Reflections of my Chronic Diseased Life:

When I advocate for myself, it’s harder, I think. Current situation is trying to get a wheelchair seating evaluation. With VP interpreter, does the tone of the 3rd party such as a nurse, counselor etc., really match the ASL? I was told again and again that “I NEED TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP AND SOFT SKILLS WITH THE PEOPLE TRYING TO HELP ME (said very abruptly on my calls) and need to cooperate. It’s interesting, because I do not blow up on the VP, but I do emphasize strongly what I am trying to say or need. Is the tone set by the VP interpreter?

Is my signing that bad that the interpreter continues to keep talking when I’m done signing? Why is that? I sign Exact English most of the time.

Or, when I’m talking, I’m constantly being interrupted by the VP interpreter because the 3rd party is talking. 🙄 (the vp interpreter does not say – excuse me, Pam is still talking, please hold. Really? 😠

Is my signing so bad, that it takes a hearing person to get involved to fix things or to say the exact same thing I said (oh and I faxed my issues) to my health care professionals?

My favorite: when question the health care professional, the answer I receive is: I have the knowledge and training along with other feedback to determine what is needed, for you, (btw: the info is wrong on the report).😳

I’m trying to be understanding, patient, provide awareness and educate all at once. Still getting interrupted, misunderstood, annoyed and all that.