CEUs have been approved and will be processed through ASL Communications
THURSDAY — October 3
7:00 – 9:00 PM
KEYNOTE
Presenter: Jonathan Webb & Special Guests | CEUs: 0.2 PS
Held in Snoqualmie Room 1 & 2
Description: The 2019 WSAD/WSRID conference will open with a unique keynote presentation. Jonathan Webb, along with a panel of legacy members of both organizations, will discuss the history of the Deaf and interpreting communities here in Washington State. Along with this celebration of our history, Jonathan will inspire attendees to envision our future as individuals and as a community.
Moving with Curiosity: Exploring Identity Within Systems of Power & Oppression (Part 1)
Presenter: Jonathan Webb | CEUs: 0.6 PPO *Must attend both sessions*
Held in Washington C
Description: This workshop capitalizes on interpreters that view themselves as agents of social justice and a medium for equity. While increasingly more interpreters are finding themselves passionate about issues relating to justice, many do not know how to translate these thoughts and feelings into not only doable actions, but conscious action. Participants will explore both “self” and “other” within the context of power, privilege, and oppression. Participants should understand that involvement in the training will assist interpreters and others engaged with the Deaf Community in getting honest around the issues of inequity and how we can appropriately stand as both ally and friend to a community that has given us so much. An attitude of openness, cultural humility, and courage will be needed and welcomed.
Translation and Inclusion of Socio-Cultural Perspective (Part 1)
Presenter: Eileen Forestal | CEUs: 0.6 PS *Must attend both sessions*
Held in Washington D
Description: There is limited research on Deaf translators and their approaches to translation. New research on Deaf translators will be shared which will support the argument that translation should be viewed through a socio-cultural perspective. Deaf translators provide that perspective through their formative experiences, language, and cultural competence to add depth, context, and more meaning to ASL/English translations. There will be group activities for developing and applying socio-cultural perspectives in provided written texts for translation. Group discussions will entail feedback and mentoring for translation work. Recommendations and resources will be provided for continuation of skill development in translation for Deaf interpreters and for hearing interpreters.
Navigating State Systems for Work and ACCESS Access * Deaf Community Emphasis
Presenter: Berle Ross | CEUs: 0.3 PS
Held in Washington E
Description: Panel discussion to review 3 to 4 different contract options that impact how Deaf people request services. Panel will include representatives from AOC -WA Courts and Department of Labor and Industry.
1:00 – 2:30 PM
Medical Interpreting Task Force (MITF) Update
Presenters: MITF | CEUs: 0.15 PS
Held in Snoqualmie 1 & 2
Presenters: The Medical Interpreting Task Force (MITF) is an independent, statewide coalition of stakeholders interested in assuring communication access for Deaf, hard-of-hearing and DeafBlind people in medical settings, in the state of Washington. The group was formed in the early spring of 2012 as leaders in the community agreed this had reached a crisis point. While we have achieved significant steps forward, our work is not complete.
Description: The goal of the Medical Interpreting Task Force (MITF) is to work towards quality communication access in medical settings for Deaf, hard of hearing, and DeafBlind people in Washington state. During this presentation, we will be updating the community on our work to date and providing tools for community members to support this work. The format will be a panel presentation followed by an opportunity for audience Q & A.
Moving with Curiosity: Exploring Identity Within Systems of Power & Oppression (Part 2)
Presenter: Jonathan Webb | CEUs: 0.6 PPO *Must attend both sessions*
Held in Washington C
Description: This workshop capitalizes on interpreters that view themselves as agents of social justice and a medium for equity. While increasingly more interpreters are finding themselves passionate about issues relating to justice, many do not know how to translate these thoughts and feelings into not only doable actions, but conscious action. Participants will explore both “self” and “other” within the context of power, privilege, and oppression. Participants should understand that involvement in the training will assist interpreters and others engaged with the Deaf Community in getting honest around the issues of inequity and how we can appropriately stand as both ally and friend to a community that has given us so much. An attitude of openness, cultural humility, and courage will be needed and welcomed.
Translation and Inclusion of Socio-Cultural Perspective (Part 2)
Presenter: Eileen Forestal | CEUs: 0.6 PS *Must attend both sessions*
Held in Washington D
Description: There is limited research on Deaf translators and their approaches to translation. New research on Deaf translators will be shared which will support the argument that translation should be viewed through a socio-cultural perspective. Deaf translators provide that perspective through their formative experiences, language, and cultural competence to add depth, context, and more meaning to ASL/English translations. There will be group activities for developing and applying socio-cultural perspectives in provided written texts for translation. Group discussions will entail feedback and mentoring for translation work. Recommendations and resources will be provided for continuation of skill development in translation for Deaf interpreters and for hearing interpreters.
The Legislative Process and How it Benefits Our Community
* Deaf Community Emphasis
Presenter: James "Dino" Christianson, Jr. | CEUs: 0.3 PS
Held in Washington E
Description: This workshop will present information about Washington State politics and the legislative process. We will discuss pertinent vocabulary definitions and real-life examples of how the Deaf community has influenced the political process. Topics will also include how community members can make informed decisions and how interpreters can act as allies throughout the process.
