RID Spring 2022 VIEWS

ISSUE 39 | VOLUME 2 | SPRING 2022

VIEWS S

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Ethics: Our Work in Underrepresented Contexts

the practice of interpreting in marginalized contexts PRESIDENT'S REPORT

by President Ritchie Bryant

MAPPING, REALITY AND SELF-ANALYSIS by Daniel Gough, Ed.D. Jenny Gough, Ed.D. Leslie C. Greer, M.A.

AFFILIATE CHAPTER CORNER

by Dr. Carolyn Ball

Sign Language Interpreters

VA C AT I O NIN G IN S OU T HE A S T F L O R ID A? We have Freelance Work Available

Judy Beldon-Feldman, NIC-M Kathleen Stephenson, NIC Sandra Mahoney, CSC Lisa Hendrickson, CI Brooke LaTurno, EIPA 3.8 Susan Swancey, EIPA 3.6 Melanie Frye, EIPA 4.1

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SPRING 2022 VIEWS IN THIS ISSUE ASSOCIATION BUSINESS

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From the President From the CEO

REGION REPORTS

8 9 13 15 16 17

Region I

ETHICS CORNER

Region II

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Region III

BUSINESS

27 28 29 30

Region IV Region V Affiliate Chapter Corner

COLUMNS

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Reflections from an Old Hand Mapping Reality: Self-Analysis

(M.R.S.) Model

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Self-Promotion on

Social Media Platforms

Member Services Dispatch Newly Certified Ethical Practices System VIEWS Vision

ASL Playlist

B OA R D President | Ritchie Bryant, MS, CDI, CLIP-R Vice President | Dr. Jesús Rēmigiō, PsyD, MBA, CDI Secretary | | Brenda Dencer, CSC, CI and CT, NIC, SC:L Treasurer | Kate O’Regan, MA, NIC Member-at-Large | Traci Ison, NIC, NAD IV Deaf Member-at-Large | Vacant Region I Representative | Christina Stevens, NIC Region II Representative | Jason Hurdich, M.Ed, CDI Region III Representative | Shawn Vriezen, CDI, QMHI Region IV Representative | Justin “Bucky” Buckhold, CDI

MISSION The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf strives to advocate for best practices in interpreting, professional development for practitioners and for the highest standards in the provision of interpreting services for diverse users of languages that are signed or spoken.

VISION By honoring its past and innovating for the future, RID envisions a world where: Its members recognize and support the linguistic rights of all Deaf people as human rights, equal to those of users of spoken languages; Deaf people and their values are vital to and visible in every aspect of RID; Interpreted interaction between individuals who use signed and spoken languages are as viable as direction communication;

Region V Representative | Jeremy Quiroga, CDI

The interpreting profession is formally recognized and is advanced by rigorous professional development, standards of conduct, and credentials.

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

DIVERSITY STATEMENT Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (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.

Chief Operating Officer | Elijah Sow Director of Finance and Operations | Jennifer Apple Finance and Operations Manager | Kristyne Reeds Operations Project Coordinator | Kirsten Swanson Staff Accountant | Bradley Johnson

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.

Staff Accountant | Racheal Lack Senior Director of Standards and Practices | Ryan Butts EPS Administrator | Tressela Bateson CMP Manager | Ashley Holladay Standards and Practices Specialist | Jess Kaady Director of Member Services & Government Affairs | Neal Tucker

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.

Affiliate Chapter Liaison | Dr. Carolyn Ball, CI and CT, NIC Member Services Specialist | Vicky Whitty Director of Communications and Outreach | JJ Johnson

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.

Communications Strategist | Adam Summers, M.Ed Web and Production Manager | Jenelle Bloom

Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. 333 Commerce Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314

Publications Manager | Estefani Garrison

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FROM THE PRESIDENT the guidelines established by the board.

However, the board can hold the CEO accountable for any and all policies the board developed.

Ritchie Bryant, MS, CDI, CLIP-R Board President Ritchie Bryant, MS, CDI, CLIP-R lives in Texas.

He is a graduate of Gallaudet University and McDaniel College.

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his issue focuses on ethics, which provides me with the perfect opportunity to talk about the board’s ethical decision-making process as it applies to RID policies and governance.

We all can agree that ethics are extremely important, but so many people question the RID Board of Directors’ decisions on many occasions. By examining our work as a board, we can then determine whether our decisions are made based on ethics or not.

First: does the Board of Directors apply ethics to itself? Absolutely. While each board member has individual sets of ethics, we are bound and guided by specific principles, such as the RID Code of Professional Conduct, training, and so much more. What drives the board primarily are our legal and fiduciary duties. For example, the Enron fiasco (https. wikipedia.org/wiki/Enron_scandal) resulted in a federal law governing board behaviors and outcomes, like the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Such legislative steps (https:// enwikipedia.wikipedia.org/wiki/SarbanesOxley_Act) have changed the governance landscape.

In practice, the RID board’s scope is policy governance without heavy involvement in daily operations; the CEO and headquarters staff are responsible for operationalizing

Clarifying the roles between the board and operations results in a healthy, successful separation of roles and functions; it also prevents conflicts if the board attempts to get involved in operations. Furthermore, the board has a fiduciary duty to apply our best ethical considerations and our responsibility is to ensure the organization runs smoothly and effectively. If the board doesn’t consider other possibilities that would benefit us in the long run, our ethical obligations to RID are violated.

It is unethical for the board to become involved in operations.

The board also has a different set of ethical imperatives — our fiduciary duties — to adhere to. The board also has an essential function: ensure that the policy-making processes at RID are informed by best practices from within and outside the organization.

This is why non-profit organizations, even membership-driven ones, routinely bring in subject matter experts (SME) to help craft effective policies. Since the board has the latitude to establish policy at the highest level within the organization in virtually every realm, including legal, financial, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), we must make the best possible decisions with all the options in front of us.

RID should be proud of how far we have come. If we look at RID’s storied past, the work the board has done was typically through a collaborative effort that was and continues to be volunteer-led. As the interpreting profession begins to evolve into a more sophisticated vocation with more complex interplaying layers, our small, mighty pool of volunteers is increasingly called on to serve RID in roles outside their area of expertise. Despite their dedication and best intentions, this practice can sometimes lead RID on a long and winding road (or even switchback paths at times).

The body of knowledge that becomes best practices comes from the experience and mistakes of those who have come before 5

us — a trial-and-error approach, if you will.

Many other non-profit organizations with equally noble missions and surprisingly similar challenges have gone down this path before us. This is why the current RID board incorporates the guidance of SME familiar with best practices and carries expertise on issues and aspects of our policy-making processes. The SME will work closely with the board, headquarters staff, and members to craft effective policies. As we continue the work in aligning RID with the diversifying demographics of America, SME will be carefully chosen who best share those goals.

Members’ input is still very much welcome and valued as the board serves individuals on the front lines.

RID’s incredibly dedicated volunteer leaders have been an enormous asset to the organization. It is time to build up our collective expertise to pursue RID’s vision more effectively. An important part of this is to bring in SME, including those who can examine matters through a DEI lens.

So the question foremost in my mind as I work with the board is: would continuing the trial-and-error approach be an ethical way of running our organization? Does this approach best serve our communities? Are there novel and evidence-based approaches that we can use to serve our communities that we are not aware of because we haven’t looked outside our sphere of influence?

In the past few months, the board and headquarters have had conversations with SME that made us realize how much we do not know. If you ask whether I feel confident that this practice of actively incorporating SME to guide RID going forward will allow the elevation of both our members and the communities we serve, I’d say yes.

