16 minute read
Reflections from an Old Hand
https://youtu.be/EaYmuRix3OE Reflections from an Old Hand
The Story Goes On
COLUMN
Phil Giambaresi Former CSD, LCSW (Retired) California I was born in 1950 to parents who have been Deaf since their birth. I have a younger brother who is also a hearing child. The influence from my mother's deaf family and my interest in being the family interpreter led to a career of being a certified interpreter. I received a BA in Psychology. At the age of 34, I earned my Master's in Social Work, specializing in mental health of the Deaf. After living in NYC for over 30 years, I moved to California and am now retired. “If you’re deaf, why do you have ears?” That was my young little brother’s question to our mom long ago. She was washing dishes while he tugged at her dress, looked up to her and asked his innocent question. Mom smiled and said, “Well, God made me like this, and if I didn’t have ears people would stare at me.” Her answer was made as simply as she could say it, and my brother nodded and walked away. He came back to her a few minutes later and said, “So your ears are broken? That’s OK. You can always use your ears for earrings.”
The theme of this Fall 2020 issue of VIEWS is “Education.” Growing up with deaf parents was certainly an education.
It was the 1950’s and the times were very different. As two little hearing boys with deaf parents, there was a feeling that our parents
I was the oldest child and I took it very seriously that I had to be the ears for my mom and dad. My sign language as a child was awkward. And I exaggerated my mouth, making movements without any sounds. I realized that my parents were unable to hear me so why would I bother to use my voice? (It wasn’t until I was an adult that I learned to voice and sign, using PSE.)
Mom was able to use her speech to talk with her sons and just do gestures with us, as I have shared in previous columns. We didn’t really know about terms like “Pidgin Signed English” (PSE) and I was quite young, and cannot even remember the use of the term “ASL.” People were just deaf, and each of them was unique in their communication styles. Some used their voices, some made sounds, and there were some who didn’t use their voices at all. My folks’ closest friends were deaf, and I’d be fascinated by watching them all sign away! Dad was more of an ASL-user from a hearing Italian family that didn’t sign, and he made verbal noises that were not always intelligible. Mom’s speech was generally understood by most hearing people, when they were relaxed and open-minded. Some hearing people just didn’t get it and they would freeze when they heard her voice. So Mom knew she had to rely on her son to interpret for her. Dad was often difficult to understand. He was not adept at using English words comfortably; he had to write his “broken English” on notes. He often carried a pad of paper and was always with a pen. I’d Mom came from a deaf Polish/German family. Her three sisters, parents and extended family were deaf. Their dad (my grandpa) was more “hard of hearing”. He used hearing aids and functioned in the “hearing world,” and was accepted as a hearing person. Grandpa did not like his daughters to use sign language because he wanted them to speak. I am sure that he often couldn’t understand or follow the sign language that his daughters used so rapidly. They went to Wisconsin State School for the Deaf. Mom was the eldest daughter, and worshiped
her father in many ways. Her dad would gesture and speak and sing to her when she was a child. She could feel the vibrations of his speech on his chest when she touched him. Later, she practiced trying to make her voice “come out” and somehow managed to make sounds. She was so excited to feel her own voice making those vibrations in her own chest. When she was little, she finally “got it” and ran to her dad to tell him so. “I can talk!” she said. Her sisters eventually did the same, and although they varied in their abilities to speak, they knew they had to use their voices around their father, who would get upset if they didn’t talk.
Mom’s mother, my grandma, was totally deaf and raised on a farm with little formal schooling. I remember her as a warm personality with a booming low voice, and although she could not hear herself, she was frequently vocal. She was also very funny and made my brother
and me laugh a lot. And she was a great cook. Grandpa was more serious, and a hard worker. He painted houses in Milwaukee to support his family. When he got older and lost most of his hearing, he couldn’t rely on hearing aids any more and most of his hearing friends would not have the patience to keep repeating or takents. We shared an understanding of our simi-
ing the trouble to write down what they said. He became more isolated, and later confessed to his daughters, saying, “Papa was wrong. You are smart to use signs and your speech.”
Growing up with deaf relatives and friends and deaf gatherings was a wonderful opportunity. My “reflections” with my family history are my opportunity to share more stories in my “deaf education”. I would volunteer myself to interpret for several deaf people in my life. doing something useful, and pleasing my folks. I was quite bonded to my parents, whereas my little brother was more into the hearing world (though he retained the same sensitivity and understanding of deafness). I remember that I would be observing the deaf culture and language, and also that I would have a separate life in hearing school where many of my peers did not know I came from a deaf family.
Eventually, my abilities in sign language and deaf culture led me to working in college settings as an interpreter. It was wonderful to meet other interpreters who happened to have deaf parInterpreting for them made me feel like I was
larities and differences!
The story goes on. And I appreciate being able to share it with you, the reader. Comments? Contact me at pgiambaresi@aol.com.
