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Are you interested in participating in CALI’s Program of Study Cohort 2? Read below for more information and to apply.

Interpreter Referral Agency Partnership

A major role of the partnering interpreter referral agency is to recruit the following participants: 4 trainees, 3 alternate trainees, 2 supervising partners, and 2 alternate supervising partners. Agency representatives will also create induction opportunities to support the trainees in meeting the 40 hours of work with people who use a range of atypical sign language and schedule each trainee to work with a supervising partner for at least 10 hours. These 10 hours are part of the 40, NOT in addition to the 40.

Trainee Criteria

Ideally a diverse group of credentialed Deaf, Coda, and hearing interpreters, the trainees will have at least 3 years of professional interpreting experience. Trainees will be required to commit to the full program of study including the four online modules, PAVE, participation in a Community of Practice, and 40 hours of induction. Trainees should plan on spending 3-5 hours per week on this work.

Supervising Partner Criteria

Supervising partners will be experienced Deaf, Coda, or hearing interpreters who are certified and have some supervisory experience, e.g., having served as a practicum supervisor or as a mentor to newer interpreters. Supervising partners will be required to complete the online Supervising Partner Module, to review the four trainee online modules, and to participate in PAVE, and a Community of Practice. Supervising partners will work closely with the trainees during the induction program, ensuring that each trainee completes at least 40 hours of induction with a minimum of 10 of those hours being supervised. Supervising partners should plan on spending 3-5 hours per week on this work.

Alternates

Alternate trainees and supervising partners will follow along in self-directed versions of the facilitated modules offered in the program of study. If a trainee or supervising partner is unable to continue, an alternate will step in and take their place in the program.

Compensation

CALI partners directly with the interpreter referral agency who serves as the fiscal agent. 

Recruitment and Administrative Assistance – Once the trainees, supervising partners and alternates are confirmed, pre-program data tracking is underway, and trainees start the program of study, partnering agencies invoice CALI for $1,000.

Induction – To help offset induction costs, CALI provides partnering agencies with an amount equal to $30/hour for the 40 contact hours per trainee. A maximum of $4,800.

CALI will pay the partnering agency $1,000 for each supervising partner for their work during the induction program. A maximum of $2,000.


Cohort 2 Schedule

October 2023 – March 2024, Trainee Modules

The four facilitated online modules are mostly asynchronous but also include the following live sessions.

Module 1 – October 2-29, 2023: An Introduction to Atypical Language: Contributing Factors and Implications

3 Live sessions: Wednesdays, October 4, 11, and 25, with 2 time options for each date. Trainees will select either 12-1:30 pm or 7-8:30 pm Eastern time.

Module 2 – November 6-December 3, 2023: Working with Individuals Exhibiting Atypical Language: Unpacking Our Bias, Understanding Our Privilege

2 Live sessions: Tuesdays, November 7 and 21, with 2 time options for each date. Trainees will select either 12-1:30 pm or 7-8:30 pm Eastern time.

Module 3 – December 11, 2023-January 28, 2024: Interpreting Strategies for Individuals with Atypical Language

3 Live sessions: Tuesdays, December 12, January 2 and 23, with 2 time options for each date. Trainees will select either 12-1:30 pm or 7-8:30 pm Eastern time.

Module 4 – February 5-March 17, 2024: Decision Points: Working with Diverse Consumers Exhibiting Atypical Language

3 Live sessions: Wednesdays, February 7 and 21 and March 13, with 2 time options for each date. Trainees will select either 12-1:30 pm or 7-8:30 pm Eastern time.

December 4, 2023-March 10, 2024, Supervising Partner Module 

The Supervising Partner module is mainly asynchronous but also includes the following live sessions.

5 Live sessions: Tuesdays, December 5, January 9 (optional), January 30, February 13 and 27, with 2 time options for each date. Supervising partners will select either 12-1:30 pm or 7-8:30 pm Eastern time.

March 25-May 5, 2024, Practical Application Virtual Experience (PAVE), Trainees and Supervising Partners

After completing the modules, the trainees and supervising partners participate in a 6-week online, interactive training to begin implementing what was learned in the modules and to prepare for induction. PAVE includes the following live sessions as well as some asynchronous work.

Live sessions, Group 1:

  • Tuesday March 26, 2024, 12-2:30 pm Eastern
  • Tuesday April 2, 2024, 12-2:30 pm Eastern
  • Tuesday April 9, 2024, 12-2:30 pm Eastern
  • Tuesday April 16, 2024, 12-2:30 pm Eastern
  • Tuesday April 23, 2024, 12-2:30 pm Eastern
  • Tuesday April 30, 2024, 12-2:30 pm Eastern

Live Sessions, Group 2:

  • Tuesday March 26, 2024, 12-2:30 pm Pacific
  • Tuesday April 2, 2024, 12-2:30 pm Pacific
  • Tuesday April 9, 2024, 12-2:30 pm Pacific
  • Tuesday April 16, 2024, 12-2:30 pm Pacific
  • Tuesday April 23, 2024, 12-2:30 pm Pacific
  • Tuesday April 30, 2024, 12-2:30 pm Pacific

May 6- August 25, 2024, Induction, Trainees and Supervising Partners

Trainees and supervising partners work together in a supervised induction process for 40 hours over 16 weeks. Induction is designed to provide the trainees with ongoing supervision and guidance while interpreting for d/Deaf and DeafBlind individuals with atypical language. 


If you are:

An interpreter interested in participating as a trainee or supervising partner, please contact your local interpreter referral agency and encourage them to apply to be a partnering agency. The agency representative can then include your name in the application as either a trainee or supervising partner.

An interpreter referral agency representative and interested in partnering with CALI, please be in touch with your interpreters to recruit trainees and supervising partners. Then complete the CALI Program of Study Application.

PLEASE NOTE that to complete the application you will need:

  • Names of 4 trainees and 3 alternate trainees, their email addresses, credentials, and number of years of interpreting experience.
  • Names of 2 supervising partners and 2 alternate supervising partners, their email addresses, and  number of years of interpreting experience.
  • Agreement from all trainees and supervising partners to commit to the full, 12-month program of study, including the live session dates listed above.
  • Agreement from all alternates to be ready to step in if a participant is unable to complete the program.

Applications close Friday, February 24, 2023.