The infusion of ethical governance principles leads to proactive decision-making, which leads to effective responses. As we embrace proactive decision-making, adherence to ethics is a catalyst for change. The board remains committed to communicating those organizational shifts as changes are enacted at the governance level.

FROM THE CEO

professional standards of behavior. How can RID and other stakeholders verify knowledge, skills, abilities and education? One way is an educational requirement of a bachelor degree or educational equivalency application, and another way is through assessments of fundamental knowledge of ASL interpreting, ethical decision-making, cultural competency, and the ability to perform interpreting tasks. Upholding expectations of these professional standards are typically accomplished through membership participation, recertification requirements of continuing education and skills professional development, and enforcing adherence to the CPC. These actions take the basic principle of “Be professional. Do a good job. Be a good person. Don’t share my business,” and turn it into something measurable, valid, and reliable (and therefore legally defensible).

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

Remove any one thing from “Be professional. Do a good job. Be a good person. Don’t share my business,” and certification is weakened.

Remove any measurement, validation, and reliability from “Be professional. Do a good job. Be a good person. Don’t share my business,” and certification is weakened.

Star Grieser lives in Virginia. She is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology and McDaniel College.

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So how does this tie into the EPS? EPS and its relevant policies and processes are focused on protecting the certification program, which is designed to protect consumers. When headquarters staff who adhere to policy that certified members must maintain good standing or complete a certain amount of professional or skills development, or when the RID board approves a policy to take disciplinary action against those who cheated in earning CEUs, this helps protect the certification system. Certification helps promote accountability and professionalism, and when that is not maintained, the EPS comes into play. Again, all this is designed to protect consumers of interpreting services, Deaf or hearing.

f you ask Deaf people what they want in an interpreter, answers will vary, but most be along the lines of wanting an interpreter who shows up on time, is skilled, has a good attitude, and is ethical. Such traits are at the crux of the NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct: Be professional. Do a good job.

Be a good person. Don’t share my business.

At RID headquarters, ethics, the Ethical Practice System (EPS) and the Code of Professional Conduct (CPC) have been on our minds quite a bit lately as we begin the process of revising the EPS. The Ethics Committee recently hosted a series of virtual town halls to ask members and consumers to share what their experiences with EPS and what they wanted to see in our system, and how the complaint process could be improved overall. We collected a great deal of useful feedback.

Many have said, “There’s always an exception to the rule.” While in theory this is probably true, RID won’t and can’t make exceptions.

Doing so weakens the certification program as a whole. We often hear things such as,

We know the need for EPS reform is very much present. The current scope of EPS is very limited, the intent of EPS is at times insufficient, and the unintended impact of EPS has often seemed to miss the mark. Or perhaps the expectation of what EPS should be able to achieve (what members and consumers want) does not match what EPS should actually be (one system – of many – of accountability). It seems this is not clear to our members, and worse, it’s all too often not clear to our consumers.

“I interpret in children’s hospitals, losing my certification would deprive Deaf people of a qualified interpreter…”

“I’ve been a member-in-good-standing for 30 plus years and have paid on time/completed my CEUs each time…”

“Mistakes were made! It’s not my fault…”

We get that; many of us at headquarters are consumers and interpreters ourselves. If RID were to start making exceptions based on judgment calls, extenuating circumstances, or worse, based on friendships and favoritism, this would be a step towards the precipice of a very, very slippery slope — one that weakens the integrity of certi-

Let’s switch gears just for a bit. Another integral part of RID, of course, is certification. Certification itself is both a verification of minimal knowledge, skills, abilities, and education for professional practice, and a promissory note for certificants to uphold certain

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fication. This would also undermine the layer of protection provided to consumers. Yet we are asked to bend the rules all. the. time. And each and every time, we say simply, “No.”

Be professional.

Do a good job.

Be a good person.

The questions we grapple with both at headquarters and with consumers and membership include: what is the EPS ultimately supposed to do? What do members think the EPS is? How can we make things better and more ethical? We grapple with it, not because we want unethical certified interpreters in our midst (we certainly don’t), but because the scope of the EPS is so far-reaching. What should it cover? Provision of interpreting services only? Behaviors at all times or only during the job? Activities unrelated to interpreting? Integrity or character?

Don’t share my business.

RID certainly recognizes the complex dynamics between professional service providers – interpreters — and consumers, both Deaf and hearing people who work with interpreters. In any given situation with these individuals, there is always a power dynamic: hearing versus Deaf, not to mention all the other -isms potentially involved such as race, gender, culture, linguistic, and so forth. When a power imbalance exists, conflict is bound to arise.

As RID undergoes the process of overhauling the EPS, there is a constant challenge in addressing two major tasks. First, how do we protect the integrity of a certification? Second, how can the conflict between the complainant and the certified interpreter be resolved ethically? There’s also another question that we wrestle with: is the EPS supposed to help resolve conflicts between members and consumers? Or what is the EPS’s genuine purpose?

The CPC is a holistic guide to professional behavior and applies to all professional services provided by interpreters. The CPC should not be limited only to time on the job; rather, it includes any realm attached to the professionalism of our work as interpreters: interacting within our roles with colleagues, teaching students or mentees, seeking professional development, in our roles with Deaf people and hearing people, and so forth. A great majority of this professionalism is conducted based on an honor system.

And that, in turn, brings up even more questions. Is RID supposed to address the power imbalance between hearing, Coda, and Deaf people? Is it within RID’s purview to perform restorative conflict resolution between service providers and consumers or between two members? Or do we focus on ensuring that policies and procedures are in place and that all metrics of validity, reliability, and consistency are in place? Do we protect the integrity of our certification program or do we provide a service involving education and restorative conflict resolution to our members and consumers? Or can we do both?

When that honor system is disrupted and the CPC is breached, and all efforts to resolve the conflict on an individual level or with supervisors or agencies are not effective, the EPS is often the last recourse. Very often (but not always), by the time an EPS complaint reaches our desk, it has become one person’s word against another.

I don’t have answers. But I have a lot of interest in knowing what you think. Please share your thoughts with me at CEO@RID.org.

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REGION I REPORT

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pring is an interesting time here in New England, weather-wise. One day we have snow; the next day, it’s 80 degrees. Sometimes it all happens on the same day. Spring, for me, is the renewal of the plants—the time to clean and think about what is important for the rest of the year.

Sadly, the beginning of this year brought two significant losses in our community.

Former RID board member Lewis Merkin passed away in March. One of the first mainstream-recognized Deaf interpreters, Georgette “Gigi” or “Geo” Francis Doran, who became renowned when she appeared on national TV during an emergency press conference, “...we can passed away in still come April. I know our commutogether to have nity will find ways to discussions and keep their enjoy the workshops memories alive.

with colleagues in a

safe and affordable location.”

ChristIna Stevens, NIC, lives in Connecticut.

She is a graduate of DePaul University and Columbia College.

Region 1 will host a virtual regional conference this August. After two years of virtual work, we recognize that many of you are ready to get back to face-to-face communication. We chose this format because we could not predict what August would look like with the pandemic. We want to provide attendees with a safe way to earn CEUs. With this in mind, we are asking each affiliate chapter (AC) to set up a watch party.

This way, we can still come together to have discussions and enjoy the workshops with colleagues in a safe and affordable location.

Check with your local affiliate chapter to see where your party will be. Information and registration will be at this website: https:// ridregioni.org I encourage you to get back in touch with your affiliate chapter, as this is the time to renew your membership. Before you know it, it will be the summer of 2023, and the national conference will be happening. To be eligible for voting, you must be a member of an affiliate chapter. Region I has some great leadership currently in place that are 8

Christina Stevens, NIC Region I Representative revamping their bylaws to reflect their changing membership. New mentorship programs for our emerging professionals are being established, hosting events that are safe and enjoyable, and much more. If you aren’t sure how to reach your local chapter, let me know, and I will get you connected!

