Every day, children, other relatives, friends, and even untrained hospital staff are asked to step in to do a job only competent, professional medical interpreters should be performing. These dangerous practices persist despite federal law requiring hospitals and other health care providers to offer language services.

If you don't regularly work with sign language interpreters, you might not know that there are certain rules and expectations. To avoid complicating the conversation, making the interaction uncomfortable, or even offending the Deaf individual, here are some basic guidelines to follow:

Unfortunately, both state and federal agencies have neglected to establish consistent standards for interpreters, allowing unlicensed and uncertified individuals to do great disservice to deaf citizens.

Matt Zeller and Janis Shenwary join Alyona to discuss the difficult process of bringing Shenwary, a former Afghan interpreter, to the United States.