2023 Summer VIEWS Conference Edition

VIEWS

2023 RID NATIONAL CONFERENCE

WELCOME.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President | Ritchie Bryant, MS, CDI, CLIP-R

Vice President | Dr. Jesús Rēmigiō, PsyD, MBA, CDI

Secretary | Jason Hurdich, M.Ed, CDI

Treasurer | Kate O’Regan, MA, NIC

Member-at-Large | Traci Ison, NIC, NAD IV

Deaf Member-at-Large | Glenna Cooper

Region I Representative | Christina Stevens, NIC

Region II Representative | M. Antwan Campbell, MPA, Ed:K-12

Region III Representative | Vacant

Region IV Representative | Jessica Eubank, NIC

Region V Representative | Vacant

HEADQUARTERS STAFF

Chief Executive Officer | Star Grieser, MS, CDI, ICE-CCP

Chief Operating Officer | Elijah Sow

Human Resources Manager | Cassie Robles Sol

CMP Manager | Ashley Holladay

EPS Manager | Tressela Bateson

EPS Specialist | Martha Wolcott

Certification Manager | Catie Purrazzella

Certification Specialist | Jess Kaady

Director of Member Services | Ryan Butts

Member Services Manager | Kayla Marshall, M.Ed., NIC

Member Services Specialist | Vicky Whitty

Affiliate Chapter Liaison | Dr. Carolyn Ball, CI and CT, NIC

Director of Government Affairs | Neal Tucker

Government Affairs Coordinator | Jimmy Wilson IV, MPA

Communications Manager | Jenelle Bloom

Publications Coordinator | Brooke Roberts

Director of Finance and Accounting | Jennifer Apple

Finance and Accounting Manager | Kristyne Reeds

Staff Accountant | Bradley Johnson

CASLI Director of Testing | Sean Furman

CASLI Testing Manager | Amie Santiago

CASLI Testing Specialist | Sami Willicheva

WHAT’S INSIDE

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

RID PRESIDENT RITCHIE BRYANT

Dear Members,

I hope this letter finds you well and filled with the vibrant spirit of fall. As we transition back to our daily routines following the summer vacation season, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on our recent experience at the 2023 RID National Conference in Baltimore, held from July 26th to 30th, 2023. This event marked our first face-to-face meeting since 2019, and I’m pleased to report that it was a resounding success.

During the conference, I had the privilege of presenting the President’s report in our business meeting. In this report, we celebrated our shared accomplishments and candidly discussed the challenges we’ve faced. One key theme emerged: the knots that have hindered RID’s progress and, at times, negatively impacted our members and stakeholders.

One poignant example of this is the situation we find in our affiliated chapters. The relationship between affiliated chapters and RID has been somewhat confusing due to the challenge of clearly defining the differences between the two entities, as they each serve distinct but interconnected purposes. While both play vital roles within our organization, there has been a need to clarify and strengthen the delineation of responsibilities and objectives to ensure smoother collaboration and member satisfaction. It’s clear that we need to address these issues at their core before resorting to the band-aid solutions that have been used in the past.

To that end, I am excited to announce the launch of R3, also known as “The Year of Resolute Reform and Renewal.” As part of this initiative, we hosted a Community Forum where members shared their invaluable thoughts and suggestions on four critical topics:

1. Board Makeup

2. Leadership Development

3. Member Benefits beyond certification

4. Conference Format

Regarding Board Makeup, we are faced with the fundamental question of whether we should primarily have certified interpreters serving on the board or if we should also consider experts from various fields based on their skill sets. Additionally, we need to explore whether our board should be primarily geographically based or if we should adopt

a skill-based approach to better represent our diverse membership.

In terms of Leadership Development, we must deliberate on the type of leadership training that should be provided for our Affiliate Chapter (AC) and Member-At-Large (MAL) leaders. Equally important is the frequency of such training sessions to ensure that our leaders are well-prepared to navigate the challenges of their roles effectively.

When

it comes to Member Benefits Beyond

Certification, it is imperative that we understand the specific benefits our members are seeking beyond certification. What motivates our members to maintain their RID membership, and how can we tailor our offerings to meet their evolving needs? This insight will guide us in enhancing the overall membership experience.

Regarding Conference Format, we face significant questions. In a world with numerous Continuing Education Unit (CEU) opportunities, do we still need a one-week conference format? Should we consider separating the business meeting from the conference to make better use of our members’ time? During the recent forum, many members shared their valuable thoughts on these matters, and we have diligently documented their inputs. This information will serve as a crucial resource for the board’s review during our upcoming board meeting in October, and it will also be made accessible to the relevant committees for the purpose of revising our policies.

I am calling upon leaders and members alike to join committees dedicated to addressing these topics over the coming year. Together, we will focus on reducing bottlenecks, simplifying the workflow for policy approvals, enhancing the membership experience, and embedding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging (DEIAB) principles across the board.

In the near future, we will release details about these committees and task forces, complete with revised Scopes of Work (SOWs). Your active participation and commitment to this process are essential as we embark on this journey of transformation and growth.