This issue’s focus is on ethics, a topic I find our profession re-examining daily. Ethics can be a sticky and confusing topic, but we need to discuss this topic. As an educational interpreter, I think about ethics often, especially with my students’ future successes in mind.

What decisions am I making that will impact their lives now and in the future? How has my upbringing influenced my ethics and how I approach my work in a public school setting? I know these discussions will continue for years to come.

What conversations are you looking forward to having? What ethics-related topics are you discussing with your colleagues?

REGION II REPORT

Jason Hurdich, M.Ed, CDI Region II Representative

Representative Jason Hurdich, M.Ed., CDI, lives in South Carolina. He is a graduate of Boston University and the University of North Florida.

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n the past few months, we have started to dive into many extraordinary events happening across Region II. I am excited to see the increased collaboration between our Deaf community, interpreting community, and vested stakeholders throughout the region. I look forward to representing the RID Board of Directors at several affiliate chapter events in the upcoming months.

3. Discussion took place on RID’s requirements for affiliate chapter voting and its impact on chapter. According to the bylaws: “Affiliate chapters must also honor the dual membership agreement between the national organization and the affiliate chapters requiring a voting member of the affiliate chapter must be a member at the national level. At the same time, a voting member of the national organization must be a member of an affiliate chapter.”

This discussion will be continued at the next meeting.

At the Region II Council meeting on March 31, 2022, many officers joined the discussion on critical issues and how the board on the national level can support Region II more effectively and efficiently.

4. An affiliate chapter brought up that it had not yet received a complimentary contact list of members in its state once per quarter.

Carolyn Ball will follow up on this and ensure that affiliate chapters get the needed information to recruit members.

At this meeting, these topics were discussed: 1. RID Headquarters and its Board of Directors encouraged all affiliate chapters to submit events to https://rid.org/events/submit-events/, which will allow affiliate chapters to share their events on a national level.

5. A leadership program is also needed to allow members to fully understand what they may experience when accepting leadership or volunteer positions within affiliate chapters.

2. Dr. Carolyn Ball, Affiliate Chapter Liaison, shared how to effectively use the Affiliate Chapter Resource Center (ACRC). The ACRC is open to any affiliate chapter member with involvement by leadership. Affiliate Chapter Leaders and members can earn free CEUs through this resource, which also offers webinars.

Dr.Ball demonstrated different positions and their responsibilities, along with how to draft bylaws, finances, and so forth.

Region II members, we are fortunate to have dedicated and committed affiliate chapter leaders wanting to better not only the profession but also the members of the Deaf community. I hope that each member will find the value of volunteerism and lift their affiliate chapters to new heights in the time to come.

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Alabama RID (ALRID) ALRID has been busy planning for its biennial conference in June 2022, especially after the 2020 conference (also ALRID’s 50th anniversary) was canceled due to the pandemic. Instead, ALRID will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the 2022 conference in Mobile on June 1-3.

ALRID is hosting an in-person workshop on April 30, “Challenges of Interpreting in K-12.” The workshop will be held at the Alabama School for the Deaf in Talladega, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Registration is $25.00.

ALRID is also hosting a virtual workshop on May 17, “Unpacking Internal Biases: The Messages from Within (Part 1)” presented by LaTrice L. Dowtin, Ph.D., LCPC, NCSP, RPT. We are planning a series of workshops on this topic. Registration is free for ALRID members, and for others, we are asking for a $20 registration fee (to be donated to Alabama Black Deaf Advocates).

Florida RID (FRID) FRID started the year 2022 with an onboarding meeting for all the newly elected officers and a reflection and celebration of the accomplishments of the Organization in 2021. FRID also had its first quarter board meeting in February, with good attendance from our membership. We are so happy to have a full board and many new committee chairperson appointments.

A highlight for FRID was partnering with the NBA Orlando Magic and other organizations to host the first ASL/Deaf Awareness night at a game held on April 5. The event included a dance performance from the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, and many FRID board and committee members were in attendance.

Georgia RID (GaRID) GARID had a Member Appreciation Day. We have just brought on a new webmaster and are excited to be revamping our website, creating new committees, and setting up a mentorship scholarship.

We are working to welcome new members from Georgia State University and Valdosta State University, two universities with inter-

Pictured left to right: Member-at-Large Mary Hoover, Vice President of Internal Affairs Hope Diehl, and Deaf Member at Large James Smith.

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www.northcarolinarid.org

Potomac Chapter RID (PCRID) The first meeting to establish PCRID was held on March 13, 1971. On April 23, 2022, we honored and celebrated PCRID’s 51 years of existence. We hosted a workshop that included a presentation by PCRID President Antonio Burkett, focusing on PCRID’s history, community collaborations, the individual and collective benefits of such partnerships, and the importance of cultural competence, specifically regarding Black ASL. The event also featured guest chef Phillip Smith, Jr., of California. He showed attendees how to create a few appetizers and age-appropriate drinks. We rounded out the event with a community montage of individuals far and wide wishing PCRID a happy birthday and congratulations.

Left to right: Vice President of Internal Affairs Hope Diehl, Member-at-Large Mary Hoover, Sponsorship Coordinator Melanie Peach, Region Representative East Genaere Lowery, and Orlando Magic representative Corey Helvey.

PCRID’s ongoing initiatives include collaborating, networking, and leveraging talent with our fellow affiliate chapters such as NCRID with the intent to strengthen our bylaws. We want to make sure PCRID is a welcoming, inclusive, and professionally supportive space. We are reviewing and updating our governing policies to (hopefully) eliminate any exclusionary and unnecessary barriers to service and leadership. NCRID graciously agreed to meet with us and share insights on their bylaws update process to provide us with ideas for our bylaws review and amendment process.

preter education programs. We just completed a member survey to help improve the organization’s strength and collaboration. We are also planning a possible theater interpreting workshop in person this summer. We are setting up two liaison positions for National Alliance of Black Interpreters-Atlanta (NAOBI-ATL) and Georgia Association of the Deaf to be more responsive and diverse in our endeavors while also making our communities stronger. Last, but not least, we will be at DeafNation Expo in Atlanta in early May in collaboration with NAOBI.

We always invite volunteers to assist with our goal of elevating the hearing and Deaf-plus communities. One of the ways we are pursuing this initiative is by collaborating with Gordon Vernon of Puerto Rico RID (RISPRI) . This collaboration is another example of affiliate chapters working together across borders to strengthen our communities and profession.

Mississippi RID (MSRID) MSRID has worked tirelessly to support the Deaf and interpreting communities in the state. We are in the process of setting up mentorships, training, and focus groups. Educational interpreters are meeting virtually to promote professional support and standard practices. Videos and workshops are being created to ensure all MSRID members get the most from the website. The website is being expanded to include the names and contact information of state members who want to promote their services throughout the state. MSRID will have members at the Mississippi Coast Association of the Deaf’s meeting and March event, the first meeting since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are also fortunate enough to welcome not one, but two Emilys to the team: Emily Dittmer and Emily Mize. Emily Dittmer is our new ad-hoc social media manager, and Emily Mize assists in our financial realm and supports our official treasury obligations.