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Journal of Interpretation Volume 28
Hosted by University of North Florida (UNF)
https://Digitalcommons.unf.edu/joi/vol28/iss1/
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FY 2019 Certification Reinstatements and Revocations
Below please find a link to a page on our website that lists individuals whose certifications have been revoked due to non-compliance with the Certification Maintenance Program (CMP).
The Certification Maintenance Program requirements are as follows:
1. 2.
3. Maintain current RID membership by paying annual RID Certified Member dues Meet the CMP 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’s only: 2.0 of the 6.0 PS CEUs must be in legal interpreting topics • SC:PA’s only: 2.0 of the 6.0 PS CEUs must be in performing arts topics Follow the RID Code of Professional Conduct (CPC)
If an individual appears on the list, it means that their consumers may no longer be protected by the Ethical Practices System, should an issue arise. This list is available on the RID website and can be accessed by the community at large. The published list is a “live” list, meaning that it will be updated as needed if a certification is reinstated or revoked.
To view the revocation list, please visit the link HERE
Should you lose certification due to failure to comply with CEU requirements or failure to pay membership dues, you may submit a reinstatement request.
The reinstatement form and policies are outlined HERE
REGION I - NORTHEAST • Omar Bonnet • Julie Donnelly • Jenna Mary Kish Jacek • Brandon C. Kazen-Maddox • Rachel Marie Green • Jordan Staley • Mabel Najarro
REGION IV - CENTRAL • Corrine Bree Pollock • Elijah Ayers • Elizabeth Werren • Mona Adele Jamell • Christine Patricia Truitt • Erica Lynn Rust • Holli Beth Norling • Esther Lemley REGION II - SOUTHEAST • April Smith • Matthew Alexander Rosario • Matthew Pouncey • Michael Christopher Sinclair • William Thomas Lovik • Alyssa Perez • Joshua McDonald • Sonya Perez • Veronica Ashley Forte • Ashley Pigliavento • Jacob Aaron Mendoza • Jason D. Fischer • Jeffery Bowden • Sara D. Ryan • Shameka Garrick • Brandi Leigh Marsh • Danette Steelman-Bridges • Jacob Larkin • Jeffrey Reid Barnes • Jessica Marie Hollifield • Kathryn Rene Oviatt • Kimberly A. Ruiz • Rachel Lovette • Lindsay Anne Young • Elizabeth Owolabi • Heather C. Goodson • Katherine H. Malady • Shelly Thiss REGION III - MIDWEST • Fotini Wickman • Racheal Griffin • Mary Chrisman • Spenser Lynne Johnson • Justin A. Oberfrank • Alyxandra Nicole McMahon • Jason Paul Nygren Hawkins • Kymberlee Cook • Melissa Katie Christensen • Stephanie Anne Stroik • Bethany Marie DeFelice • Danette Theriault • Hannah Marie Kaster • Rachel Lynn Strine • Sara Elizabeth Meadows • Ashley Stokely • Catherine G. Ledden • Elizabeth Blake • Kelsey Tolar
REGION V - PACIFIC • Apollonia Marie Moriarty • Beth Leeanne Anderton • Laura B. Dunham • Nora Joy Rodriguez • Hannah Ruth Westfall • Sarah Therese Armstrong • Corinne Nicole Johnston • Chad Boyd Godfrey • Jack A. Gullick • Carly Lonergan
RID Conference Motion C89.15 “Results of the Ethical Practices System shall be published in the VIEWS including the nature of the grievance and action taken by RID. The names of individuals filing the grievance shall remain confidential. Vindicated individuals will be given the opportunity to have their names published, even in cases of a less serious nature.” No EPS violations reported for this issue of VIEWS
Vision VIEWS, RID’s digital publication, is dedicated to the interpreting VIEWS require more space. RID reserves the right to limit the quantity and frequency of articles published profession. As a part of RID’s stra- in VIEWS written by a single autegic goals, we focus on providing interpreters with thor(s). Receipt by RID of a submission does not guarthe educational tools they need to excel at their pro- antee its publication. RID reserves the right to edit, fession. VIEWS is about inspiring, or even instigating, excerpt or refuse to publish any submission. Publicathoughtful discussions among practitioners. With the tion of an advertisement does not constitute RID’s establishment of the VIEWS Board of Editors, the fea- endorsement or approval of the advertiser, nor does tured content in this publication is peer-reviewed and RID guarantee the accuracy of information given in an standardized according to our bilingual review process. advertisement. VIEWS is on the leading edge of bilingual publications for English and ASL. In this way, VIEWS helps to bridge Advertising specifications can be found at www.rid. the gap between interpreters and clients and facilitate org, or by contacting the editor. All editorial, adverequality of language. This publication represents a rich tising, submission and permission inquiries should be history of knowledge-sharing in an extremely diverse directed to (703) 838-0030, (703) 838-0454 fax, or profession. As an organization, we value the experi- publications@rid.org. ences and expertise of interpreters from every cultural, linguistic, and educational background. VIEWS Copyright seeks to provide information to researchers and stake- VIEWS is published quarterly by the Registry of Inholders about these specialty fields and groups in the terpreters for the Deaf, Inc. Statements of fact or interpreting profession. We aim to explore the inter- opinion are the responsibility of the authors alone and preter’s role within this demanding social and political do not necessarily represent the opinion of RID. The environment by promoting content with complex lay- author(s), not RID, is responsible for the content of ers of experience and meaning. submissions published in VIEWS. While we publish updates on our website and social media platforms, unique information from