Food for Thoughts

I thought I should share the blurbs about Deaf Interpreters in two codes of ethics that I found from two organizations:

• "3.3 Deaf Interpreters
  The services of a Deaf interpreter may be required when working with individuals who use regional sign dialects, non-standard signs, foreign sign languages, and those with emerging language use. They may also be used with individuals who have disabling conditions that impact on communication. Members will recognize the need for a Deaf interpreter and will ensure their inclusion as a part of the professional interpreting team."
  
  
• "2.4 Request support (e.g., certified deaf interpreters, team members, language facilitators) when needed to fully convey the message or to address exceptional communication challenges (e.g. cognitive disabilities, foreign sign language, emerging language ability, or lack of formal instruction or language). "

I like the term inclusion when a Deaf interpreter is included in a team which mean all interpreters, deaf or hearing, are equal. 
For me, the term support conjures the thought of a supporting actor, who may be "important in a play or film but subordinate to the leading parts." I am not too crazy about the word subordinate.

Now, here is the food for your thoughts: which code belongs to which organization?
I am still investigating for other codes to see how many other codes do mention specifically Deaf interpreters. 

No Longer a Diary?

 A bit of history about this blog:  I originally started this blog as a diary. It was over at "scribbles.nu" but then it closed down so I relocated to this site, Blogger.

 For me, this blog was like writing a diary but anonymously. I didn't use names and I only mentioned where I am from. But if you read through the entires, you can figure out who I am-- a deaf female student... high-schooler...with typical teenager stuff. Stresses about dating, SAT scores, college admission, raving about not having a car, and so on.

I used "gnarlydorkette" as my handle. Nobody knew who I was and I was able to write freely about anybody-- included my ex-boyfriends and so-called "friends."

Why? I was safe. Nobody in my circles were geeks like me. Nobody in my circles knew what a blog is. So I was safe with my secret about this blog out in the public.

But of course, as time went on... and the next hot thing was video log, known as "vlog" now. 

Yes. I am blaming the vlogs for exposing me. 

Funny-- the title of this blog is "dorkette:exposed"... which came true. Oh, the irony.

By adding a vlog, a face is plastered all over my blog-- my face. People in the real world (anybody remembers "irl"?) identified me as 'gnarlydorkette'. 

Now this blog is no longer a diary.  

This blog now serves as my information center where I can share information and write down thought-provoking entries.  

Now as I become nostalgic about the old days-- I definitely miss writing a diary anonymously. The exhilaration of getting my emotions and thoughts out in the public. It is like making my signature on the world--  a graffiti online. 

I do not like own an actual diary because who would read it?  I like the idea of people reading my diary online, because they may find it interesting, helpful, or entertaining. I didn't mind all that because I just hoped that I can find my niche. An audience that understands me.  That sense of bonding. I miss that.

But how do I write a diary anonymously?

I am "gnarlydorkette" ever and forever. 

I am no longer an anonymous person. 

I cannot share my thoughts, emotions, anything without a fear of retaliations. 

And that is a bit sad... I have limited my creativity because of what I have done on my blog.  Now I wonder if I regret the title of this blog? Did I curse myself when I became witty with the title, "dorkette:exposed"?

Oh, here I go again-- thought-provoking. 

Upcoming CDI-related Workshops

New Jersey Registry of Interpreters for the DEAF (NJRID) is providing an introductory workshop about Deaf interpreters presented by Eileen Forestal, RSC.

http://www.njrid.org/pages/index.asp

The dates provided for "Introducing Deaf Interpreting" are:
Saturday/Sunday, September 26 & 27, 2009
Saturday/Sunday, October 17 & 18, 2009
Saturday/Sunday, November 21 & 22, 2009
Saturday/Sunday, December 5 & 6, 2009

And the costs would be $60 per weekend which brings the total around $240 and "attendance at all four weekends is required."

The deadline to register for this workshop is on September 18, 2009 so hurry up!
Click here for the registration form.


******************************

Illinois RID will provided a workshop entitled: "CDI Emergency! What every CDI/DI should know about medical interpreting"
at Mt Sinai Hospital in Chicago under the Deaf Access Program which will be presented by their staff and a physican all fluent in ASL.