Another area of emphasis involves a partnership with the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC). CCBC students are required to acquire service learning hours before graduating from CCBC’s

North Carolina RID (NCRID) NCRID has been busy continuing with our road trips for the membership. These free workshops are a chance for members to get to know NCRID and our roles better. We hosted our first in-person event on May 14 in Greensboro. We have updated our bylaws and policy and procedures manual for our membership to vote on at our upcoming conference. Our conference will be virtual again this year on June 24-25. We are offering two concurrent tracks over two days, with 1.5 CEUs for the combo price of $100 for members and $125 for non-members. Can’t join us all day? We have a la carte option as well. We also offer reciprocity to other state chapters upon proof of membership. For more information,please visit

A video call with President Antonio Burkett and Chef Phillip Smith, Jr., smiling about the event on April 23, 2022.

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A focused image of a stuffed yellow mini-pepper that appears to be stuffed with cream cheese, shredded cheeses, and herbs.

Interpreter Training Program. This term, students Isabel Montero, Pamela Ball, and Ben Touzeau reached out to to provide support under this experiential learning model. They volunteered for our special events, and previous students gained service learning hours for volunteering at our conferences. We expect to continue this reciprocal partnership with CCBC.

hangout lunch concluded the conference on Sunday afternoon.

April 23 brought another riveting workshop presented by Claris Industrious, NIC, “A Single Story: Intersectionality and the Deaf Community” and “Cruise Control: Using Routinization.” Overall, member engagement is rising, and we are committed to continuing to encourage and support our South Carolina interpreters.

PCRID has extended its partnerships with Frederick Community College (FCC). FCC hosted a Program Advisory Council (PAC) meeting amongst stakeholders. PCRID representatives Burkett and Shannon Morrison attended this meeting and shared feedback on a targeted recruitment approach to bring in the perspectives and voices of Black and Brown individuals on the PAC.

This year TSD is celebrating the 30th anniversary of their Educational Interpreters Institute (EII) on June 22-24. The EII theme is “Pearls of Wisdom: Celebrating 30 Years.” In conjunction with the EII, TRID will host our annual members’ meeting and workshops on June 24-25, 2022.

We look forward to continuing this conversation with FCC.

TRID (Tennessee RID)

Finally, PCRID intends to co-host a summer event with local hearing and deaf organizations. Last year, we co-hosted a Family Fun Day with the NAOBI’s DC chapter under President Sequoia Taylor-El’s leadership. This year,we met with DC Area Black Deaf Advocates President Chris “CJ” Johnson to start planning the summer event..

For now, it is slated for August 2022, and we hope to invite more organizations, such as Mano a Mano and the Greater Washington Asian Deaf Association. Stay tuned for more details!

Hello from the great state of Tennessee! TRID is planning our 2022 annual online conference and members’ meeting. This year, we continue to prioritize educational interpreters in our state and are excited to collaborate with the Tennessee Schools for the Deaf, Knoxville!

TRID board has some exciting news to share at the annual members’ meeting that has been in the works for several months. Please check our website for more information. We hope to see you there!

South Carolina RID (SC RID) SC RID has been busy collecting membership survey results, listening to our membership, and gauging interpreter needs since the pandemic turned our world upside down. SC RID hosted several virtual workshops to boost its savings account in preparation for the 2022 conference.

This year’s SC RID conference was a smashing success! Executing SC RID’s first hybrid conference required lots of muscle from our board members, but we pulled it off! Hosted at the Hilton Garden Inn in Columbia, this central location made it possible for 75 interpreters to attend. After a delicious dinner, we enjoyed a classifier-rich Friday night performance by Deaf comedian Ben Jarashow. Saturday consisted of six hours with presenter Daniel Maffia, MA, NIC, focusing on the Demand Control Schema, followed by our annual board meeting.

A short wrap-up and a two-hour workshop by Ben Jarashow presenting “Allophilia, Allyship, and Deaf Heart” and a fun interpreter

SC RID Board of Directors - 2020-2022

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REGION III REPORT

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ne thing that has been on my mind is the upcoming Region III Conference on June 16-19. The reason it’s been on my mind is because of the effects of COVID on the interpreting profession. The past few years have been devoid of networking and the freedom to talk with one another rather than being trapped behind video feeds. Don’t get me wrong; I have thoroughly enjoyed the augmentation of technology to create workable solutions that have kept our work and our organizations humming along despite the profound effects of the pandemic. Even if there are advantages to both virtual and in-person work, there has been a deep sense of yearning to connect with others in the field. The networking aspect has been challenging and has left me wanting something that hasn’t entirely been comparably replicated in a virtual existence.

top of the registration fees. At first glance, one might balk at paying $400 to attend a conference, but upon closer look, there are 5.8 CEUs that may be offered.

The upcoming Region III Conference will take on a hybrid format, which will go a long way toward accommodating participants who are unable to attend in person.

Conversely, those who crave in-person interactions and atmosphere have the choice to attend.

Ohio Chapter of RID has been putting all its energy into planning and coordinating the upcoming Region III Conference.

At many conferences many workshops are offered simultaneously, and attendees have to choose which ones to attend, often having to sacrifice one for the other. This is on

Conference participants have until June 30, 2022, to complete this, and if their cycle begins or ends during that duration, they have the option to complete either the current cycle or the new cycle. The flexibility to watch the workshops during the conference or for up to a year afterward gives attendees flexibility. Even students can elect to receive the results of their performance exam and earn credit for the CEUs by completing them after they have passed, as long as they have ample time before the workshops close. I will attend the conference in person, and I look forward to seeing many of you there.

I have received a few updates from affiliate chapter presidents.

Wisconsin RID is currently planning for its 2022 conference, its first since 2020.

Additionally, the board is working on supplementing and assessing current scholarship programs for improvement and supplementation and expanding membership.

Michigan RID is planning for next year’s 13

Shawn Vriezen, CDI, QMHI Region III Representative Shawn Vriezen lives in Minnesota. A graduate of St. Paul College, He is a graduate of St. Paul College.

conference and scholarships, and observing current bills moving through the legislature.

Illinois RID has established a Master Mentor Program in collaboration with Chicago Hearing Society, a referral agency. So far, they have their first cohort of 12 interpreters going through a 16-week training program with TIEM Center. IRID is also planning its annual membership meeting and opportunities for professional development, and filling the remaining two Member-at-Large positions on the IRID board.

Indiana RID had its board retreat in January.

They hired a consultant, Sean Posofsky, to “build a rock star board” webinar series and identify areas of improvement, and development of initiatives, and reevaluation of the website, among others. The board has also been working on a one-year-long mentoring program and expanding and reconnecting with its membership.

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REGION IV

REPORT

Justin “Bucky” Buckhold, lives in Colorado.

Justin “Bucky” Buckhold, CDI Interim Region IV Representative

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ansas Association of InterpretersRID and the Kansas Association of the Deaf co-hosted its first “Community Conversation Series” event since COVID on April 15, 2022. The focus topic was Deaf interpreting with the goal of honest conversations about understanding the need for CDIs and how to eventually create an environment where they can be readily accessible in our area. Earlier this spring, KAI-RID also rearranged its budget to donate $2,000 to a local Deaf-owned agency hosting a series of CDI workshops.

We look forward to building a solid foundation where CDIs can be trained and retained to serve the community full-time.

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REGION V

REPORT

Jeremy Quiroga, CDI Region V Representative

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nculturation.

You are what you pick up from your environment, like a grape picks up the climate and soil to become a certain terroir. All these layers build how we see the world from the influence of family, friends, school, etc. We then use that and apply it to the world. I have known some people who like the comforts of the world in which they grew up. There is no longer a becoming. Their learning, alongside the development of emotional intelligence, has come to a pause or even ceased. Yet, there are people I have watched blossom into beautiful human beings over and over again. I value and strive for regrowth — as an interpreter and as a human — realizing what I grew up with is not always the truth and that others carry truth as well.

