Meet the man behind the movements: Arkansas' ASL interpreter

Little Rock (KATV) — Nearly two months into the U.S. outbreak, President Donald Trump has yet to call for a sign language interpreter at his coronavirus briefings, even after a request made by the National Council on Disability (NCD) and the National Association of the Deaf (NAD).

Meanwhile, Arkansas’ COVID-19 briefing interpreter, Eddie Schmeckenbecher, knows how critical his place is next to Governor Asa Hutchinson.

Schmeckenbecher has been an ASL interpreter for more than 40 years. He teaches at the Arkansas School for the Deaf and is one of only about 30 people with a national interpreting certification in the state.

"When this, the COVID-19 started, they realized that the deaf and hard of hearing population in Arkansas needed more focus on it because when i’m in the box, I’m kind of small, so they put me out beside the governor," Schmeckenbecher said and signed.

According to Schmeckenbecher, closed captioning is available for all broadcast briefings, but rarely conveys the whole message since ASL and English are completely different languages.

"What I’m hearing in English, I’m translating into a different language and finding the words to give out," he said.

He says using an interpreter better conveys emotion and the severity of a message.

Schmeckenbecher believes his work beside the governor highlights the need for accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing, especially during the COVID-19 era.

"It’s not me, but it’s getting the message out and that’s my main goal," he said.

Meanwhile, in a letter written to the White House, the National Association of the Deaf referenced nearly all 50 states’ governors having qualified ASL interpreters next to them during their COVID-19 briefings and they’re asking the same for the White House Taskforce.

A second letter from the National Council on Disability, highlighting the reason why, saying:

Millions of people in the us who are deaf or hard of hearing use American Sign Language to obtain the vital information the Taskforce provides.

And...

There is no doubt that the coronavirus brings with it significant added concerns for people with disabilities.

Both letters were addressed to the White House on March 18, but have yet to get a response.