SPACE IS LIMITED TO 20-- so register soon as possible!

It is a weekend workshop on Sat, Oct 10th; 9:00am – 5:00pm and Sun, Oct 11th; 9:00am – 3:00pm.

The synopsis about two days workshops are copied and pasted below:
Sat, Oct 10th:
“Key Players in Hospital” by Dr. Gary Kaufman & Diana Thorpe, CI, CT, NIC Master
Discussion of hospital departments, as well as, staff roles & responsibilities. Interpreter thoughts and experiences in the hospital will be shared.

IVIN Demonstration by Teri Hedding, M.A. & Andrew Farnon, NIC
VRI equipment will be demonstrated, providing CDIs/DIs a clear understanding of how to work with it, when interpreting for Deaf patients

“DI, Sign That!” by Nancy Campbell, M.A., CI, CT & Michael Herschberg, CI, CT
Medical language encountered daily while interpreting medical history, rendering a diagnosis or providing medical instruction will be analysed. Practice and role play interpreting these common questions and phrases will be provided.

Sunday, October 11th:
Special Considerations in Medical Interpreting by Jodi Hains, CI, CT, & Nancy Campbell, M.A. CT, CI; Tips and advice will be given to best prepare CDIs/DIs as they interpret in the hospital environment.

Role Play in Hospital by Michael Herschberg, CI, CT
CDIs & DIs will have opportunities to practice their interpreting skills in various hospital settings at Mt. Sinai Hospital."

The early-bird registration fee is $60 before September 21st, and after October 1st it will be $75

Click here to view the ILRID Interpreter Workshop flyer

The Terror of District of Columbia

The Terror of D.C. is....

THE PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS!

I have received three tickets so far this year. The year previous, I also got three tickets.

And almost every ticket costs me $100.

Hold up, just let me explain....

You see, District of Columbia has this silly, silly, silly law that requires you to have a residental parking permit. Yessire, if you live right here in D.C. and you don't have a garage-- you gotta pay to park on your home street. Silly, I know!

Since this urbanite lives in an apartment in good ol' District of Columbia, I gotta park my car on the street. Summer of 2008 flew by and no ticket and I was one happy girl.

Until somebody jinxed it for me.

"Didja know you were supposed to register and get a permit even if you are from out-of-state? ROSA, that is what it is called... check it out... you might get a ticket."

DAMMIT! Why did you jinx me, dude?

I got a ticket.

Out of curiosity, I tried to find information about the whole ROSA scheme.... 300$ for a student to register for a parking permit?!

"Fuggetaboudit," I said to myself. I got by for months without getting a ticket, maybe that one ticket was just a bad day for my car and me.

Wrong.

More tickets followed up and I resorted to buy a 86$ yearly parking permit at Gallaudet.

I should be safe by now.

Well, you would think that, huh!?

Not true.

Whenever I decided to park at a friend's home somewhere else in D.C. or innocently parking in front of a nice restaurant after feeding coins to the meter and all--

the PLAGUE OF PINK SLIPS followed me.

Dang it!

The pink slips claim that I "fail to secure DC tags."

Oh, the nerve of those pink slips! Accusing me right and left!

BUT now those pink slips have became really angry, I mean, really really angry. They are threatening to tow my car. Threatening to boot my car. THREAT.

An orange boot on my blue car? Nuhhhh-HUH!

So.

After a year of dodging the parking enforcement cars, dodging the pink slips, dodging the threats...

I got to think... that 300$ student parking permit is definitely cheaper.

Think about-- three tickets at 100$ = three hundred of dollars going to the parking enforcement. I would rather to have my three Benjamin Franklins going to my car instead to the terror.

Say NO to the Terror.

Buy the residential parking permit.

You cannot escape the pink slips.

Say NO to the Terror by NOT funding them.

Eff you, D.C. Eff you.

I ain't gonna keep on feeding you! I am gonna set my blue car free in Virginia! I ain't gonna support the Terror!

Nuhhhh-HUH!

