apart). On the one hand, it seems so unfair to them, and to me, to put us together just long enough for us to get attached, but not long enough for me to actually change anything for them. They end up abandoned, and I end up hopeless. I try to tell myself that on the other hand, it’s not fair of me to refuse to come at all just b/c I know it will hurt to leave, when without me here they wouldn’t have had any ASL. I have a hard time convincing myself of the last part tho, b/c after I leave they still won’t have any ASL. We said maybe I could focus on the teachers, trying to teach them as much ASL as possible, but I can’t do it during their class while they’re teaching; staying after for an hour doesn’t accomplish much; and I really can’t spend more time than that without totally burning out. My days are already pretty long.

I don’t know how many Deaf kids from other schools are going to show up tomorrow. I cross my fingers that Miss Lupita, Miss Sheba, and I can figure something out.