My experience as a Deaf person is of growing up in the shadow of being culturally different in a world full of hearing people, in a system built for them. All the etiquette of noise and sound was explained to me and emphasized again and again. I watched all my life how

Jeremy Quiroga, lives in Washington. He is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology.

much value sound has in creating the system that we exist in. Going to a Deaf school was a life-changer. It was a place where I grew and learned values and cultural norms that felt natural to me. My language blossomed. I was exposed to role models who were Deaf and carried themselves with great pride.

That was part of my Deafhood journey, and I know from firsthand experience living in both worlds how very different they are.

A Deafhood journey is so complicated and so varied; there are many different stories about how Deaf people are raised. Often growing up is not a very positive experience for Deaf people because communication with their own families is often hindered, and they (we) are required to do things that do not feel natural. Those early life adversities are just one of the multitudes of struggles that Deaf people experience. Many of us, in the end, find our joy in being part of the Deaf community because we share the same language, culture, and values. A place where we learned that we have our own history, poetry, theater, and sports organizations, which becomes a part of our lives for years 16

to come. Those complex layers of struggling or thriving, being born in Deaf culture or finding it later in life, weave us into a web that connects us to DeafSpace.

A hearing interpreter who grew up hearing will always align naturally to being a hearing person. How much time do you invest in DeafSpace — the true space where Deaf people exist to live and think? I am not referring to having Deaf friends who come to your house and have dinner with hearing people around. I mean when you go to a Deaf-hosted party, have a Deaf night out, attend different Deaf-related festivals, or participate in online video meetings full of Deaf people.

Imagine the nuances and various cultural behaviors you would learn and the opportunity to talk about and grow from.

Are you that person who thinks you have reached the top and no longer need to grow? How many marginalized communities around us are begging us to open our hearts and change what we think we know to become better people, which in turn will make us better interpreters? That, for me, is one of the most crucial ethical choices you can make.

AFFILIATE CHAPTER

CORNER

Dr. Carolyn Ball lives in Arizona. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking, and spending time with her family.

Kellie Stewart M.Ed., CSC, CI and CT

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

Dr. Ball: Hi, my name is Dr. Carolyn Ball, and I am the Affiliate Chapter Liaison here at RID headquarters. Today I am very excited to talk with Kellie Stewart, a former RID board member from 1988 to 1990. Kellie has studied ethics for many years, and many of you may have already read her ethics workbook (Stewart & Witter-Merithew, 2006). Before we get started, Kellie, do you mind introducing yourself?

Kellie: There are many good reasons for interpreters to study ethics. Back when I was a young interpreter in the field, I always had a close connection with the concept of ethics. Ethics has been a passion of mine for a very long time. I feel that it is very important for our profession, for any profession, whether it be doctors, nurses, or lawyers, to have a strong sense of ethics.

Kellie: Sure. As you mentioned, my name is Kellie Stewart, and I have been an interpreter for many years. I don’t need to say how many years, though. I have been an interpreter and an interpreter educator, and currently, I am teaching at the University of Northern Colorado (UNCO) in Greeley.

Most importantly, in our work, as interpreters, we hold specialized knowledge and skills that our consumers and the public lack. That means we hold a great deal of power as interpreters, and that is why we must engage in reflective analysis to assess our decisions. This is important so that we don’t harm consumers. The goal of assessing ourselves is that we as interpreters do not hurt consumers, specifically Deaf consumers. Thus, it is important that we follow our ethical standards and then adhere to the concept of ethical behavior, which is doing the right thing and making ethical decisions, which has been a large part of who I am. Many of you may know that I have taught and still teach workshops and college courses about ethics.

I believe that it is very important we know how to make decisions as interpreters that do not harm consumers.

Dr. Ball: Thank you, Kellie. Today, Kellie and I will be discussing ethics. Why do you feel it is important for us as interpreters to study and learn about ethics?

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Dr. Ball: That is so true. So, right now, you are involved in a doctoral program. Will you be writing your dissertation on ethics, and what do you feel is important for us to know about ethics as interpreters?

Kellie: That’s a good question. My research will include research on behavioral ethics, and I also have an interest in racial equality. So currently, I have studied an area of research known as behavioral ethics, which involves decision-making tied to general bias or racial bias. The field of behavioral ethics is not new and has a long history that has been around for a long time. However, the field of interpreting hasn’t really talked about behavioral ethics and its connections to decision-making. Behavioral ethics research, which is in a section of my literature review, is related to our awareness or lack of awareness of how we recognize our conscious or unconscious biases in decision-making. Sometimes, it is our unconscious decision-making that will determine whether we accept interpreting assignments. I do think this vein of research will become part of the conversations we have about ethics in the interpreting field. It remains to be seen how interpreters make these types of decisions.

Kellie: Yes, there are many reasons that I want to write my dissertation on ethics. Often, I have seen discussions that take place in the Deaf community and these discussions about their experiences with interpreters. Those discussions often demonstrate that deaf people have not always had positive experiences. That has been true for a long time. And there have been several research studies that have provided evidence regarding t he experiences that Deaf people have had with interpreters. At the same time, it has become very important for interpreters to understand ethics and how interpreters make certain ethical decisions.

So, when I applied to my doctoral program, I knew from the very beginning that I would pick an ethical question for my research or something specifically related to ethical decision-making. When I first began searching for a research topic for my dissertation, I initially wanted to examine interpreter attitudes. However, studying attitudes in research is a very complicated process. So, the more I learned throughout my studies, I realized that I wanted to choose a research topic that had yet to be studied. So, I am very excited to have picked a topic that has not been previously studied. The topic of my research is to understand how interpreters determine whether to accept or decline an interpreting assignment. So, that question will be central to the focus of my dissertation and has guided the dissertation process.

Even though I may function as the interpreter, perhaps I don’t know my motivation for accepting that assignment. There is a lot of psychology that is involved in that decision-making process. Maybe we don’t realize what that motivation is and how that can influence me as an interpreter. Perhaps, when interpreting, I am motivated toward a particular outcome, yet, my unconscious thinking can convince me that I have made the right decision when instead, I have made a self-serving decision. I may believe it is an ethical decision, but that may not be true. It is a very complex theory with several psychological factors involved in this process.

However, there is a great deal of evidence that shows how humans can be fooled into thinking a specific action is a right action when it isn’t. So, behavioral ethics and the research behind the theory of behavioral ethics is very important, and we should include them in the discussion of ethics in the field of interpreting. However, that research hasn’t been introduced in the field. But it is a theory that we need to infuse into discussions. Behavioral ethics were included in the literature review chapter. As I said, I think behavioral ethics will become a very important topic among interpreters one day.

I have not finished my research, nor have I begun the research at this time, but I’m very excited to see what we can learn, especially related to experiences from interpreters and how interpreters make those decisions.

Dr. Ball: I’m very excited about that, too, because it seems like we don’t have a lot of research about ethics in our field. Is that correct, Kellie? Do we have a lot of studies about ethical decision-making in our field?

Dr. Ball: Wow, that is very interesting, and I look forward to the end of your doctoral program and your end product.

Kellie: Yes, that is true. There are a few studies. Most are related to Dean and Pollard’s work, also Dean’s dissertation and Mendoza’s dissertation. So, there are one or two others that have been done.

However, there just are not a great deal of studies examining ethical questions.

Kellie: Me too! I’m going to be finishing up this year.

Dr. Ball: That is wonderful, and when you are finished, we will need to show your studies so that interpreters can read about these important topics. Thank you, Kellie, for taking the time to talk with me and for all RID members to know and look forward to your research.