As we step into this season of reform and renewal, I am confident that together we can untangle the knots that have held us back and chart a course towards a brighter future for RID. Your dedication and input are invaluable, and I look forward to working hand in hand with each of you to make these necessary changes a reality.

Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID). Let’s make R3 a year of meaningful progress and positive change.

RID MISSION

RID is the national certifying body of sign language interpreters and is a professional organization that fosters the growth of the profession and the professional growth of interpreting.

RID VISION

We envision qualified interpreters as partners in universal communication access and forward-thinking, effective communication solutions while honoring intersectional diverse spaces.

RID VALUES

The values statement encompasses what values are at the “heart” or center of our work. RID values:

• the intersectionality and diversity of the communities we serve.

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging (DEIAB).

• the professional contribution of volunteer leadership.

• the adaptability, advancement and relevance of the interpreting profession.

• ethical practices in the field of sign language interpreting, and embraces the principle of “do no harm.”

• advocacy for the right to accessible, effective communication.

CEO’S REPORT A Summer of Conferences

RID CEO STAR GRIESER MA, CDI, ICE-CCP

There are some among us who love, and I mean LOVE conferences. And for good reason, too! They are opportunities to be in the same spaces with like-minded, eager people who are just as interested, passionate and hungry for information and contact as we are. That, and the social networking aspect –dinners, parties, galas, late nights (leading to early mornings), having deep conversations in the hotel lobby… What more can you ask for?

For me, this summer was a summer of conferences – I represented RID at two international conferences, two national conferences, one summit, and then, of course, we hosted our own national biennial conference in Baltimore in July; all in the span of two and a half months. The experience in doing so afforded me the opportunity to adjust the lens through which I view RID, and the model through which I operate within our organization - both for the better!

By traveling and meeting people in our line of work – and even from various aspects of our line of work –we gain a larger perspective of our understanding of the interpreting world and our place in it. RID is the world’s largest association of sign language interpreters and while we’re leading in many ways, we also

have so much to learn from our counterparts in other countries. For example, the Korean Association of Sign Language Interpreters (KASLI) was founded in 2017, funded by government monies. In 2017, upon their founding, KASLI listed on their roster 155 hearing interpreters and 134 Deaf interpreters. Six years later, they have approximately 4,500 hearing interpreters and 3,000 Deaf interpreters in their ranks. That’s a huge difference compared to RIDs 13,000 members of whom only 300 are Deaf and of roughly 10,000 certified members, only 250 are CDIs. While Korea has its own challenges with their system and within their communities, much like any country has with their associations of sign language interpreters or Deaf community, the mind-blowing intentionality of the design of the Korean sign language interpreting field in which deaf interpreters were included from the onset. While within our US sign language interpreting community, Deaf interpreters make up a very small percentage of our field – less than two percent - and are vastly underappreciated, unsupported, and underutilized. While, with the advent of COVID, we’re seeing more visibility of the use of Deaf interpreters, we have much to learn from our international counterparts.

Nevertheless, if you’re not traveling and meeting other interpreters or other leaders within other interpreting associations – as I did by attending the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI) and then the convention of the World Federation of the Deaf in Jeju Korea, - you won’t have the same sense of just how big RID is as an organization on the world stage of interpreters. While many other countries have associations of sign language interpreters, we have far more members than even associations of spoken language interpreters, and have programs in

Conferences

robust laws in the world for requiring communication access for Deaf people.

Also fascinating, and a hot topic of conversation among many in our community across the globe, is the current tsunami of Artificial Intelligence; Chat GPT, machine translation, predictive text, language processes to name a few, and its disruption to the interpreting industry and impact on communications access for our Deaf communities. AI is huge – it will change our industry. Of course, there is a lot to benefit from AI within our interpreting field, and there is also a huge potential for the misuse of AI in interpreting. After returning home from Korea, at our own conference in Baltimore, I met with a group of founding members of Stakeholders for the Fair and Ethical Use of

man rights of Deaf people around the world. I partook in so many interesting conversations – one surrounding the United Nations Committee for the Rights of People with Disabilities, of which the United States has not ratified the Articles of the CRPD that pertain to the rights of people with disabilities but more specifically those that pertain to right to language and communications access (Articles specific to Deaf people are: 2, 9, 21, 24, 30 14). I find it fascinating, and contradictory at the same time, that the US has not voted to ratify the articles considering that communication access (inclusive of sign language interpreters for Deaf people, and sign/ tactile language users) is a human right. Especially in light of the Americans with Disabilities Act and that the US has some of the most

...RID’s 2023 National Conference will be talked about for years to come.

AI in Interpreting – SAFE-AI – and RID is in many conversations about what AI looks like in the interpreting industry and what it will look like as it pertains to ASL interpreting. Be sure to read Steph Jo Kent’s article on page 32 about the SAFE-AI Task Force and the emergence of artificial intelligence in the ASL interpreting industry.

Our own conference was nothing short of amazing! With incredible keynote and plenary speakers, amazing workshops, opportunities for community conversations and networking, countless instances of challenges to paradigms and status quo, RID’s 2023 national conference will be talked about for years to come. For many it was the first time they had seen colleagues since the COVID-19 pandemic. An aspect of our profession influenced by the communities we serve is a desire for in-person interaction and human connection/ touch. It was so rewarding to witness and be surrounded by the joy of our members reconnecting and their enthusiasm to engage in the conference to improve their skills and continue to elevate the profession of ASL interpreting.

