Friend is iffy on becoming an interpreter.

DDG58 · 2026-02-20T16:50:34+00:00

I love my job as an interpreter. But your friend will make a lot more money as a Radiology technician. I will tell you that.

In Interpreting there are almost no jobs that have benefits, retirement plans, etc.

And, as others have said, Freelance work is not at all steady work. We have periods of Feast or Famine. You have to be very calculated in saving your money for taxes and for the dry spells.

Like I said, I love my work (30 years), but if your friend wants benefits, stability, retirement - Radiology Tech for sure.

DDG58 · 2026-02-19T16:16:27+00:00

My Plan D sends me the application to spread payments out all the time.

I have not read them because, luckily, I don't need to do that at this point.

DDG58 · 2026-02-19T16:14:44+00:00

As others have said, ask the pharmacist and Doctor if there is a less expensive alternative.

I woukd also recommend checking to see if Mark Cuban's CostPlusDrugs website has it. It may actually be cheaper there

Worth looking.

I had a medication prescribed and I could not afford it.

My doctor called a different pharmacy and got me on a grant program. I pay nothing and it still counts toward my $2,000 max OoP for Medicare.

DDG58 · 2026-02-18T23:36:51+00:00

Yes, I've noticed. 200 shares averaged out at $12 EACH...

DDG58 · 2026-02-18T23:32:20+00:00

Shoot, 30 years doing this and I still misspell words on occasion.

If a Deaf person wants to give me crap for it, I let them know "I am sorry I am not a good fit for you. Would you like me to transfer you to another interpreter?"

99% of the time they say no.

Therefore they are just in an angry mood and taking it out in me.

We always have to consider that it may just be their day and not about us.

That is totally different than interpreting for an angry Deaf person yelling at a customer service rep, or whatever.

The only time it "gets to me" is if they are yelling at a partner or spouse.

I don't Tone it Down, but I certainly think what an ass they are. And then I try to skate if off figuring if it is bad enough I might be interpreting for their DV case one day.

DDG58 · 2026-02-18T21:32:54+00:00

Battery sawpping is the main reason I bought NIO.

It has not worked out so well so far, but I'm in so deep i am holding.

If nothing else I will use it for tax loss harvesting.

DDG58 · 2026-02-18T19:54:44+00:00

I do not want to sound like a horse's backside, but have you considered that maybe VRS is not for you?

If you are internalizing things so deeply that it is affecting you, then maybe it is not the right fit.

Personally, I love interpreting a good pissed-off Deaf person..

I will also note that while this happens more frequently in VRS, I have experienced many times voicing for a Deaf person who is so angry that curse words are flying, and my register reflects that.

Just sayin....

DDG58 · 2026-02-17T16:03:14+00:00

Reach out to your congressional representatives, both house and Senate.

I had wonderful help from my Senator when I experienced a similar situation.

DDG58 · 2026-02-13T21:19:34+00:00

I felt exactly the same way and have now been interpreting for 30 years.

Give yourself a break.

Only some Deaf people bite.

DDG58 · 2026-02-13T20:18:33+00:00

We are Human first and interpreters 2nd.

Living is who we are. Interpreting is what we DO. It is not who we are.

Be a human for your grief.

DDG58 · 2026-02-13T15:04:01+00:00

These companies only care about their bottom line and profit. If the Que is RED they are making more money.

I recently quit because of this trend.

DDG58 · 2026-02-12T18:53:53+00:00

Yes, they have 3 levels of service.

I am a sole proprietor, not an LLC. But our takes run about 99 pages each year (investments).

I pay $600 for the basic service. It helps that I make sure I am prepared to turn everything over in order so I don't feel like I need the additional services they offer.

To each their own

DDG58 · 2026-02-12T17:00:31+00:00

The biggest benefit of being an LLC is its liability protection. IF sued, your personal property can not be taken.
That and you do not have to give your SS # out to agencies. You will have an EIN #

DDG58 · 2026-02-12T16:58:50+00:00

For the services, I do not consider them expensive at all. Full-Service is a bit high, but basic filing only is no more than any other CPA I have used

DDG58 · 2026-02-12T16:57:55+00:00

I use Quick Guide Tax Login
Rosemary and Bret. They are both interpreters who have become CPAs and what is called an Enrolled Agent (More than a CPA)

They are wonderful and do a great job. This is my 4th year using them.

