Abstract
<p>State VR agencies have long been among the major procurers of interpreting services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Nevertheless, concerns and issues such as the provision of quality interpreting services, chronic personnel shortages, and costs for services continue to persist in the field. To address these issues, this article reports on a national research study which sought input from a broad cross-section of state VR administrators and service providers. Four main categories of findings are reported. The four categories include: a) most frequently used methods of coordinating interpreter services, h) number of certified interpreters used by VR agencies, c) estimates of need for interpreters with national and/or state certification to meet agency and consumer needs, and d) ranking of state needs and priorities. The article concludes with a list of recommendations for future directions.</p>