At the National Association of State Agencies for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, I had the opportunity to share updates and RID’s strategic plan with several directors of state departments for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and industry stakeholders. The information was very well received and the reaction was very positive: We had conversations with members of NASADHH about how we can keep the conversations flowing and what a collaborative partnership between our organizations would look like. The NASADHH Summit was at the National Black Deaf Advocates conference in Birmingham, Alabama and it was a fantastic conference with so many interesting workshops and opportunities for networking with leaders in the Black Deaf community. Our RID Board President Ritchie Bryant, and Region Two Representative, Antwan Campbell, presented on how RID can partner with community stakeholders for ensuring diverse representation of various experiences, perspectives, and the leveraging of expertise for our profession and for the benefit of the communities we serve.

Most recently, I attended the Association of Language Companies (ALC) Annual Summit in Portland, Oregon and it blew my mind wide open to the business side of interpreting and the many issues and opportunities that the language service industry – both spoken and signed – is grappling with and that Language

Service Companies face. Being an interpreter, an interpreter educator, a testing director and now the CEO of RID, I’ve never had to learn “the business” - how Language Service Companies - interpreting agencies - and the Language Service Industry operate. This was definitely eye-opening for me. I also had an opportunity to meet people who are active in several other of our spoken language counterpart associations of interpreters –e.g., ATA, NAJIT, CCHI – and discuss the challenges that we face within our respective organizations. Come to find out, we have more in common with our sister organizations than we have differences and we should be talking more.

It was also at ALC that I fully realized that RID is not only the world’s largest association of sign language interpreters, but we are the world’s largest association of interpreters, full stop. To me, it is clear that RID needs to assume our place in joining, and then leading, the conversations within the industry and I’m very much looking forward to doing just that.

HOW TO

DENOTE YOUR

CERTIFICATIONS

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09

Valid generalist certifications no longer offered appear before all others: IC, TC, CSC, MCSC, RSC, ETC, EIC, OIC, CI and/or CT, OTC, NIC Advanced, NIC Master. IC and /TC appear first (e.g. IC/TC, CSC)

OIC certifications appear directly after all other old generalist certifications (e.g. TC, CSC, OIC:C)

Current generalist certifications (CDI, NIC) appear after generalist certifications that are no longer offered (e.g. IC, CI and CT, OTC, NIC)

NIC certification appears after the CI and/or CT

The OTC certification appears after the NIC certification

Specialist certifications (SC:L and SC:PA) appear after all generalist certifications

NAD certifications appear after all RID certifications

Ed:K-12 appears after NAD certification

CI and CT are always expressed together as “CI and CT” or “CI & CT”

REGION REPORTS

RID Region Representatives are proud to represent members who are dynamic and forwardthinking in the interpreting field.

REGION I

Are you ready for fall?? For those of you who were able to attend the 2023 RID National Conference in Baltimore, MD this summer, it was so great to meet you! I hope you had a great week. We sure did jam pack a lot in a small amount of time. For those who were unable to join, start planning now for 2025 in Minnesota!

A few takeaways from me from conference were:

• We had five former Region 1 Representatives in attendance during the conference

• Keynote Speaker Dr. Jeremy Brunson is a former Region 1 Rep!

• I have been thinking alot about what Dr. Brunson said about generational knowledge.

• Glad that AI wont take the job of interpreting, now is the time to use its knowledge to help enhance our work.

My final takeaway is from our President Ritchie Bryant. His call to action for all members, not just those who were at the conference but to all RID Members.

REGION III

Indiana - ICRID

We are revising Bylaws, creating a PPM, and having our Fall Conference at the end of September!

Michigan - MIRID

We are a sponsor for both the Deaf Awareness Celebration event on 09/28 hosted by Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services in Grand Rapids, MI, and the Deaf Celebration Day on 09/30 hosted by Deaf Community Advocacy Network. We will be there meeting the community and handing out some MIRID swag!

Minnesota - MRID

June 28th, 2023, we hosted a celebration for recent grads and newly certified interpreters. Members from the interpreting and Deaf communities attended to celebrate and show their support.

August 16, 2023, we facilitated a virtual Town Hall. The discussion focused on interpreting practices postCOVID. 50 participants attended.

September 9, 2023, we hosted a Leadership Training and Panel discussion. This training contained a presentation and panel discussion, spotlighting five past and present MRID board and committee members.

Wisconsin - WRID

We elected a new Board of Directors, as well as finished the Affiliate Chapter 2023 Planning, and started the Affiliate Chapter 2024 Planning.

For this year (next 12 months) let us put our energy and investment into RID and get everything cleaned up and finished. We ask for a small time investment these next few months. My call to action for you is what can you do for your Affiliate Chapter to support them? Besides paying dues. Can you provide editing to bylaws? Can you help with contacting presenters for a community workshop? Can you help with bookkeeping or digitizing files? This investment is critical for the Affiliate Chapters to continue and flourish.

