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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