Community of Practice- Facilitated

What is the training?

Participants will examine the role of decision-making when working with diverse consumers exhibiting atypical language. There are identifiable decision points that occur throughout the interpreting process that become even more critical when working with populations who are more vulnerable as a result of linguistic, educational, and social deprivation. The module is comprised of four units, each focusing on a specific aspect of decision-making as it relates to consumers exhibiting atypical language. Throughout the module, strategies that can be employed to improve decision-making—such as the Think Out/Think Aloud Protocol—will be introduced and practiced. As well, options for articulating decision-making, and its implications for interpreting, will be introduced and discussed.

Participants will take a self-directed online module (10 hours on your own) and then join three live video conferences, presented in ASL, for facilitated discussions (5 hours).

What are the learning objectives?

Through the Module and CoP discussion, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the implications of vicarious trauma for interpreters and identify at least two strategies an interpreter could employ to manage the impact of vicarious trauma arising from interpreting experiences.
2. Assess the decision-making of Deaf and hearing interpreters in response to an unfolding scenario and identify the ethical tenets and principles, values held by the Deaf and interpreting communities, and/or best practices that influenced their decisions.
3. Respond to a series of decision points that emerge in an unfolding scenario and offer rationale for each decision that is grounded in ethical tenets and principles, values held by the Deaf and interpreting communities, and/or best practices.
4. Reflect on their decision-making and offer insight into the implications of their decisions and what areas of decision-making they can improve.

Who is eligible to participate?

Interpreters working in the U.S., Deaf, hearing, or Coda, with a minimum of three years of professional interpreting experience are eligible to participate. It is suggested but not required that participants take self-directed modules 1, 2 and 3 prior to taking this CoP.

What are the program dates?

The program runs from July 10 – September 4, 2024. Participants will work through the module on their own and then join live group meetings for discussion and activities. Three mandatory live sessions are offered.

1. July 10, 2024, 7:30-9:00 pm EDT,  Welcome, Introductions, and Unit 1 Discussion
2. August 7, 2024, 7:00-9:00 pm EDT- Units 2 and 3 Discussion
3. September 4, 2023, 7:30-9:00 pm EDT- Unit 4 Discussion and Wrap-up

Please note these are all Eastern time so adjust as necessary. 

What platforms will the program use?

This program is completely online. The module is offered through Moodle. Participants will be guided through how to set up a CALI online learning account. The live sessions are held on Zoom.

Who is the facilitator?

Mary Henry Lightfoot, MS, NIC: Adv., CI/CT is the Senior Digital Learning Manager at the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center|Gallaudet University and owner of Interpreting Connections interpreting service.  She is a seasoned interpreter and interpreter educator with a wide range of experiences within the field of sign language interpreting. Mary formerly was the Coordinator of the Gallaudet University Regional Interpreter Education Center (GURIEC) and a Level III Interpreter working for Gallaudet Interpreting Services.

Lightfoot has a rich background in the intersection of community management, online learning, and interpreting. She applies this background to teaching/training online, online project management, and video interpreting services.

What is the cost?

There is no cost. This program is free.

Can I earn CEUs?

The module (1.0 CEUs) and the Community of Practice (.5 CEUs) together are worth 1.5 RID PPO CEUs at the some content knowledge level. Partial CEUs not awarded.

How do I register?

Registration is now closed.