An Essay on the Institutional Importance to Support Sign Language Professional Interpreters in the Covid-19 Pandemic Situation: The Brazilian Case

Abstract

Our essay seeks to present the actual situation of health communication regarding Covid-19 in Brazil. Our main objective is to start a discussion on how public institutions guarantee access to this kind of information. By undertaking a critical analysis of the situation, this paper shows the importance of translators and interpreters when it comes to reporting on the news during a pandemic so deaf people can get information without delay. This also allows them to avoid fake news, which is crucial in all circumstances. Some considerations have been presented concerning how these institutions can finance the professionals and their legal utilization by the community in order to reinforce their rights.