Category: Business & Technology
5 Must Have Apps for Sign Language Interpreters
Few sign language interpreters live without a smartphone or tablet. It’s probably hard for most of us to remember what life was like before we had the ability to manage the intersection of our work and personal lives with the swipe of a finger. With the bazillions of apps out there, which ones are particularly [...]
Onsite Sign Language Interpreters Face Extinction
Wing presented, Onsite Sign Language Interpreters Face Extinction, at StreetLeverage – Live. His talk examined the legislation and technology developments of the 90′s that defined the values of the sign language interpreters in the “Onsite Era” and how these values are now being replaced by the values of a “Virtual Presence Era.” Wing suggested that the iterative [...]
Sign Language Interpreters: The Unintended Victims of VRS Regulation Change
About a year ago the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) implemented new rules regarding the structure and practices of Video Relay Services (VRS). A year later we ask: Is the VRS industry a better place for having implemented the new regulations? What Did it Achieve? The intent of the rule was to root out fraud and [...]
Leadership in Sign Language Interpreting: Where are We?
History of Leadership It is difficult to discuss the history of leadership in the field of sign language interpreting without first selecting a starting point for our history as a “field.” Some consider this point the juncture at which the shift from volunteer interpreter to paid interpreter began, and the time at which training standards [...]
Is it Time to Certify Sign Language Interpreter Referral Agencies?
Alarmingly, sign language referral agencies are sending increasing numbers of unqualified signers to interpret for Deaf consumers, causing harm to the communities we serve and to the interpreting field. Friends, consumers and colleagues around the US have been sharing their local horror stories for years. As this is a national issue it cannot solely be [...]
Sign Language Interpreters: 5 Helpful Tips in Selecting an Attorney
One thing sign language interpreters should know when selecting an attorney is that one size generally does not fit all. There are many misconceptions about attorneys. The generic attitude that a good attorney is something akin to a pit bull is problematic for a number of reasons that I will discuss in this post. In [...]
Failure to Innovate: A Deathblow for Sign Language Interpreting Agencies
Is it still an advantage for sign language interpreters to trade a higher hourly rate in exchange for the “benefits” of being represented by an agency? Particularly, given the world is chock-full of affordable DIY (do it yourself) business and connection tools. While the answer to this question will differ from interpreter to interpreter, the [...]
Interprenomics: A Decoder Ring for Sign Language Interpreters
At some point every sign language interpreter is faced with the task of valuing and selling their art. As a craftsperson, the value of a sign language interpreter’s work is not found in the dollars and cents of a transaction, but in the impact their work has on the person receiving it. Faced with the [...]
Can Blogging Protect the Interests of Sign Language Interpreters?
During these times of economic crisis many states are making decisions and cuts that have a real impact on sign language interpreters. It is times like these when it is even more vital to pay attention to the decisions your state is making. Gathering and disseminating information on the activities impacting sign language interpreters in [...]
Does Social Networking Impair Sign Language Interpreter Ethics?
The distance between our physical world and the virtual world of social media often invites behavior one would never project in real life. This virtual world introduces a whole new context of social norms and acceptable personal expression. Unfortunately, it appears in many cases that sign language interpreters appear to lack an awareness of the [...]
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