Post- RID Conference Reflection

Well, well-- I went and came back home!

The 2009 RID conference was conducted in Philadelphia, PA. It was definitely an experience!

I enjoyed meeting other Deaf interpreters and found myself inspired and more motivated about Deaf interpreting. As always, it was nice to see old faces! It got weird for a minute when I realized that I am now a peer to my old interpreters from my high school-- "Hey! I am one of you now!" But it's all good-- I didn't get to see everybody because almost three thousands people attended-- so it was one BIG conference and one big flurry of faces in the hallways!

I tried to use every minute available for every workshop available, to meet people and socialize, but in the end, the conference just wiped me out-- I had to take a break a couple of times to just kick back in the hotel room with my classmates. So on one or two days, I didn't take the opportunity to go to the second Deaf Caucus get-together and one Deaf-related workshop. Disappointed, but I wish the schedule would be better-organized so everybody can have a breather in between workshops. I have heard that this year's conference is different from the past conferences and it is all for the best, so perhaps we shouldn't complain... nonetheless-- hey, RID conference-planners? for 2010, consider about giving us longer breaks in between workshops! It is hard to grab a lunch WITHIN an hour when you are hurrying past a flurry of familiar faces who want to say "HI, HI! HI!" and back for the next workshop!

As you may know, Deaf Caucus has a new team which I look forward to see their plans and actions unfolding for next two years! Check them out at http://riddeafcaucus.wordpress.com/

One point that was brought up at the conference that I thought worthy is about the membership of other organizations in addition to their RID membership. As a member of an organization, one should support other organizations that share the same goals as your organization, namely NAD (National Association of the Deaf). At the opening ceremony, the presidents of NAD and RID, Bobbie Beth Scoggins and Cheryl Moose respectively, came on-stage together to sign an memorandum of understanding. People said that one should be a member of BOTH organizations because both organizations need all members to affirm and support the ally. I thought this to be a valid point...

But then what about all other organizations whose presidents that didn't walk up on the stage with Bobbie and Cheryl? I want you to acknowledge that there are other organizations that need our support and membership as well-- just to name a few: Canada's Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada (AVLIC), World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI) and many more that I am hoping you can help me naming.

Right now, the membership fees for (using my case as an example) a student/certified interpreter/individual for various organizations are:

• NAD (National): Student $25, Interpreter Member Section (optional) $5 = 35$
• NAD (Chapter): for example District of Columbia Chapter DCAD, Student $10
• RID (National): Student $30 (uncertified), Certified Member $120-ish but this is not listed on their website
• RID (Chapter): for example Potomac Chapter PCRID - Certified $30 or Student $15 (certified or not?)
• WASLI: Individual $50 = $50
• WFD: Individual, 50 euros ($70-ish)
• AVLIC: their website's down :( so I cannot investigate for their membership fee.

To support just NAD and RID at both levels, national and affiliate, a typical student who happens to be certified would have to pay $195 annually. If one wants to support all organizations such as WASLI and WFD, the total cost for annual memberships would be $315. WHEW! Well, I can't speak for everybody, but my status as a graduate student lacking a handsome salary annually make my piggy bank trembling in fear at the sight of those membership fees!

With so many choices out there to join and become a member of their organization, we have a hard decision to choose which organization to best invest our membership into. With that said, I hope you do not judge somebody if they fail to be a member of your favorite organization... just keep it mind that they made their choices and you should respect their choices just as they respect your choices of membership.

I hope in the future, there can be a sliding scale fee for students or interpreters who are working full-time/part-time /unemployed, maybe staff/freelance, and based on their state's GDP, so they can pay a membership fee that doesn't break their piggy bank. WASLI uses this mechanism to use each country's GDP to serve as a sliding scale for individual membership ranging from US$3.00 to US$50.00.

Here I go, rambling on and on!

Anyway, as I said in the beginning, the RID 2009 conference is definitely an experience that serves as a learning lesson for me as a Deaf interpreter and I want to thank you all for the inspiration and motivation which comes in a nick of time as I am about to start my second year as a graduate student in the Interpretation program!!!

THANK YOU ALL!