Dr. Ball: That’s very interesting because we have the Code of Professional Conduct (CPC), but we don’t have a lot of research about the reasoning behind the CPC. So, I am really looking forward to your research on what you learn. I’m sure that the results of your study will impact our field greatly I have another question for you. As we focus on ethics and the prevalent topics in our field today, how does ethical decision-making affect interpreters’ internal biases? Will your studies and your dissertation include information about internal bias and how that affects interpreter decision to accept or decline interpreting assignments?

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19

REFLECTIONS FROM AN OLD HAND

Philip Giambaresi

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Born in 1950 to deaf parents, Philip Giambaresi was greatly influenced by his mother's deaf family and experiences being the family interpreter. As a result, he became a certified interpreter in addition to earning a bachelor's degree in psychology. At the age of 34, he went back to school to earn a master’s degree in social work, specializing in mental health among deaf people. After more than 30 years in New York City, he retired and relocated to California.

armest springtime wishes to you from Southern California!

As a CODA, I must congratulate the actors and workers who created the full-length feature film, CODA. What excitement it is to see the experiences of a CODA (and deaf family) to be shared on screen.

We CODA can vary in our individual experiences and yet identify with many shared experiences of having deaf relatives. I remember having met a deaf man who said he had deaf parents. I said, “You are a CODA!” He said, “No, I am deaf and not hearing.” I discussed how a CODA could be hearing or deaf as long as they have deaf parent(s).This was quite a while ago and by now, I’m sure that awareness doesn’t discriminate between a deaf person or a hearing person born to of deaf parents any more.

I played with many young CODAs as a kid, and was fascinated and sometimes shocked by their diverse perspectives on having deaf parents. Not all CODA kids (hearing) showed

much interest in using sign language compared. One child I had receptive signing skills, not expressive — and others were the opposite. Those who could do both receptive and expressive were often involved with their parents’ lives and friends.

The variations are astounding. Let’s say the opportunity was there for a child to engage.

It’s always surprised me how parents who speak a foreign language choose not to teach their own children how to use that language. Being bilingual (or even multilingual) has been proven to provide advantages in one’s future direction. Again, the opportunity for bilingualism and/or multilingualism is available!

Aside from these musings, I must say that in my many years of working with deaf people as an interpreter or later as a licensed clinical social work therapist, I did what most of us in the field do: wore muted colors that contrasted with my skin color to create a clear view of my hands. When I retired, I went hog wild in changing my attire to brighter colors and patterns and now favor using Hawaiian shirts for comfort and feeling somehow less 20

invisible. I haven't trashed my neutral shirts, though; I still wear them for interpreting or signing work.

Let's move over to the topic of name signs.

Growing up, my name sign was simply fingerspelling my name, "P-H-I-L." The same was true for my brother, Gary. It was easy for our deaf parents to quickly fingerspell our names. It wasn’t until I went to school as an academic interpreter and also a student (of psychology) that I was dubbed with a name sign of a P up and down on the forehead, similar to the sign for PHILOSOPHY. My deaf friends gave that sign to me, which I considered an honor.

Another thing that comes to mind is the use of the telephone. In the 1950s, many of my parents' deaf friends relied on us “hearing kids” to make phone calls. We’d use the neighbor’s phone to make our calls locally, and I don’t remember my family getting a phone of our own until I was about 15 years old. Gary and I would answer the phone and talk to others who called on behalf of their deaf folks. To this day, my (hearing) wife understands my need to answer every phone call we get. It’s hard for me to just let this habit go, never mind how I use gestures in my spoken words.

I’m so glad that my own parents lived long enough to see the advent of TTYs and videophones. Today, how amazing is technology with smartphones and video technology?

My brother and I are now “elderly” (ahem!) and like to look back at how we were different from other kids. He and I are quite sensitive to the misunderstandings by the "Hearing World" toward the “Deaf World.”

Our experiences have made us better communicators with people in general, and we have our parents to thank for this.

As I’ve said before, you don’t need to have deaf parents to be effective in communication, but it sure can help. This is especially true for ethics not only professionally, but personally, too. Many of our moral and ethical standards have been be shaped by our parentage. For me, I learned from my parents to do unto others...which was the predominant influence at home that shaped my life.

Comments or questions? Please contact me at pgiambaresi@aol.com.

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MAPPING REALITY SELF-ANALYSIS (M.R.S.) MODEL

Daniel Gough, Ed.D.

Jenny Margarita Gough (Contreras), Ed.D.

Leslie C. Greer, M.A.

Daniel Gough, Ph.D., An educator and administrator, he has taught ASL for 21 years.

Jenny Margarita Gough (Contreras), Ed.D., is the vice president of the Conference of Interpreter Trainers, she serves as department chair and ASL professor at Berkeley City College in California.

Leslie C. Greer serves as an ALTSA certification evaluator, and presents workshops on sign language teaching, Deaf culture, linguistics, and interpreting.

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e are Deaf interpreters, interpreting educators, researchers, and stakeholders.

We have trained, practiced, and taught using a variety of interpreting processing models such as Model of the Interpreting Process (Seleskovitch, 1978), Gish Processing Model (Gish, 1986), Sociolinguistic Model of Processing (Cokely, 1992), Depth of Processing Model (Colonomos, 1992), Effort Modeling for Interpreting (Giles, 1995), Ten-Step Discourse Analysis Process (Witter-Merithew, 2002), and MeaningBased Model (Russell, 2002). Each model mainly focuses on information processing

from top to down, detail processing, and interpreting at the discourse level.

In our studies and careers, we have recognized that there are missing aspects that are significant: cultural perception, cultural norms, and built-in schema/extralinguistic knowledge (ELK). Today’s interpreting process models have persistent challenges with the Deaf community’s cultural norms. These interpreting processing models are determined by many factors within the traditional interpreting research and curriculum. While the importance of cultural norms is significant, there is not sufficient research that examines the development and progression of using and applying cultural norms to the

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models. Furthermore, the global interpreting environment has blurred the lines between cultural and interpreting processes, creating cultural gaps that are often a struggle for pre-certified and working interpreters.

To address this, we studied various factors, such as worldviews, experiences, and language and cultural norms.. We examined research done at Maryville University (MU) in Missouri, which focused on multicultural issues in counseling and cultural counseling competence. “The driving force behind multicultural counseling is that people from minority groups view the world

through different lenses and that counselors, psychologists, and therapists of any race need to be sensitive to their unique difficulties and experiences.

Multicultural counseling involves therapists demonstrating an understanding of their patients and their struggles with cultural issues, racism, and other related experiences.

Always emphasizing caring and empathy, multicultural counseling enables therapists to better address unique challenges, considering how a patient’s experience may be different from their own.” (Maryville University, n.d.)

Based on MU's work, we revised the concept from counseling to interpreting, creating a new model: Mapping Reality Self-Analysis (MRS), which includes types, strategies, and techniques. This new model creates the possibility of easing adjustments among interpreters as they increas awareness and recognize cultural differences that blend into their interpreting processes.

We recognize that the three multicultural competencies each interpretr needs are cultural sensitivity, cultural intelligence, and mindful intercultural communication, all of which are incorporated into the MRS model.

Furthermore, we recognize that interpreting always involves at least two languages, but also involves a host of other facets such as racial, cultural, ableist, audist, etc., experiences.

process and product (Nord, 1997).

Mapping comprises two distinct domains.

Reality is the quality of being real. Selfanalysis helps to fill the content from the missing gap. The MRS model leads interpreters into taking part in authentic cultural norms, individual experiences, and interpreters’ schema to apply to what dimensions of cultural diversity exist in their alliance. It makes sure that interpreters understand the words and references used.

goal strategy for text analysis. In Marina L. McIntire (Ed.), New Dimensions in Interpreter

Let's look at cooking omelets as an example. Most of us don't realize that the omelet didn't originate in France; rather, the omelet, Kookoo sabzi, originated in anciet Persia.

