The right person for the right job is exceedingly important in times of crisis. Florida governor Rick Scott's press conference warning citizens about Hurricane Irma included a CDI (certified deaf interpreter) who "stole the show," according to many stories on the web. He may look funny, but every facial expressions adds meaning and nuance to the signs he makes with his hands.
Contrast this event with a Manatee County press conference in which the ASL interpreter was not a trained professional. Jane Smith added captions to show us what words ASL speakers would see.
How did this happen? According to the Bradenton Herald, the man is not an interpreter, but has a deaf brother, so he knows a little ASL. He works for the county as a marine rescuer, and was drafted by the county to do the press conference, under protest. He's just doing the best he could. Imagine how difficult it would be to listen to one language and speak another language at the same time, even if you were fluent in both, without the proper training and practice. Certified interpreters are not only crucial, but under appreciated.-via Boing Boing