The WSRID Board wishes you all a happy, safe, warm, and restful end of the year. It has been such a delight working together this year- whether out in our communities, at various events, workshops, lectures, and neighborhoods- we love to meet you!
We are wrapping up our year and preparing for our New Board leaders to carry to torch into 2025 and beyond!
Thank you for all the ways you work to support each other and us.
-2024 WSRID - BOARD
RESCHEDULED from October 14th to October 16th. REGISTRATION LINK
We are rescheduling the Workgroup Kickoff Meeting that was on October 14th from 3:30 to 5:30 pm due to the day being Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This is the day to acknowledge and honor Native Americans.
Out of respect, the meeting will now be taking place on October 16th from 3:30 to 5:30 pm. Please register here.
If you have any questions or concerns with the registration process, please contact Morgan Jericho at morgan.jericho@dshs.wa.gov.
Thank you! Morgan
Morgan Jericho, MA (he/they) Management Analyst Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA) Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
Previous message:
UPDATE FROM ODHH about the Interpreter Shortage Workgroup Efforts
VIDEO LINK
Hello Community Partners,
My name is Earnest Covington, III, and I am the Director of the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Aging and Long-Term Support Administration of the Department of Social and Health Services. We want to update you on the status of the HB 2221 workgroup project, the Interpreter Shortage Resolution Taskforce.
The taskforce is expected to provide a legislative report to the Governor’s Office in June 2025. This report will detail the systemic barriers experienced by Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing communities and will provide a comprehensive analysis of sign language interpreter services in public, private, and community settings in Washington State.
DSHS and our community partners have been conducting intensive interviews to fill the program coordinator position leading this taskforce. We thank you for your participation in the interview process. Unfortunately, DSHS is currently unable to hire for the role.
The Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has appointed Morgan Jericho, Management Analyst 4, to lead and facilitate the taskforce meetings, monitor program activities, and support the data collection process. Morgan, who has worked with the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing since 2023, supports multiple initiatives, including healthcare access, case management services, and legislative advocacy. You may have seen him working with community partners and leaders in the Washington State Association of the Deaf and the DeafBlind community, supporting the WSAD 2024 conference, ODHH expo, and other community events. His ongoing advocacy with medical interpreting issues will be incorporated into the taskforce.
The Program Coordinator position has been reposted. The person in this role will support Morgan in this initiative. Please see the job posting here.
Morgan will collaborate with you, and community members and leaders throughout Washington state, to support the Interpreter Shortage Resolution Taskforce. He will lead this project through completion in collaboration with taskforce members, the contracted research firm, and with legislative support to develop a report of systemic challenges and proposed solutions.
The first public taskforce session is scheduled from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, on Zoom. Please join us. Registration is required. LINK HERE.
Register for the public meeting at this link above, or email Morgan at morgan.jericho@dshs.wa.gov for more information.
The following board positions are open for nominations for the upcoming terms starting January 1, 2025:
If you would like to nominate someone (even yourself!) for any of the above positions, please submit their name via the simple Nominations Form.
If the nominee is eligible, we will ask them if they accept the nomination. After accepting, we will request a photo, short bio, and a statement regarding their desire to serve on the board.
Nominations are due by September 19. But there's no need to wait! Help us build a strong future for WSRID.
Call for Nominations for October Elections
It's now time to submit nominations for the 2025-2026 board!! WSRID will host our Annual Meeting on Saturday October 26, 10a - 12p. Elections and any motions will be conducted by online ballot during October.
Please send nominations for board, and for membership awards, as well as any proposed motions, to wsridnominations@gmail.com by September 1, 2024.
The following positions are open for nominations for the January 2025 - December 2026 Board Term. Details on the election can be found here October 2024 Election Information
President [two year term]: must be a certified member
Secretary [two year term]: can be a certified or associate member
Treasurer [vacancy - one year term (2025)]: can be a certified or associate member
Three Directors [two year term]: can be a certified or associate member
One Director [vacancy - one year term (2025)]: can be a certified or associate member
Student Director [one year term (2025)]: must be in final year of an ITP and have been a member of WSRID for at least 60 days
Nominations are also open for two awards. Awardees are selected by the board. Details on the awards can be found on our website at https://wsrid.com/Award
Judie Husted Member of the Year
Theresa B Smith Distinguished Service Award
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…
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.
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.
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
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)
Please SAVE THE DATE for our Annual Membership Meeting which will be held on Saturday, November 4th at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA.
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.
Representation from Eastern Washington is highly desired!
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.
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)
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