Washington State Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf

WSRID BLOG

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  • 13 Feb 2024 12:22 PM | Anna Mansell-Karagiannis President (Administrator)

    Greetings WSRID members,

    In January, the Board members of WSRID agreed to sign a Joint letter of support for HB2221.  The goals of HB2221 directly align with WSRID's Mission, and we are currently considering how our organization will continue to support this work moving forward.  Here is a copy of the letter:

    JOIN LETTER OF SUPPORT:

    Community Coalition for WA Interpreters

    Jan 5, 2024

    Washington State Legislature

    Attn: Representatives and Senators 

    Olympia, WA 


    Subject: Joint Letter of Support for Community Efforts to Address the Statewide Interpreter Shortage


    Dear Washington State Legislature,


    We, the undersigned organizations, collectively express our unwavering support for the community-led initiatives aimed at addressing the critical statewide shortage of American Sign Language and ProTactile Interpreters in Washington State.


    As representatives of diverse organizations committed to promoting inclusivity, accessibility, and equitable opportunities for individuals who are Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing, we recognize the urgency of addressing the challenges faced by our community members in accessing essential services, education, employment, and cultural experiences.


    The proposed one-time statewide study, designed to identify the pressing needs for more sign language interpreters, aligns seamlessly with our shared mission and values. This comprehensive study will play a pivotal role in understanding the current landscape, identifying areas of high demand, and formulating strategies to enhance interpreter services throughout the state.


    The impact of the interpreter shortage on our community is profound, affecting every aspect of life. From educational settings to healthcare, legal contexts, workplace interactions, and cultural events, the absence of adequate interpretation services creates barriers that hinder full participation in society.


    We commend the dedication and foresight of the community advocates driving this initiative and recognize the importance of collaboration between multiple organizations, legislators, and other stakeholders to address this pressing issue. Our joint commitment to this cause reflects our shared belief that the proposed study will pave the way for informed decision-making and positive change.


    We, the undersigned organizations, stand firmly in support of these collective efforts and believe that collaboration is essential to create a more inclusive and accessible environment for all residents of Washington State. By working together, we can foster a community where language barriers no longer impede the pursuit of education, healthcare, employment, and cultural engagement.


    Thank you for your commitment to this cause, and we look forward to witnessing the positive impact that our joint efforts will bring to our community.


    Sincerely,


    API CHAYA, Seattle, WA 

    Deaf Spotlight, Seattle, WA 

    DeafBlind Service Center (DBSC) Seattle, WA 

    Hands and Voices, Seattle, WA 

    Hearing Loss Association of America-Washington State Association (HLAA-WA), WA

    Hearing, Speech and Deaf Center (HSDC), Seattle/Bellingham/Tacoma, WA 

    Manos de Washington, WA 

    Puget Sound Association for the Deaf (PSAD), Seattle, WA 

    The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., Seattle, WA

    Washington State Association of the Deaf (WSAD), WA

    Washington State DeafBlind Citizens (WSDBC), Seattle, WA 

    Washington State Registry of the Interpreters for the Deaf (WSRID), Seattle, WA

    More to come…



  • 14 Oct 2023 7:04 AM | Anna Mansell-Karagiannis President (Administrator)

    Sharing, from the community:

    Our first BIPOC sign language interpreter meeting is coming soon. Please join us if you are a BIPOC sign language interpreter in the PNW. We will be discussing issues within our industry and ways to change them.

    When: Saturday, December 2, 2023

    Time: 10AM PST - 12PM PST

    Where: Zoom

    Topic: BIPOC Interpreter Meeting

    Time: Dec 2, 2023 10:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

    More information available from Good Signs Interpreting.


  • 11 Oct 2023 10:34 AM | Anna Mansell-Karagiannis President (Administrator)

    Hello members!  We hope you are enjoying the transition of seasons and are getting excited for the Annual Membership Meeting happening on Saturday November 4th!  

    This year’s meeting will be hybrid, held on site at Central Washington University, and virtually via Zoom.  Registration is now live on our website, so please let us know how you plan to attend.  The annual membership meeting is a great opportunity for all members to learn more about the organization, to provide feedback and share ideas about the future work, and to meet and reconnect with other members!  We will send out more info soon regarding the agenda and elections.  Register today! 

    Our meeting will be taking place in conjunction with the WSAD conference.  WSAD has graciously invited us to share this space.  We will all have lunch together at noon before the meetings begin. 

    We are also honored to be one of the WSAD conference sponsors and encourage our members to attend, learn, and reconnect.  More info about the conference and registration can be found on WSAD's website.

    We are also seeking volunteers to help us with the annual meeting.  Please let us know if you can help!   

    -WSRID Board of Directors.

     


  • 29 Sep 2023 11:25 AM | Anna Mansell-Karagiannis President (Administrator)

    Hello Interpreters,

    A2Z Interpreting in Spokane, WA is partnering with The Insightful Interpreter and ODHH to offer two FREE workshops in Spokane in October 2023. 

    Workshop and registration info can be found in attachments below:

    FINAL 10-14-23 workshop flyer Deaf and Hearing Interpreting Teams_ The Relationship and the Work.pdf

    FINAL 10-28-23 workshop flyer Deaf and Hearing Interpreting Teams Communication and Accountability.pdf


  • 15 Jun 2023 3:19 PM | Anna Mansell-Karagiannis President (Administrator)

    Webinar Registration

    The Washington States Court Interpreter Program is holding an Introduction Court Interpreting information session. At this session, you will learn: 
    • Why court interpreter are so important to the justice system.
    • What it's like to be a court interpreter. 
    • The process to become a credentialed court interpreter. 
    • The knowledge, skills and abilities of court interpreter. 
    During the webinar there will be a discussion on court interpreting and you will be able ask credentialed interpreters questions. This webinar is for both spoken language and sign language interpreters. 