Are you READY to invest in your Affiliate Chapter?

REGION IV

Arkansas - ARID

June 15-17, 2023 - ARID’s Connect Four Biennial Conference. June 17, 2023 - Business Meeting (General Membership Meeting). September 9, 2023 - General Membership Meeting: https://www.arkansasrid. org

Louisiana - LRID

LRID hosted a Board Retreat, completed an organizational analysis, and established FY24 Priorities.

The LRID Board of Directors is committed to continuing to provide resources and training opportunities to membership and the interpreting community in Louisiana. LRID hosted two in-person Board Retreats to conduct an organizational analysis and completed a SWOT Analysis to take a deep dive as an organization to continue to be sustainable as an Affiliated Chapter of RID. LRID welcomed members to participate to receive diverse perspectives and opinions during the retreat.

Nebraska - NERID

We increased our membership, filled a couple of vacant positions, and we have a social event planned for October 26th, inviting all interpreters, NERID members, and student interpreters.

New Mexico - NMRID

NMRID partnered with the New Mexico Shakespeare Festival to make the performances accessible to our Deaf and Hard of Hearing community! Attached is a summary of the work that was involved. This summer the NMRID partnered with the New Mexico Shakespeare Festival (NMSF), a lo -

REGION V

Central California - CCRID

CCRID hosted a “power hour” promoting proper ergonomics, stretching exercises, and general good health for interpreters. Dr. Qiaofei Obrero, a deaf physical therapist, shared tips and tricks to aid the physical aspects of an interpreter’s work. CCRID also proudly announced the Interpreter Educational Scholarship which is available to members and residents of Central California. Applicants are expected to be actively involved in the local Deaf community and use the funds to further their interpreting aspirations to better serve the Deaf community.

Southern California - SCRID

A recent event of note is a change in the SCRID Board of Directors. Past President Stephanie Webb, who served as president for four years, has now transitioned into a different board role. President Kathy Goodson has now assumed the role of steward for our profession in Southern California. We are very fortunate to have her consciousness, heart, wisdom,

cal nonprofit, to provide communication access to this year’s shows. The NMSF is one of only 14 free Shakespeare festivals in the United States, and every year they perform multiple Shakespeare shows with a New Mexican twist.

They expressed interest in making this year’s festival accessible to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, but as a nonprofit that runs on volunteer labor, they did not have the funds available to hire interpreters.

NMRID decided to partner with NMSF in providing communication access by connecting NMSF with NMRID members who were willing to provide low-cost interpreting services for the festival in exchange for a small stipend. NMRID then worked with interpreters assigned to various plays to create an Independent Study program they could use to earn CEUs (which NMRID processed at no charge) for the time and effort they put into the language analysis and mediation of the Shakespearean text to a modern Deaf audience.

NMRID also hired two local Deaf language consultants to work with the interpreting teams to determine best language choices, as well as found a local Shakespearean expert who volunteered time to help interpreters understand the meaning behind Shakespeare’s word play. This partnership was a great success as our local Deaf community was able to enjoy the festival and NMRID members were rewarded with CEUs for the time and effort they contributed to making the shows accessible.

The festival was well attended, and NMRID received a lot of positive feedback from the community in response.

and passion! A second important note is the vision our president and board have developed.

For our quarterly events we aim to hold a board meeting, a CEU-bearing professional development activity, some sort of service in the community, and networking. While the days will be very full, we’ve determined this is the most effective way to currently support the profession and the community. Our next quarterly event is October 21, 2023, and you’ll be able to find information on that at www.scrid.org.

Finally, like many Affiliate Chapters, we have experienced frustration with both user and administrator usability of our database. We have gone about vetting several other community database platforms and are excited to report that we are currently in the midst of transition. We hope to utilize this new platform for a few months and then share our experience with other ACs. Stay tuned!

Utah - UTRID

We hosted our annual state conference and filled all board positions, closing their service terms.

Welcoming our new REGION IV REPRESENTATIVE

JESSICA EUBANK, NIC

Hello Region IV! My name is Jessica Eubank , and I am thrilled to introduce myself as your Region IV representative. Before I say more about myself I first want to thank Bucky for his service in the position. For your time, energy and effort representing Region IV and working alongside the RID board, sincerely thank you! You rock!

Now, who am I? I am an interpreter from New Mexico. I was born and raised here, and this community is one I cherish. Our State nickname is the Land of Enchantment, and I can say we live up to that name with our diverse people, food, culture, and community. I am enchanted to be here! Like most of Region IV, we are a rural state with a few larger metropolitan areas and a vast rural sector

I just finished a term as the President of the New Mexico RID before transitioning to this position. I have worked as an interpreter in a variety of settings including K-12, Community freelance, VRS/VRI etc. I am currently the staff interpreter for a state agency where I provide interpreting services for advocacy on communication access issues, as well as oversee a mentoring program that helps new interpreters gain their footing in the field by providing support and mentorship they need to prepare for longevity in our field. This is work that I very much enjoy.