Over time, as the omelet came to the United States, we converted it to fit our style without any knowledge of its origins. Mapping explains what we know and don't know; reality looks at what we have now; self-analysis identifies how we know the origins of the omelet.

Education: Curriculum and Instruction (pp.

125–137). RID Publications.

Maryville University. (n.d.) Multicultural Counseling: Types, Strategies, and Techniques. https://online.maryville.edu/blog/ multicultural-counseling/ Multicultural counseling: Types, Strategies, and Techniques. (2020, January 7). https://online. maryville.edu/blog/multicultural-counseling/ Nord, C. (1997). Translation as a purposeful activity. Functionalist Approaches Explained.

The MRS model enables the awareness and nuances of a culture that is reflected in a body of sign language, allowing interpreters to utilize tools during the process and interpret effectively. The MRS model enhances their awareness and recognizes the cultural differences that blend into their interpreting process.

St Jerome.

Russell, D. (2002). Reconstructing our views: Are we integrating consecutive interpreting into our teaching and practice. In Laurie Swabey (Ed.), New Designs in Interpreter Education: Proceedings of the 14th National Convention of the Conference of Interpreter Trainers (pp. 5–16). St. Paul, MN: Conference of Interpreter Trainers.

References: Beldon, J., Forestal, E., Garcia, L. M., & Peterson, D. (2009, August). NCIEC Deaf Interpreting

Another key aspect of MRS is having knowledge of Deaf extralinguistic knowledge (DELK), which can be used as a cultural collaboration tool for access to Deaf cultura aspects, experiences, and/or nuances.

That may influence the interpreting process and add any necessary information using visual aids, classifiers, and visual information.

We embrace one theorist, Nord’s (1997) research work about the functionalist approach. The strategy for cultural adaption, paraphrasing, expansion, reduction, literal, and more translation is an indispensable element that influences the translation

missed the point: A goal-to-detail/detail-to-

Selekovitch, D. (1978). Interpreting for international conferences. Pen & Booth.

Initiative. Paper presented at the RID Deaf

Witter-Merithew, A., Taylor, M., & Johnson, L.

Caucus, Philadelphia, PA. http://www.diin-

(2002). Guided self-assessment and pro-

stitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/

fessional development planning: A model

RID2009_DI_FINAL0802.pdf

applied to interpreters in educational set-

Cokely, D (1992). Interpretation: A sociolinguistic model. BurtLinstok Press.

Colonomos, B. (1992). Processes in interpreting

tings. Appendix A. In Clay Nettles (Ed.), Tapestry of our World: Proceedings of the 17th National Conference of the Registry of

and transliterating: Making them work for

Interpreters for the Deaf (pp. 177–196). RID

you. The Bicultural Center.

Publications.

Giles, D. (1995). Basic concepts and models for

Maryville University. (n.d.) Multicultural

interpreter and translator training. John

Counseling: Types, Strategies, and Techniques.

Benjamins.

Retrieved n.d., from https://online.maryville.

Gish, S. (1986). I understood all the words, but I

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edu/blog/multicultural-counseling/

SELF-PROMOTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS

Tressela Bateson, MA EPS Administrator Tressela lives in Virginia. She is a graduate of CSUN and Gallaudet University.

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s a practice profession, interpreters have a paramount need for continuous, conscious examination of their work. The RID Code of Professional Conduct (CPC) is the bedrock of decision-making for interpreters throughout the nation. Authors of the current CPC, written in 2005, had no idea of the social media flood to come, and today, there is a disintegration of professional integrity and the desire to exist on social media.

getting things done right. These traits, are ideal for interpreters, especially when responsible for facilitating communication in a variety of life events. The satisfaction of such work lies in adequately meeting the objectives of facilitating communication successfully and seeing, a client’s name in marquee lights rather than one’s own.

Unlike spoken language interpreters, visibility is required for sign language interpreters to perform their jobs. However, professionalism and expectations from Deaf individuals are that interpreters should be “silent” participants in communication exchanges. Yet interpreters have become increasingly visible in media and social media, which seems to have been prompted further by the COVID19 pandemic where public health information dissemination brought interpreters to the forefront. There has been an influx of social media posts featuring interpreters, most recently riding on the sensationalism of Oscar-winning film CODA along with other films and appearances such as Deaf U, Audible, and so forth.

We live in a world where self-promotion equates existence for many, especially younger generations. In other words: if you are not publicizing your success, you are not successful. However, there is a group of individuals who define success and find satisfaction without the need for recognition. These individuals, according to David Zwing (2021), find satisfaction in meticulousness, savoring great responsibility, and seeking only internal satisfaction. These create a trifecta of traits—a near antithesis of our societal ethos of insouciant attention-cravers—that we’d all do well to follow.

While increased visibility of ASL in the media and the provision of sign language interpreters is certainly welcome, eyebrows are often raised when an interpreter posts a selfie on Instagram or makes a

Invisibles don’t shy away from responsibility; they thrive on it. They know that people rely on their labor, and they are committed to 24

TikTok video of interpreting an event. Since the beginning of the profession, the Deaf community has played an essential role in gatekeeping, guiding the interpreting profession, and determining standards and values.

When Deaf community members raise eyebrows over something, interpreters should pay attention, especially in reference to the CPC The guiding principle of CPC’s first tenet — Confidentiality — states: “Interpreters hold a position of trust in their role as linguistic and cultural facilitators of communication. Confidentiality is highly valued by consumers and is essential to protecting all involved.” When confidentiality is broken, trust erodes. Without trust, interpreting cannot be successful.

The CPC applies before, during, and after an interpreted assignment. Assignment-related information includes the event itself and the location, which often is easily identified by a selfie or even inadvertently by commenters.

While in some instances, the location may not have been revealed, topics discussed during the interpreted situation are commented upon on social media, and you share your opinion or frustration about having to interpret that topic, talk to a mentor. Deaf people’s private conversations and events do not occur to become topics of public discussion. They are not your conversations or your experiences.

There is also the online disinhibition effect (Suler, 2004). Suler explains that we behave differently online than we do in face-to-face interactions, often more brazenly and disinhibited online. When we post anything online, we should consider whether the same thing might be said as freely in face-to-face interaction. Confidentiality considerations warrant the same standard in either environment.

Say you are given a medical assignment to interpret. During the assignment, the topic discussed goes against your moral values.

Your fundamental dilemma: interpret as impartially as humanly possible or decline the assignment, leaving the consumers stuck.

You decide to be an ethical interpreter and

provide access despite the conflict churning in the back of your mind. After the assignment, you create a video online talking about your experience.

“When confidentiality is broken, trust erodes. Without trust, interpreting cannot be successful.”

Any individual familiar with the interpreting and/or Deaf community can easily find a lot of information through a simple search. By viewing your video, a person look at your profile and find your name and a general location either by your posts or even Googling.

Another resource might be the RID membership database. Based on this information, that person could then figure out who lives in that area, who has the medical issues you talk about (even if generically), and make assumptions about who you interpreted for.I A little bit of information is a dangerous thing in this situation, and could quickly end up in the wrong hands. This then causes general erosion of public trust in sign language interpreters, not to mention defeats the whole point of the confidentiality tenet.

Another problem with such a post is that you make it about you rather than keeping it strictly professional and a service provision.

If you have to think twice about posting on social media, it’s probably not a good idea. If you are posting without thinking twice, start thinking about what you post, especially if related to interpreting.