Presenter: Ellie Savidge | CEUs: 0.3 PS
Held in Snoqualmie 1 & 2
Description: The Deaf, DeafBlind, and interpreting communities are always changing. How can we evolve, but maintain a healthy, connected community? In this workshop, we will discuss how our actions in these communities can have an impact that is different than we intended. We will also consider our accountability to ourselves and to the community. We will discuss how to have healthy discussions and maintain community accountability on social media, as well as how to be supportive of other community members… even if we disagree. Participants will be challenged to become more aware of the intent and impact of their actions.
Sign Less, Mean More
* Educational Interpreter Emphasis
Presenters: Shawn Broderick & Paul Bert | CEUs: 0.15 PS
Held in Washington C
Description: This workshop will give participants an opportunity to examine and practice message identification, summarizing, and paraphrasing of the message. We will look at interpreting theory and discourse analysis, and then discuss how these ideas can support the creation of a clear interpretation.
Making Words and Actions Matter: Epistemic Justice and Interpreting
Presenters: Naomi Sheneman & Octavian Robinson | CEUs: 0.3 PPO
Held in Washington E
Description: The concept of epistemic justice and its place in sign language interpreting discourse helps us understand how schisms emerged among professional sign language interpreters and the Deaf communities they serve. Among the consequences of such schisms has been the erasure of deaf epistemologies and ontologies in interpreter education, research, and professional discourse. This erasure and the dominance of non-deaf people in interpreting perpetuates a form of epistemological injustice while promoting gaps in equity literacy for sign language interpreters. We explore this notion of epistemic justice and its meaning in sign language interpreting. Gayarti Spivak defined epistemic violence as active efforts to obstruct and undermine non-dominant knowledge as a means of “Othering.” An examination of the interpreting field through the lens of Spivak’s epistemic violence reveals widespread resistance to feedback from deaf people, marginalization of deaf perspectives in sign language interpreting, and posturing where non-deaf people exhibit defensiveness when deaf people address hearing privilege or structural inequities. Epistemic injustice is both personal and structural. Deaf people experience this form of injustice in indirect, subtle, and implicit ways. We discuss examples of epistemic injustice that occurs in day-to-day encounters between deaf and non-deaf people with the goal that our audience can identify and resist recurrences of this type of injustice. Key to resisting epistemic injustice is to embrace vulnerability. In contemporary social justice dialogue, vulnerability is a key ingredient. In encouraging vulnerability, we consider critical concepts of deaf heart, ally, and accomplice. In the context of epistemic justice, what do those terms really mean? What does it mean to be vulnerable in order to dismantle existing personal forms of oppression such as microaggressions and divesture? Finally, we consider the ways in which this works toward closer relationships between deaf people and non-deaf interpreters.
Presenter: aj granda | CEUs: 0.3 PPO
Held in Washington D
Description: This workshop will focus on the principle of reciprocity and how it influences our sense of community, our social justice work, and the relationship between the Deaf, DeafBlind, and interpreting communities. A brief introduction will be followed by group discussions on autonomy, reciprocity, collectivism, and Pro-tactile. Members of the Deaf community and interpreters are encouraged to attend.
4:30 – 6:00 PM
Social/Emotional Considerations in Educational Interpreting
* Educational Interpreter Emphasis
Presenter: Charlene Williams | CEUs: 0.15 PS
Held in Washington C
Description: This workshop will discuss what we bring to each classroom each day. What do we contribute to the classroom dynamic and how can we be aware of our impact? How can our approach and mindset positively impact the setting and experience for all individuals in the room? What traits can we hone to provide equal access to the students? Participants will explore three traits that can be incredibly effective in our interpretation, collaboration with coworkers, and relationship with students. As individuals who happen to be educational interpreters, how can we be our best selves before we walk into the classroom?
Making Ethical Discussions Matter: Promoting an Open and Honest Dialogue About Ethical Decisions
Presenter: Naomi Sheneman | CEUs: 0.3 PS
Held in Snoqualmie 1 & 2
Description: The sign language interpreting profession in the United States has seen several different interpreting models that impose limitations on the actual fluidity of our function as sign language interpreters. Interpreters often have to defend their decisions by emphasizing they had to “step outside their role” to justify their ethical decisions when their decisions were in compliance with the RID-NAD’s Code of Professional Conduct (CPC). The real problem lies with the fact we are still uncomfortable about discussing and justifying our ethical decisions. The CPC’s preamble is based on the concept that interpreters should do no harm but there are conflicting perspectives between the Deaf community and interpreters of what harm entails. Recognition of your own positionality in an interpreted event is key as it is your unique extralinguistic knowledge, which includes morals and values that influence how you make your ethical decisions. There are some tools that guide us through those decisions that are appropriate to the situation and the consumers involved. The ultimate question is how you proceed with the decision-making process that may impact the Deaf consumers’ experience. It is essential to have an open, honest dialogue with Deaf consumers about ethical decisions to gain their perspective. The same is true for interpreter colleagues to making conversations with each other matter with the aim of minimizing horizontal violence.
