Maine lawmakers are considering a bill intended to increase access to American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters by expanding the educational pathway to achieve certification and allowing more time to complete requirements.
The bill also aims to make it easier to mobilize communication more quickly in emergencies. In the immediate aftermath of the Lewiston mass shooting in 2023, for example, ASL interpreters weren’t immediately allowed into hospitals.
But Matt Webster, director of the Maine Association of the Deaf, said during a public hearing before the legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance, and Financial Services Committee that the bill should be amended to further broaden pathways to certification.
“The Deaf community deserves qualified, experienced interpreters, and these amendments, while maintaining all quality standards, remove unnecessary barriers,” Webster said.
Maine Public (1/28/26) By Patty Wight