NPR’s Talk of the Nation Features Segment on Sign Language Interpretation

Update: If you missed it you can listen and watch a live interpretation here: Regional Interpreter Education Center NPR Talk


Not long after Superstorm Sandy hit New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg addressed the public with an update of the extensive damage, and information about how to stay safe. Lydia Callis was by his side interpreting for ASL users. Her gestures and facial expressions drew wide attention and even a spoof on Saturday Night Live.
This Thursday, November 15 at 2:40 pm ET, join Talk of the Nation as we interview interpreter Anna Witter-Merthiew for a conversation of why the whole body is important when interpreting from spoken English into American Sign Language.
NPR will provide live captioning for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and we hope to take calls via TTY or Video Relay from Deaf Community members to answer this question: “What do you look for in a sign language interpreter?”

To access the captioning, go to this website: http://captions.npr.org/.
“These captions are provided by the Integrated Captioning and Transcription Services (ICATS) Center, which is a partnership between Towson University and NPR Labs. ICATS hopes to announce the commencement of ongoing radio captions in early2013.”
Anna Witter-Merthiew is the Assistant Director for the Distance Opportunities for Interpreter Training (DO IT) Center, which offers a BA degree in ASL-English Interpretation and the Director of the Mid America Regional Interpreter Education Center (MARIE) at the University of Northern Colorado. MARIE is a member of the National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers (NCIEC).
Talk of the Nation is NPR’s mid day news/talk show carried on close to 400 stations nation wide. You can find a station in your area or find a station to access a live stream at this website:
http://www.npr.org/templates/stations/schedule/index.php?prgId=5

 

 

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UPDATED: Continued FCC changes to affect VRS

The FCC is planning additional processes to restructure VRS. Click here to download the PDF of the FCC’s Public Notice about the possible changes.

Those in the Deaf community are taking action against these changes. Save My VRS is a organization that aims to get people involved with the process.

Update:

“November 14, 2012, Alexandria, VA – The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID) submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to the Public Notice regarding “Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program” and “Proposed VRS Compensation Rates.”

RID has made the following recommendations regarding the FCC’s public notice:

1. Recognize interpreters as professionals who provide the core service of VRS in meeting functional equivalence.

2. Establish a minimum standard for interpreters working in VRS.

3. Consider a phased-in time period for current pre-certified interpreter to earn credentials to meet the pre-certified standard.

4. Consider a waiver for interpreting who work with Spanish in VRS calls until an assessment instrument is recognized.

5. Work with RID and a committee of knowledgeable experts, researchers and regulators to develop occupational safety standard to protect CAs.

Complete RID Response

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Lydia Callis Interprets for Mayor Bloomberg

As I’m sure many of you are aware, there is currently a lot of media hype surrounding an interpreter who was on assignment interpreting for Mayor Bloomberg during his speech responding to the devastation of hurricane Sandy. This interpreter has recently come under fire by different media outlets and on the internet. Those without any knowledge of ASL or Deaf culture are mocking her for “getting too into her job” or saying shes “a little bit gangster”. Chelsea Lately openly ridicules her interpretation on her show and additionally brings in someone to “interpret”, which really involves a person who doesn’t know ASL waving their hands around.

Thankfully the Deaf and interpreting communities are speaking out against this issue. Here is a great article that provides many examples of how Callis’s facial expressions are an aspect of ASL and an essential part of it’s grammar. Read the article here.

Here is the original video of the speech and her interpretation:

I’m curious what are your feelings and opinions about this?

 

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Gallaudet University Chief Diversity Officer, Placed On Leave For Signing Anti-Gay Marriage Petition

Angela MaCaskill, Gallaudet’s Chief Diversity Officer, is placed on leave after signing a petition to put same-sex marriage ballot, possibly overturning a Maryland law that allows same-sex couples to marry. This story has been in the news and countless articles have been written. Here is one article. If you are interested in finding out more information you can search Google news. There are a lot of articles and blogs about it.

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