That is a bit about who I am, now I am excited to get to know all of you and learn about the people who make up RID Region IV! I look forward to meeting you and your communities, and hearing about how I can best support you. I plan to coordinate times with AC leadership that will allow me to do so. In the mean time, if I can support you in any way, please contact me at region4rep@rid.org. I would love to have further conversations with you all! Thank you.

FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE RID BOARD

Shawn Vriezen

CDI, QMHI

REGION III REPRESENTATIVE

Justin “Bucky” Buckhold

CDI

REGION IV REPRESENTATIVE

Jeremy Quiroga

CDI

REGION V REPRESENTATIVE

As we depart from our positions on the RID Board of Directors, we’d like to take a moment to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude for the time we’ve spent on the board, and with the RID membership. It’s been an honor to work with such a unique and inspiring community. We look forward to taking the lessons we’ve learned, and the shared experiences to move forward as members of this organization and members of this community. Let’s not say farewell, but rather “until next time!”

RID DIVERSITY

STATEMENT

RID understands the necessity of multicultural awareness and sensitivity. Therefore, as an organization, we are committed to diversity both within the organization and within the profession of sign language interpreting.

Our commitment to diversity reflects and stems from our understanding of present and future needs of both our organization and the profession. We recognize that in order to provide the best service as the national certifying body among signed and spoken language interpreters, we must draw from the widest variety of society with regards to diversity in order to provide support, equality of treatment, and respect among interpreters within the RID organization.

Therefore, RID defines diversity as differences which are appreciated, sought, and shaped in the form of the following categories: gender identity or expression, racial identity, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, Deaf or hard of hearing status, disability status, age, geographic locale (rural vs. urban), sign language interpreting experience, certification status and level, and language bases (e.g., those who are native to or have acquired ASL and English, those who utilize a signed system, among those using spoken or signed languages) within both the profession of sign language interpreting and the RID organization.

To that end, we strive for diversity in every area of RID and its Headquarters. We know that the differences that exist among people represent a 21st century population and provide for innumerable resources within the sign language interpreting field.

July 26-30, 2023

Baltimore, MD

National

Are

2023 RID You

Ready?

We were ready Session Topics

The 2023 RID National Conference focused on how the organization would elevate the profession, and advance communication access for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind and DeafDisabled consumers? The time for change is now.

Expand Cultural Repetoire

LGBTQ+ discourse, learning about Iran, dismantling barriers, mixed race children of Deaf adults, unpacking privilege, analyzing biases, allyship, anti-bigotry.

Specialized Areas

STEM in higher education, DHH youth and academic language, K-12 settings. Neurodiversity, healthcare compliance, interpreting in sex health settings, traumainformed interpreting.

Meet Our Speakers

Dr. Jeremy Brunson Keynote Speaker

92

91 25 18

Sessions Presenters Exhibitors Sponsors

See who was there

Registrants by Region

Region I

Region II

Region III

Region IV

Region V

THE FUN...

Thursday evening we had an exciting block party featuring delicious food from various food trucks, and showcasing multiple local Deaf-owned

Thursday night was an exciting event of Drag entertainment sponsored and hosted by BLeGIT. There were prizes to win, cash bars, and lots of laughter!

Block Party Drag Bingo VOCA Rave’n Party

RID was honored to have VOCA, Visionaries of the Creative Arts present ISM. This powerful group of BIPOC Deaf Storytellers performed stories in ASL about their lived experiences of oppression and discrimination associated with words ending with “ism” such as racism, audism, genderism, and more.

What a way to end the conference! DJ Hear No Evil presented a set, putting the dance floor on fire with their incredible beats, plus an unforgettable performance by the sensational entertainer, Harold Foxx! Keeping the energy high and the party going was our amazing emcee, Kriston Lee Pumphrey.

Artful Dodger

What They Thought OUR ATTENDEES

The Community

88% 84% 81%

Attendees that were satisified with the conference overall. Thought the agenda satisfied the goals they had for the conference.

Felt the ASL only conference language policy was followed and respected.

53% 93% 73%

Agreed that the conference positively influenced their experience and perspective of RID.

Downloaded the mobile conference app.

Felt the schedule of events for the entire conference was effective and efficient.

Attendee Hearing Identity

Attendees’ First Conference

FOR SPONSORING Our Conference

WITH OVER 13,000 MEMBERS IN THE US AND ABROAD, RID IS THE LARGEST, COMPREHENSIVE REGISTRY OF AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (ASL) INTERPRETERS IN THE COUNTRY! EASILY REACH OUR MEMBERS THROUGH THIS VERY PLATFORM, VIEWS, FOR YOUR COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION’S EVENTS, PROMOTIONS, JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS, WEBINARS AND MORE. INTERACTIVE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO ENGAGE YOUR POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS AND CLIENTS IN A WAY THAT IS UNMATCHED.

ADVERTISE IN VIEWS

ADVERTISE TO EXPAND YOUR REACH IN THE COMMUNITY!

Revitalizing Our Network

Strategic Recommendations for RID’s

Affiliate

Chapter Relations

DR. CAROLYN BALL, NIC, CI AND CT STAR GRIESER, CDI, ICE-CCP

ACs provide opportunities for ambassadorship, for collaborative partnership, for professional development and for networking, mentoring, and leadership growth.