the follow- Statement of Ownership ing areas can only be found in VIEWS: VIEWS (ISSN 0277-1088) is published quarterly by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. Periodical • Both research- and peer-based articles/columns postage paid in Stone Mountain, GA and other mailing • Interpreting skill-building and continuing education offices by The Sauers Group, Inc. Materials may not be opportunities reproduced or reprinted in whole or in part without • Local, national, and international interpreting news written permission. Contact views@rid.org for per• Reports on the Certification Program mission inquiries and requests. • RID committee and Member Sections news • New publications available from RID Press VIEWS electronic subscription is a membership bene• News and highlights from RID Headquarters fit and is covered in the cost of RID membership dues. Single issues of print VIEWS are available to members Submissions or nonmembers for $9.00 VIEWS publishes articles on matters of interest and concern to the membership. Submissions that are es- Board of Editors sentially interpersonal exchanges, editorials or state- Michael B. Ballard, ABD ments of opinion are not appropriate as articles and Kelly Brakenhoff, NIC may remain unpublished, run as a letter to the editor Royce Carpenter, MA, NIC Master or as a position paper. Submissions that are simply the Jami Macdonald, Associate Member description of programs and services in the commu- Amy Parsons, Associate Member nity with no discussion may also be redirected to a Adam Summers, M. Ed. 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 © 2020 Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. All rights reserved.
MISSION The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf strives to advocate for best practices in interpreting, professional development for RID 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 practitioners and for the highest standards among signed and spoken language interpretin the provision of interpreting services for diverse users of ers, we must draw from the widest variety of society with languages that are signed or spoken. regards to diversity in order to provide support, equality of treatment, and respect among interpreters within the RID VISION organization. By honoring its past and innovating for the future, RID envi- Therefore, RID defines diversity as differences which are sions a world where: appreciated, sought, and shaped in the form of the followIts members recognize and support the linguistic rights of ing categories: gender identity or expression, racial idenall Deaf people as human rights, equal to those of users of tity, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, socioeconomic spoken languages; status, deaf or hard of hearing status, disability status, age, Deaf people and their values are vital to and visible in every geographic locale (rural vs. urban), sign language interpreting aspect of RID; experience, certification status and level, and language bases Interpreted interaction between individuals who use signed (e.g. those who are native to or have acquired ASL and Enand spoken languages are as viable as direct communication; glish, those who utilize a signed system, among those using The interpreting profession is formally recognized and is spoken or signed languages) within both the profession of advanced by rigorous professional development, standards of sign language interpreting and the RID organization. conduct, and credentials. To that end, we strive for diversity in every area of RID and its Headquarters. We know that the differences that exDIVERSITY STATEMENT ist among people represent a 21st century population and The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) understands provide for innumerable resources within the sign language the necessity of multicultural awareness and sensitivity. interpreting field. Therefore, as an organization, we are committed to diversity both within the organization and within the profession of Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. sign language interpreting. 333 Commerce Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 838-0030 V • (571)-257-3957 VP • (703) 838-0454 Fax • Our commitment to diversity reflects and stems from our www.rid.org
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COMING SOON FROM RID PRESS!
RID Press is proud to announce a new book on team interpreting by Jack Hoza to be released in early 2021!
This new volume • replaces the previous volume: Team Interpreting as Collaboration and Interdependence • includes all of the chapters from that volume, which have been greatly updated and expanded • presents information that goes well beyond the topics of the first volume and includes six new chapters, with two-thirds of this new volume being made up of new material • is updated with new research, including the author’s new interview study with Deaf interpreter-hearing interpreter teams and teams of two hearing interpreters.
The presented research • provides valuable information on the following types of teams: Deaf interpreter-hearing interpreter teams; teams of hearing interpreters; teams of Deaf interpreters; and experienced interpreter-novice interpreter teams • presents additional insight into how these teams can do their best work and “team interpret in the zone” • proposes a new team interpreting framework, which represents a return to a community approach to interpreting, which has been in existence within the Deaf community long before the advent of professional interpreters • provides a new vision for team interpreting based on current research, best practices of the field, and the contributions of Deaf community members and scholars.
Click here for a video in ASL by the author: https://youtu.be/VoDGhiP7VR4