    When
    Wednesday, June 21 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM

    Platform
    Zoom

    American Sign Language interpretation and captioning will be provided.

    For accommodation requests, please contact James Wells at James.Wells@courts.wa.gov. 

    Registration Link: Introduction to Court Interpreting: Speaking the Language of Justice (alchemer.com)

  • 09 Jun 2023 9:15 AM | Anna Mansell-Karagiannis President (Administrator)

    Annual Membership Meeting

    Please SAVE THE DATE for our Annual Membership Meeting which will be held on Saturday, November 4th at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA.

    Board Vacancy/Election

    The Board is now seeking nominations for members to join the WSRID Board of Directors to fill a vacant position and also for the upcoming election.

    • Who would you like to have representing you in your state interpreting organization?
    • Who do you know who has some time and energy to give towards engaging the membership and community, and shaping the organization as we move forward?

    Representation from Eastern Washington is highly desired!

    VACANCIES

    Our board currently has eight (8) members, and our Bylaws state the number of board members will be "at least nine (9), but not more than twelve (12)". There is one vacancy for a term ending December 31, 2023. As directed by the Bylaws, this position will be elected by the current Board from nominations received from members.

    ELECTIONS

    We will again be holding our election online this fall. This is an early call for nominations! The positions that will expire at the end of 2023 are: Vice President, Treasurer, Deaf/DeafBlind Community Representative, three Director positions, and one Student Director position.

    SUBMIT NOMINATIONS (<---click here)


  • 09 Jun 2023 8:38 AM | Anna Mansell-Karagiannis President (Administrator)

    Committee Reports

    The board has reviewed our committees and focused committee work to meet our goals and needs. Current Committees are as follows: Budget/Finance, CMP, Communications, Conference 2025, Community Outreach, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Governance, Membership, Professional Development, Scholarship.

    All of our committee work needs some level of member involvement. Whether you have a few hours for a one-time project, or a few hours a month for something bigger; Whether you like working with others or getting things done on your own time; Whether you’re visionary or detail driven; Whether you love working with numbers or people… Whatever your interests or inclinations - we have a place for you to plug in! Curious? Please reach out! 

    Below are a few current announcements. More info from all committees will be coming in the next month or so. Recent committee reports.


    Community Outreach Committee

    Interpreter Social, June 28th, 6-9 pm at Optimism Brewery, Seattle. 

    Spring Scholarship

    Thank you to all who applied for the Spring Performance Exam Scholarship. We have contacted applicants and are excited for the opportunity to support our colleagues on their journey to certification.

    We will begin accepting applications for the Fall Scholarship in August. Please visit the WSRID Scholarship page for more information.

    Certification Maintenance Program Sponsorship

    WSRID was recently approved as an RID CMP Sponsor. Big thank you to Ashley Cavallaro who will be functioning as our administrator. We are working on developing our systems and plans, and will be ready to share more information with our members soon. If you’re interested in being involved with this work, please email Ashley Cavallaro, CMP Administrator.

    Governance Committee

    Seeking members interested in discussing Sociocracy as a governance model for WSRID - as recommended in Ritchie Bryant’s 2020 DEI Recommendations Report. Looking to find at least one long time member and at least one member familiar with Sociocracy. If interested, please email WSRID Secretary, Claudia Kienholz.


  • 09 Jun 2023 8:24 AM | Anna Mansell-Karagiannis President (Administrator)

    Greetings WSRID members,

    The following info is from our recent June 2023 E-Blast which should have landed in your inbox on 6/8/2023.

    2023 Board Meeting Minutes

    The Board has gathered four times this year. Linked here are notes and meeting minutes from these sessions:

    Board Goals

    • Redesign WSRID’s infrastructure documents to be clear, relevant, easy to follow, and reflective of the needs of our current and potential members.
    • Improve communication and transparency to members and community stakeholders regarding WSRID’s essential functions and happenings, as well as the board’s focus on a DEI action plan.
    • Prioritize partnerships and collaborations with organizations and individuals within our communities.
    • Invest in programs and projects that help enhance the value of WSRID membership.

    Financial Report Summary

    The document linked below includes our FY24 Budget, our FY23 Budgeted and Actual financials through March (and projected through the end of our fiscal year - June 30) and brief notes for each line item. Quarterly Profit & Loss Statements are also available by request. Overall - our finances are in good shape. Our income and expenses were both reduced. We had budgeted for multiple workshops, but these were not possible without an active PDC committee.


  • 04 May 2022 9:54 AM | Anna Mansell-Karagiannis President (Administrator)

    To all of the fabulous interpreters in our community,

    Happy Interpreter Appreciation Day!  We are thankful for your dedication to your work and the communities you serve.

    Have a wonderful day,


    WSRID Board <3 

  • 09 Nov 2021 12:33 PM | Anna Mansell Karagiannis (Administrator)

    Hello WSRID Members! 

    I am conducting a research project about Legal Interpreting as part of my senior year at UNH-Manchester, New Hampshire. 

    Whether you love or hate legal work, please take a little time ASAP to fill out the survey (link below). By doing so you will help Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens get access to justice (by deepening understanding of resistance to the specialty and contributing to making legal training more approachable). 

    Thanks in advance! 

    ~ Polly Lorien 

    p.s. The survey will expire Nov. 22

    https://unh.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9Hy4xzFbDESioYu

    Legal Interpreting Survey

    Polly Lorien's senior Research Project: Collecting data on in-court legal interpreting.

    unh.az1.qualtrics.com


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