This is a Strategic Plan with ideas and strategies to strengthe n our AC network in alignment with RID’s Strategic Priorities towards Organizational Effectiveness and Organizational Relevance, as well as consider the role of ACs in RID’s Organizational Transformation.

ACs have always been vital to RID. While a national office and headquarters were overseeing the business operations of our organization, state ACs were charged with the tasks:

1. Work with the Deaf community to establish and maintain close contact with state legislators and agencies that affect interpreting services.

2. Provide professional development opportunities.

3. Share relevant information between the national organization an d the state and local communities.

The goal of this report and subsequent strategic recommendations is to:

1. Identify the issues and challenges we face.

2. Identify strategies to revitalize our relationship.

3. Engage in discussion with AC Leaders.

4. Commit to a path and put it into action.

Numbers at a Glance

Number of Affiliate Chapters

54 Total on Roster

49 Active 3 Inactive 2 Disaffiliated or Folded

Of the 49 active ACs, what are their member numbers?

Fewer than 50 members: 7 ACs

Between 50 to 100 members: 18 ACs

More than 100 members: 19 ACs

Did not respond: 5 ACs

Of the 49 active ACs, how many have all Board positions filled?

Do not have a full board: 24 ACs

Do have a full board: 15 ACs

Did not respond: 10 ACs

Of the 49 active ACs, are their numbers growing, shrinking, or staying the same?

Numbers are decreasing: 14 ACs

Numbers are remaining the same: 24 ACs

Numbers are increasing: 3 ACs

Did not respond: 9 ACs

WHAT IS A HEALTHY AFFILIATE CHAPTER?

PARAMETERS

1. AC has completed its AC Annual report and complies with RID’s requirements.

2. AC has 50 or more members.

3. AC’s membership is stable or increasing.

4. AC has held at least one board meeting AND one professional development activity in the 2022 calendar year.

WHAT WE FOUND...

• 16 met all four parameters and would be considered "healthy."

• 11 met three of the four parameters

• 5 met half of the parameters

• 7 only met one criterion, but for all intents and purposes, is considered an active AC

• We don’t have sufficient information on 10 of our ACs

• 5 of the ACs on our roster are inactive or have folded.

STEPHANIE JO KENT CI, PHD

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

THE INTERPRETING

Remember when all of a sudden Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) was everywhere, especially in hospitals? It would be nice to be able to go back in time and design policy and regulation that would have protected the integrity of interpreted communication through the internet. As a profession, sign language interpreting missed that train; it left the station long before appearing on most interpreters’ radar.

This summer another train has left the station and is beginning to pick up speed. It’s the AI train: Artificial Intelligence. If you went to a professional interpreting conference this summer, AI was a hot topic everywhere: including the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TDI), 1 World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI), the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), 2 and National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA). 3 Sam Sepah from Google gave a plenary speech on uses of AI at the 2023 RID National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. 4 The audience of community ASL-English interpreters were worried; however, when Sam finally stated his personal opinion that AI probably won’t take our jobs they broke into applause! Sam added a caveat though; not within the next ten years.

AI is already upending spoken language interpret -

1 “Artificial Intelligence (AI): The Benefits and Challenges for Accessibility” (July 28, 2023). Featuring Larry Goldberg, Lily Bond, Jennifer Schuck, Joe Devon, Blake Reid, Sam Sepah, and John Kinstler at TDI: Digital Inclusion for All.

2 “Human-Machine Collaboration in Korea Sign Language Interpreting” (July 12, 2023) by Inkyung Koh; Sign Language machine translation and Deaf Communities: the case for co-creation (July 13, 2023) by Mark Wheatley, Exec Director European Union of the Deaf (EUD); Database and Artificial Intelligence Technology Application System & Service (July 13, 2023) by Geuhwan Ann; Sign Language Avatars: If, When, and How. The User Perspective (July 13, 2023) by Verena Krausneker and Sandra Shuegerl at WFD: “Securing Human Rights in Times of Crisis.”

3 “ChatGPT: The Promising Potentials of Artificial Intelligence for Deaf People” (August 11, 2023) by Bakar Ali and Kemoy Campbell at NBDA: Reconnecting to Thrive Together: Reconnect, Recharge, Thrive!

4 Plenary: The Future of ASL Interpretation: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Human Touch” by Sam Sepah (July 29, 2023) at RID: Are You Ready?!

RID IS ON THE TRAIN!

ing. The algorithms are good enough between many spoken and written languages that the quality of information transfer is basically as good as humans. A private company was just awarded a U.S. patent for their speech-to-speech translation technology, based on machine learning, which produces “real-time, continuous (simultaneous) translation, and for translating spoken language in a natural way” for 30 languages ( KUDO, August 8, 2023).

I am glad I’m a sign language interpreter! But geez, is that just hearing privilege? The reason AI isn’t as much of a threat to our jobs – yet – is because the field of computer vision has not learned how to recognize and ‘read’ signed languages. The disparity in access to communication tools is a tangible measure of how Deaf people and ASL users are systematically disenfranchised. Curiously, this may be about to change! A business partnership in Brazil has announced a “live chat translation tool” from Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) and Portuguese Sign Language (LGP) with the aim of enabling hearing people to understand what Deaf people are signing in particular contexts ( Mari, 2023).

