Continuing Education Activities

RID Approved Sponsor #0015

Seminars are designed to engage participants' critical thinking skills and open a professional dialogue between the instructor and the participants, and between the participants themselves. The presentation format is organized to remind/instruct the participants about the historical development of the field as it pertains to each topic area, to describe the current status of the profession in the topic area, and to create a desired future direction. Problem-solving and current issues discussion revolve around a case study approach which evolves from Participant interests and experience. Audience participation is expected.

Seminar Titles:  Contact us for seminar description, goals, and objectives.

     World Association of Sign Language Interpreters

     Raising the Profession: Invitation to Growing our Own Leadership

Performing Arts Interpreting: Can ASL and English Dance Together? - Interpreters are actresses/actors. We assume the character and characteristics of the persons for whom we interpret in each and every assignment. It is, therefore, no surprise that many of us are providing services in a variety of theatrical settings. The question now becomes, “Are we performing interpreters, or interpreters for the performance.” And, more importantly, how do we approach this arena of work to make it meaningful for the WHOLE audience and the cast with whom we work? This seminar is designed to take a look at one aspect: interpreting for musicals and how to make our work carry an equivalent message and associated aesthetics.

Deaf Interpreters: An Introduction to the Profession

Educational Interpreters: A Response from the Nation - Educational interpreting is different...or is it? A national survey of stakeholders in the field of interpreting in pre-college (K-12) educational settings study was conducted to see. Certified and non-certified interpreters, state coordinators of hearing impaired programs, program directors of schools for the deaf, consumers, parents/guardians, interpreter preparation faculty, and teachers of the deaf were asked their perceptions of the essential competencies, other related responsibilities and education necessary for the entry level interpreter, prior to beginning work in the classroom. Perceptions were requested for kindergarten/elementary, middle/junior high school, and secondary senior high school aged students. This seminar will discuss the results of that study and their implications on certification, hiring, retention, and training of interpreters working in the American public school system.

Educational Intertpreting: Theory to Practice - School districts have the tendency of placing the newest interpreters at the younger levels, because the children “don’t know as much as the older students.” However, the field knows all to well that highly skilled interpreters are needed at all levels. Seminars for interpreters in pre-college educational settings generally consist of lectures. This seminar will be a combination of lecture, group discussion and hands up/voice on interpreting. Each participant is expected to move outside their comfort zone and interpret in the hardest setting ever: before their peers.

Professional Conduct: The Self-Actualized Interpreters - “A life unexamined is not worth living.” The new Code of Professional Conduct was overwhelmingly adopted by the national association. This represents the first change in a code of ethics or professional conduct for American Sign Language interpreters in over 30 years. This seminar is designed to review the current Code of Professional Conduct and practice application of the new Code through participant-generated scenarios in a case study approach.

     Introduction to Interpreting in the American Justice System

     Medical Interpreting: Meeting the Standard of Care

     Interpreting in Mental Health Settings

     Religious Interpreting: A Call to Excellence

Standards and Testing: What You are Entitled to When Your Skills are Tested - Testing and certification of interpreters has been part and parcel of our profession since 1972. There have been several iterations of the RID testing protocol, state level screening, and specialty testing. Interpreters have accepted testing as part of their reality, but have not always had their rights protected under psychometric industry standards of valid, reliable, fair, and legally defensible testing instruments. This seminar will explore the intricacies of testing and what interpreters should expect from high stakes testing entities.

     American Sign Language Testing: The Texas Assessment of Sign Communication (TASC)

     For the Record: The History of RID