A helpful tip is to consider the intent of your post. Is your intent to be informative and educational, or to promote yourself and/or your work? Is it about seeking recognition for your role? While some instances may overlap, analyzing the intent of the message may identify when an article or post is selfpromoting versus informative.

While it may not always be possible to avoid an inquisitive reporter if you are interpreting public and publicized events, always defer if you are asked to participate in an interview, make sure you can control the narrative; even better, invite a Deaf community member to be interviewed in your place.

The reporter’s goals are to create a sensa25

tional article that gets more clicks, likes, and shares. The hearing non-signing community has no clue about the history of marginalization of the deaf community.

Consumers attending an event or venue venue/event/occasion may request interpreters and know that YOU are publicizing their request, thinly veiling this as a celebration of access. Confidentiality applies to Deaf Interpreters and Hearing interpreters alike.

As we see more CDIs in the news, media, and public events and more interest in the Deaf Interpreting profession. A reminder that you are there to provide a service, to provide access. To remain unobtrusive and not use the interpreted situation for personal or professional gain (Tenet 3).

While the illustrated behaviors in the CPC do not explicitly define “confidential interpreted information,” your presence as a service provider gives you unique knowledge of a situation, therefore it is implied that benefitting from being present (other than receiving payment for services rendered) Sharing a selfie of yourself at an event is Identifiable assignment information, and compromises the integrity of the situation..

Appearing in public venues is not an exception to confidentiality. While published articles or links showing your interpretation may be public, using the shared images

or links is not an “as-needed basis” and likely violates confidentiality. I use the term “could” because I am not authorized to determine what is a violation and what is not; only an adjudication panel can evaluate this. While a panel may decide that the act may not rise to the level of a violation, it often does warrant a reprimand or private censure. The bottom line is: the less you say about an assignment you work, the better.

pointed out four symptoms of distortion in his article; the first two symptoms are prioritizing the right of online self-expression over ethical responsibilities and the disillusion that a social media page is an intimate private space. You have the right to express yourself online, but you do not have the right to discuss the assignment, or the fact the assignment even occurred. Don’t share what isn’t yours.

The current CPC is sufficient to address this concern, especially confidentiality and self-promotion through social media. Wink

ASLIA and ASLI have developed suggested guidelines for social media, including some suggestions for professional behavior. See the links below for your review.

References: Zweig, D. (2021, March). What do fact-checkers and anesthesiologists have in common?

The Atlantic.https://www.theatlantic. com/entertainment/archive/2012/03/ what-do-fact-checkers-and-anesthesiologists-have-in-common/253838/ Suler, J. (2004, June). The online disinhibition effect. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 7(3), 321-326. https://www.liebertpub.com/ doi/10.1089/1094931041291295

Further reading: https://asli.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/ Social-Media-Guidelines-1.pdf

“A reminder that you are there to provide a service, to provide access.

To remain unobtrusive and not use the interpreted situation for personal or professional gain.”

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https://aiic.org/document/4506/Social%20 Media%20-%20Some%20suggested%20 guidelines%20-%20ENG.pdf https://aslia.com.au/wp-content/ uploads/V.5-Media-Interpreting-Guidelines-Final-1.pdf https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1055&context=joi https://streetleverage.com/2012/02/ does-social-networking-impair-sign-language-interpreter-ethics/ https://www.asaecenter.org/resources/ articles/an_plus/2020/may/ ensure-ethical-use-of-your-associations-social-media-platforms

MEMBER SERVICE DISPATCH Dear Valued Member, Membership costs are typically set each spring, and the headquarters staff has been hard at work assessing budgetary and resource needs for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Below are the updated costs for FY2023: • Certified Members: $198 • Certified Senior: $132 • Certified Inactive/Retired: $48 • Associate Members: $165 • Associate Senior Members: $110 • Student Members: $38 • Supporting Members: $38 • Organizational Members: $198 With membership revenue providing almost 90% of RID’s income, a change to membership cost is necessary to support these much-needed enhancements, especially as we shift towards becoming a stronger professional certification organization.This is the first membership cost increase in six fiscal years. The increases will help support the resources, tools, technology, and expertise required within headquarters as we continue to enhance programs and provide services at levels that meet or exceed member expectations.

Please note: Your membership renewal order should have been received in your member account no later than May 1, 2022. You should have received an email notification from headquarters when the renewal order was added to your account.

RID greatly appreciates your continued support through this time of growth and change. For questions pertaining to your membership or the renewal process, please contact members@rid.org.

Sincerely, Neal Tucker Director of Member Services and Government Affairs Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf

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NEWLY CERTIFIED

Rosalind Brown............................. PA

Cheyenne Atkins.......................... MD

Kara Brown...................................MI

Joy Anderson...............................SD

Samuel Bennington....................OR

David Canas.................................... NY Mariah Beverage.......................... MD

Amanda Chahine........................OH

Alecia Barnes...............................NE

Tracey Ridlon................................CA

Alexa Cantalupo........................... NJ

Christina DeHart........................OH

Tasha Bertamus...........................CO

Erin Mackey..................................WA

Brittany Cappadona................... NY Jennifer Carver............................. VA

Alyssa Grant.................................MI

Ashley Deimel..............................OK

Amber Roley.................................OR

Rebecca Carl.................................. PA

Tiffany Chaperon......................... TN

Michelle Johnson........................MN Stephanie Ehrlich.......................KS

Zachary Smith..............................CA

Erika Da Silva................................. NJ

Allyssa Cote.................................... AL

Katelynn Knies............................KY

Joshua Flanery.............................CO

Hercules Goss-Kuehn...............HI

Olivia Grossman........................... NY Dreu Davis....................................... VA

Kathleen La Scala.......................OH

Naomi Miller.................................SD

Ashley Wagner............................WA

Emily Hart........................................ NY Latisha Kama.................................. MD

Rachel Lestina..............................IN

Phillip Park....................................CO

Lacey Easton.................................CA

Rachel Mackrell............................ PA

Stephanie Kline............................. MD

Rebecca Lintz...............................OH

Bascal Davenport.......................CA

Deborah Ottenberg.................... NJ

Caiti Landreneau.......................... TN

Jennifer Magill.............................OH

Sierra Forde..................................WA

Jenae Powell................................... CT

Sarah Leake..................................... MD

Kayla McMillan............................MI

Parker Jackson............................OR

Kristina Saccente......................... NY Katherine MacGregor............... GA

Christen Nowery........................OH

Sam Smith......................................WA

Michelle Wilson-Thompson... NJ

Nancy Martin................................. VA

Margaret Paulson.......................MN

Megan McCormick..................... FL

Kaitlyn Peterson.........................KY

Ronda McCormick...................... FL

Lauren Schilling...........................IN

Rhea Morgenstern...................... MD

Kristy Watson-Ables.................OH

Alexis O'Daniel.............................. SC

Michelle Weaver.........................WI

Taylor Ofori..................................... NC

Daniel Windholz.........................OH

Ariana Carrillo-Hernandez..... FL

Lawrence Reed.............................. GA Natasha Robbins.......................... FL Laurie Rook..................................... NC Julia Small........................................ MD Brandie Torres............................... FL

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ETHICAL PRACTICES SYSTEM 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: • 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 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 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 dues, that individual may submit a reinstatement request. The reinstatement form and policies are outlined HERE.

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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 knowledge-sharing 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

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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, advertising, submission and permission inquiries should be directed to (703) 838-0030, (703) 838-0454 fax, or 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 0277-1088) 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.

VIEWS Board of Editors Kelly Brakenhoff, NIC Royce Carpenter, MA, NIC Master Amy Parsons, Associate Member © 2022 the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. All rights reserved.

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