AI is stimulating evolution in many fields, ours included. Right now, the big questions are if machine interpreting by AI can recognize misunderstanding – and help repair it? Can AI discern important contextual details – and know how and when to include them? Can AI recognize cultural differences – and mediate them? Major journals in the field have already published special issues, such as the August 2023 Multilingual Matters on “ Interpreting and Technology.” An industry research group has produced a report showing use of AI by the top language service providers (LSPs) ( Pielmeier, 2023). According to their findings, the first impact of AI is those who do text-to-text translation. Will this affect real-time human captioning? Nine percent of the top LSPs have used AI for interpreting and another nine percent have tested it and been satisfied. Some LSPs have rejected using AI for interpreting (at least for now). This is the point of tension and debate: will AI prove easier, cheaper, and more reliable than human interpreters?

If we, professional interpreters, are going to make the case that we are better and bring advantages that AI cannot, what are the criteria upon which AI interpreting will fail? Immediately the work of Jon Henner (with Octavian Robinson) on “ crip linguistics” comes to mind. Will AI be able to handle all the ways that humans use language? Can AI catch and correct misunderstandings? Does AI know when to utilize expansion? Is AI an appropriate choice in any situation, or are there conditions when a human interpreter must be

involved? Answers to these questions from signing communities are required to inform us how best to evolve our skills to meet the needs of the future.

Over the summer of 2023, a group of interpreting industry leaders hurried to establish the Interpreting SAFE AI Task Force in time to influence legislation to “regulate AI.” The first AI-oriented legislation is being developed by Senators Elizabeth Warren (MA) and Lindsay Graham (SC), to establish a federal agency to oversee large tech companies ( Klar, July 27, 2023). An important lobbying group, the Association of Language Companies (ALC), proactively reached out to include leaders from within the sign language interpreting field. After the open application process ended, a meeting at the 2023 RID National Conference including RID President Ritchie Bryant, CEO Star Grieser, Director of Government Affairs Neal Tucker, and representatives from the Association of Language Companies (ALC) met to go over some background and context (see the Notes from that meeting here.)

Members of the Stakeholders Assembly of the SAFEAI Task Force were announced in September including: Star Grieser (RID), Dr. Eileen Forestal (CIT), Erin Sanders-Sigmon (Mano a Mano), Tim Riker (Brown University), Stephanie Jo Kent (Learning Lab for Resiliency®), and M. Cody Francisco (Masterwords). We will need to learn a lot from you, the stakeholders in this profession. Please be alert to opportunities to learn about AI and Interpreting, including invitations for organizational representatives and interested community members to join an AI & Interpreting Advisory Group that will focus on sign language interpreting and AI.

The AI & Interpreting Advisory Group requires a one year commitment to learn about AI and participate in workshops and activities aimed at understanding how AI can help or hurt interpreting processes. Read the Statement of Work here. The task will be to collect evidence, anecdotes and testimonials about both constructive and harmful uses of technology in practices of interpreting. The most likely way we will collect this data is through a survey prepared by the SAFE AI Task Force. Potentially, if we find the right partners, and a rigorous process of informed consent, we may be able to use survey responses as part of a larger sign language corpus to further the research and development of sign language recognition by AI, in an effort to ‘catch up’ with spoken languages.

Certification Maintenance Program

Below is a link to a page on the RID website, accessible to the community at large, that lists individuals whose certifications have been revoked due to non-compliance with the Certification Maintenance Program or by reasons stated in the RID PPM. The Certification Maintenance Program requirements are:

Maintain current RID membership by paying annual RID Certified Member dues.

Meet the CEU requirements:

• 8.0 Total CEUs with at least 6.0 in PS CEUs

• Up to 2.0 GS CEUs may be applied toward the requirement

• SC:L only–2.0 of the 6.0 PS CEUs must be in legal interpreting topics

• SC:PA only–2.0 of the 6.0 PS CEUs must be in performing arts topics

Adhere to the RID Code of Professional Conduct and EPS Policy.

If an individual appears on the list, it means that consumers working with this interpreter may no longer be protected by the Ethical Practices System should an issue arise. The published list is a “live” list, meaning that it will be updated if a certification is reinstated or revoked. To view the revocation list, please visit HERE.

Should a member lose certification due to failure to comply with CEU requirements or failure to pay membership costs, that individual may submit a reinstatement request. The reinstatement form and policies are outlined HERE

Congrats Newly Certified Members!

Naveh Amit Berner-Kadish, NIC...................

Kimberlin Chilenski, NIC...............................

Daniel James Christensen, NIC....................

Ashley Delaney, NIC.....................................

Cassidy Donaldson, NIC...............................

Sarah Gulisano NIC ................................

Alexandria Pucciarelli Miller, CDI.............

Christine Antoinette Mizrahi, NIC.............

Bradley Nicholas, NIC..............................

Emily Marlene Pacheco, NIC...................

Catherine Ann Zagare, NIC......................

Caroline Lynn Becker, NIC............................

Zachary Alan Betsey, NIC.............................

