“With fall upon us, students in interpreter training programs all over the country have begun another semester on their journey to becoming a sign language interpreter. Along with the classroom lectures and hands-on practice teachers are planning, they are also reaching out to the interpreting community for one of the most crucial pieces of the students’ development, observation and mentoring opportunities. However, these opportunities are becoming increasingly difficult to find. While some of the scarcity can be attributed to specific requirements of the situation, some of the difficulty is also due to a lack of support by the sign language interpreting community.”
Joseph Santini discusses the need for an Occupy ASL movement, where Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL users who have been disenfranchised of their language are encouraged to reclaim creative control. In this video, Santini creates name signs for the 9 planets based on physical characteristics and connections to root portions of other signs.
Last year the Deaf-Parented Member at Large (DPMAL) Referendum was announced as passing but in truth failed. The referendum is now open again for voting and will add the DPMAL position to the RID board of directors. The DPMAL officer “works with the board of directors, assisting with the coordination of activities and communication in and among the association”. Voting started September 15th and ends November 15th.
Announcement by RID
Interpreters with Deaf Parents Members Section Video
Hi Everyone,
Welcome back to work as we start a new school year! I hope everything is running smoothly. I thought our first blog post of the year should be something relaxing and entertaining; I’m sure you have all the work you can handle. The video description states: “The CODA Brothers were part of the RID 2013 Convention’s Opening Ceremonies. This video is our part.”
Thank you all for another wonderful school year. I watched this video and love the message about change in the interpreting field. Next year let’s all strive for change for the better, in ourselves, our work and our profession! Have a relaxing and restful summer everyone.
For various reasons we, as interpreters, decline assignments. These reasons may include but are not limited to: one’s level of familiarity with content, a conflict of interest, a lack of availability, gaps in training, and a respect for the interpreter preference of the communities we serve. How many times is it that we decline work based on the ethics and integrity of our team?
We are all accountable for ourselves and for the ethical challenges we are faced with while working. Within this accountability is discretion about teaming. Discretion that employs itself when we accept or decline work.
When an interpreter continually violates the NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct (CPC)(1), it blatantly oppresses the communities we serve and is harming peoples’ lives, we are all affected. I have often heard “I work with “so-and-so” interpreter, and even though I know and have seen these behaviors that interpreter has done nothing to me.”
These are comments I do not understand.
The rationale behind the comment, “ . . . that interpreter has done nothing to me” is astounding. When interpreters are destructive on the job and breach the ethics they are bound to uphold, they are directly affecting our profession and, consequently, the communities we serve. These behaviors imply to all parties involved that this is what interpreters do and should be doing.
This will be the 5th year of the Western Region Interpreter Education Center’s Silent Weekend, July 19-21, 2013. Silent Weekend is a regional skill development immersion activity over three days at Western Oregon University, conducted completely in ASL. The event is perfect for Deaf and hearing students, interpreters, interpreter educators, and ASL instructors.*
Workshop topics vary year to year. Some of our past offerings have included workshops on ASL Linguistics, British Sign Language, Emotional Intelligence, Vague Language, Demand Control Schema, Facial Expressions and NonManual Signs, Addiction in the Deaf Community, and Deaf-Blind Interpreting.
There will be opportunities to earn up to 1.75 CEUs during this weekend. If you are looking for some worthwhile workshops, some great entertainment, and a chance to sharpen your skills, then Silent Weekend is for you!
This event is open to all and brings over 100 interpreters, ASL teachers, and students-Deaf and hearing alike-from AK, HI, WA, OR, ID, CA, AZ, NV, MT, IL, and other states.
April 24, 2013
RID Member at Large Lewis Merkin and Deaf Member at Large Naomi Sheneman have resigned from their positions on the RID Board of Directors effective immediately.
RID Board Statement in Response to Merkin and Sheneman Resignations:
In this blog post Matt Dixon, a CODA, must continually interpret for his father as he battles cancer, because the hospital would not provide a sign language interpreter.
Donna and Marian’s son’s Jacob and Justin were both born Deaf. Being involved in the Deaf community they did not choose cochlear implants for their children. A documentary, The Audacity to Exist, made by an all Deaf film crew is currently in the works and will focus on Jacob’s own perspective of his life. The project looks at the family and their decision to decline an implant for their sons but it focuses mainly on Jacob and the bright personality that he shares with his classmates and family. They are currently accepting donations to make this documentary a reality.
For various reasons we, as interpreters, decline assignments. These reasons may include but are not limited to: one’s level of familiarity with content, a conflict of interest, a lack of availability, gaps in training, and a respect for the interpreter preference of the communities we serve. How many times is it that we decline work based on the ethics and integrity of our team?
