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Mea Culpa: We Failed RID & Sign Language Interpreters with Deaf Parents
Part of my motivation in writing this article now is that I so poorly dropped the ball when the time came to vote on establishing a position on the RID Board of Directors that dedicated a seat to an Interpreter with Deaf Parents (IDP), the IDP MAL (Member-at-Large) position. I could cite my business at [...]
Vulnerability: A Collaboration Killer for Sign Language Interpreters
As calls for volunteers went out to test a platform that could ultimately provide live ASL interpretation for any TEDx conference—TEDx events are community organized events that bring people together to share ideas—two groups of sign language interpreters emerged, a Deaf and hearing team in New York and a group of hearing interpreters in Baltimore. [...]
Sign Language Interpreters: Team Interpreting and its Ethical Consequences
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 [...]
Allies: Sign Language Interpreters and a Bigger Picture View
We know Deaf people who have advanced to mid-level ranges in their respective careers, who are more than competent at what they do and could easily be leaders in their realms of expertise. I wonder what trajectory any one of their lives would have taken if systemic biases weren’t around practically every corner on their [...]
Shane Feldman | Where Does Advocacy Fit in the Sign Language Interpreting Profession?
Does RID have Deaf heart? What happened with the Lewis and Naomi resignations? What’s going on at the leadership level at RID and what does the future hold for the organization? These are just a few of the candid questions Shane Feldman, Executive Director of RID, answered while attending StreetLeverage – Live 2013 | Atlanta. [...]
Sign Language Interpreters: Embody the Change You Want to See
In the afterglow of StreetLeverage – Live | Atlanta the words of Seth Godin resonate strongly, “The art of moving forward lies in understanding what to leave behind.” As I have contemplated the myriad of questions asked and the rich diversity of perspectives shared, it occurs to me that there was consensus around one singular [...]
Nigel Howard | Deaf Interpreters: The State of Inclusion
“No two persons ever read the same book.” I share this quote from Edmund Wilson with you to highlight a point in this presentation. A reader brings to a book their own experience and understanding in order to create meaning from the story they read. We all approach our work with our own experience and [...]
Ethical Choices: Educational Sign Language Interpreters as Change Agents
I have the pleasure and challenge of working with educational sign language interpreters around the country. Pleasure because I generally find these interpreters extremely committed to the best interests of students. Challenge because I generally find them frustrated by their work settings. Their experiences resonate with Gina Olivia’s post, Sign Language Interpreters in Mainstream Classrooms: Heartbroken [...]
RID: Retraction Leaves Interpreters with Deaf Parents in Doubt
Brandon Arthur interviews Laurie Nash, Vice Chair of the Interpreters with Deaf Parents (IDP) Member Section of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), on the stunning retraction of the referendum, that if passed, would have established a designated position on the RID Board of Directors for an IDP Member at Large position. Highlights “Many of us [...]
Sign Language Interpreters: Purposeful Change for Power Holders
Since I gained professional status as a sign language interpreter, I have witnessed oppression of various types, more than I would like, such as disenfranchisement of Deaf community members, abuse of power by interpreters, and discrimination against Deaf individuals. These are alarming and call for changes in how interpreters work. Incorporating Leadership into our Work [...]
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