Leslie Jean Cagle, NIC.................................

Amy Dawson, NIC........................................

Katelyn Mathis, NIC.....................................

Jeffrey Wade Miller, NIC..............................

Cody Millin, NIC...........................................

Kathryn DeBice Moye, NIC......................

Rachyl J. Petracca, NIC...........................

Rachelle Settambrino-Wallis, CDI............

Heather Jean Strickler, NIC.....................

Taylor Elizabeth Vidal, NIC......................

Benjamin Wallis, NIC...............................

Jeffrey B. York, NIC..................................

Nancy Lynne Carpenter, NIC......................

Julia L. Coulman, NIC.................................

Amber Dean, NIC.......................................

Jesse Dorland, NIC....................................

Zachary R. Evans, NIC..............................

Cody Jo Green, NIC...................................

Samantha Hoeksema, NIC......................

Katrina May Johnson, NIC.......................

Catzian Maris, NIC..................................

Macy Newell, NIC....................................

Jeannie Peterson, NIC............................

Valarie Shaw, NIC...................................

Erica Bailey, NIC.........................................

Kristy Lynn Bass, NIC.................................

Christina Rae Boklund, NIC........................

Jessica Ennis, NIC.....................................

Stacie Fuentes, NIC.................................

Doris Johns, NIC......................................

Kristin Yoder, NIC.....................................

Joshua Anderson, NIC................................

Stacie Renee Barriga, NIC..........................

Emily T. Borja, NIC.......................................

Ashlie Nicole Boyer, NIC..............................

Ashley M. Camp, NIC..................................

Sean Chapman, NIC...................................

David Lionel Clifton, NIC.............................

Shannon Council, NIC.................................

Deanna Cummings, NIC..............................

Katie Marie Fusilier, NIC..............................

Pamela Jolene Garland, NIC.......................

Dawn Gilson, NIC............................

Marcus Gunter, NIC.................................

Catherine Helde, NIC...............................

Adam S. Janisieski, CDI...........................

Katelyn Kleinhans, NIC............................

Alexandra Leyva, NIC..............................

Kaylee Mariah Millar, NIC.........................

Crystal Rojas NIC.....................................

Serena Stone, CDI...................................

Eva Tingley, NIC.......................................

Lindsey Nicole Verrinder, NIC..................

VIEWS VISION

VIEWS, RID’s digital publication, is dedicated to the interpreting profession. As a part of RID’s strategic goals, we focus on providing interpreters with the educational tools they need to excel at their profession. VIEWS is about inspiring, or even instigating, thoughtful discussions among practitioners. With the establishment of the VIEWS Board of Editors, the featured content in this publication is peer-reviewed and standardized according to our bilingual review process. VIEWS is on the leading edge of bilingual publications for English and ASL. In this way, VIEWS helps to bridge the gap between interpreters and clients and facilitate equality of language. This publication represents a rich history of knowledgesharing in an extremely diverse profession. As an organization, we value the experiences and expertise of interpreters from every cultural, linguistic, and educational background. VIEWS seeks to provide information to researchers and stakeholders about these specialty fields and groups in the interpreting profession. We aim to explore the interpreter’s role within this demanding social and political environment by promoting content with complex layers of experience and meaning.

While we publish updates on our website and social media platforms, unique information from the following areas can only be found in VIEWS:

• Both research and peer-based articles/columns

• Interpreting skill-building and continuing education opportunities

• Local, national, and international interpreting news

• Reports on the Certification Program

• RID committee and Member Sections news

• New publications available from RID Press

• News and highlights from RID Headquarters

SUBMISSIONS

VIEWS publishes articles on matters of interest and concern to the membership. Submissions that are essentially interpersonal exchanges, editorials or statements of opinion are not appropriate as articles and may remain unpublished, run as a letter to the editor or as a position paper. Submissions that are simply the description of programs and services in the community with no discussion may also be redirected to a more archival platform on the website. Articles should be 1,800 words or fewer. Unsigned articles will not be published. Please contact the editor of VIEWS if you require more space. RID reserves the right to limit the quantity and frequency of articles published in VIEWS written by a single author(s). Receipt by RID of a submission does not guarantee its publication. RID reserves the right to edit, excerpt or refuse to publish any submission. Publication of an advertisement does not constitute RID’s endorsement or approval of the advertiser, nor does RID guarantee the accuracy of information given in an advertisement.

Advertising specifications can be found at www.rid.org, or by contacting the editor. All editorial, VIEWS advertising, submission and permission inquiries should be directed to publications@rid.org

COPYRIGHT

VIEWS is published quarterly by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. Statements of fact or opinion are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not necessarily represent the opinion of RID. The author(s), not RID, is responsible for the content of submissions published in VIEWS.

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP

VIEWS (ISSN 0277-7088) is published quarterly by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. Periodical postage paid in Stone Mountain, GA and other mailing offices by The Sauers Group, Inc. Materials may not be reproduced or reprinted in whole or in part without written permission. Contact views@rid.org for permission inquiries and requests.

VIEWS’ electronic subscription is a membership benefit and is covered in the cost of RID membership dues.

© 2023 Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. All rights reserved.