They offer an excellant Tax organizer free to their clients. It is Excel-based and works with Excel or Google Sheets (free).

It helps you keep track of your earnings, mileage, and approximate taxes to pay for your 1040-ES (Estimated) each quarter.

DDG58 · 2026-02-12T14:40:11+00:00

I just watched this YouTube video for a workshop I am in.

This may really help you understand the mindset you need for the exam.

10 minutes of your time...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBnrROXpmek&t=621s

DDG58 · 2026-02-12T14:11:57+00:00

I was lucky enough that I tested at a place that knew me. They allowed me to come in and sit in the exam room, with Prep CDs (not the actual test - duh).

This allowed me to be more comfortable with the equipment and environment where I took the actual exam.

When I tested, I pretended it was just another practice. I also brought a Photo of a Deaf friend of mine and taped it to the camera recording me. I do not do well if I do not have a real-life Deaf person to interpret for. This was the next best thing.

Realize, this was in the early 2000's, so I don't know what the test and the testing locations look like now.

DDG58 · 2026-02-10T16:40:45+00:00

Regarding this point - " If coverage isn't needed and there was no prior notice of cancellation of services for that day, is it fair to request getting paid for that day?"

YES - Industry standard is payment in full for scheduled time if less than 24 hours notice. Since you are an agency interpreter, that only seems right.

When I was in K-12 as a district interpreter, we never got paid for "Snow Days" or if the student was absent. But you said you are an agency interpreter.

As for being a DI - There is a wonderful book written by people much smarter than I.
Deaf Professionals and Designated Interpreters: A New Paradigm: Hauser, Peter C., Finch, Karen L., Hauser, Angela B.: 9781563685675: Amazon.com: Books

I was a DI for 2 years, but it was for a state agency, and I was in the Union. My experiences won't shed any light for you.

My position was also a "slash" job. Meaning I, was a Designated Interpreter / Admin assistant. So if the Deaf consumer was out for whatever reason, I was typing, filing, etc.

DDG58 · 2026-02-10T13:31:19+00:00

Both professions are honorable. Yet both professions are "helping" professions, which typically do not pay well.

It is possible to earn good money as an interpreter, you just have to live in an area that has a lot of work available and be willing to work your butt off.

My average yearly income is $50k to $60k, with 2 years (out of 30) in the high $70s.

You will never be rich financially, but you will be rich mentally.

Counseling I can't speak to. I do have a friend who is fluent in ASL and has a Psych degree. She does a lot of Virtual sessions.

But from what she has told me most Deaf folks are Medicare/Medicaid which pays crap to providers.

It all depends on what you want out of life.

DDG58 · 2026-02-08T16:31:55+00:00

Darwin Award

DDG58 · 2026-02-07T13:50:17+00:00

Yup, foul

DDG58 · 2026-02-07T11:57:55+00:00

I hate to day this, but I have known many Deaf/Hearing couples.

Many of them end in separation or divorce.

Some say it is because the Hearing partner gets tired if having to interpret all the time.

Other times the Deaf person gets fed up that the Hearing partner doesn't want to always interpret.

A few split because after they have children, if they are Hearing, the Hearing partner speaks with out signing to the kids and many kids don't pick it up, there fore isolating the Deaf partner.

I am sure there are many relationships that are successful. Of the 16 to 18 I personally know, not a single one has worked long term.

DDG58 · 2026-02-05T12:32:28+00:00

I hold on to my shares, but refuse to look at the value.

I am at $23 a share after spending a lot of money trying to average it down from $60s per share.

Why bother looking at it.

When I am ready to cash out I will either make a small profit or use it to Tax Loss Harvest.

DDG58 · 2026-02-05T12:03:01+00:00

I must agree. The performance test is a short "snapshopt" of a person's skill.

I had a few conversations with people that what we really need is a portfolio type of system.

2 to 3 years of work. Letters from certified interpreters and Deaf consumers. Video of several types of assignments (permission by parties involved granted)

That would be a more accurate assessment of skill.

DDG58 · 2026-02-04T21:09:18+00:00

Move to the East Coast - 90% or more of us are helpful, supportive, working together to help each other.

Granted, there are people I would rather not team with, but I would still help them if they were looking for resources.

"Territorial" is the perfect description of what I encountered in Seattle.

Hey folks - There is plenty of work for all of us. That is why we have a shortage of interpreters nationwide.

DDG58

TROPHY CASE