Daily Practice

Today in Deaf History: The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was signed into law.

The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA), also known as Public Law 94-142 or the Mainstreaming Law,  defined the term least restrictive environment where children receive education alongside each other regardless of their disability. It required the states to provide a free and appropriate public education for children with disabilities between the ages of 5 and 18. Schools are now obligated to develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities and provide educational opportunities for them in the least restrictive environment. It was signed into law November 30, 1975 by President Gerald Ford.

Learn more:

EAHCA Act

Hey interpreters!!! So we talked about educational interpreting, medical interpreting, now let’s discuss legal interpreting. Legal interpreting is interpreting in legal settings. The NIC actually has a certification for Legal Interpreting for those who want it. Here’s a few videos to help you get started and see if Legal Interpreting is a good fit for you.

Legal Interpreting 1

Legal Interpreting 2

Roberta “Bobbi” Cordano is Gallaudet University’s current President and the first deaf female president. Cordano is a non-profit executive, former Minnesota assistant attorney general and the co-founder of Metro Deaf School, a bilingual bicultural charter school for deaf and heard of hearing children. Cordano previously served as the vice president of programs for the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She overseen direct community-based programs for nearly 9,500 people in the areas of early childhood, community mental health, family supportive housing, aging and caregiver services, school reform, and food access.  She is widely credited for managing and sustaining programs in a highly volatile revenue environment, providing community leadership, fostering innovation, strengthening and supporting diversity within the workforce, and structuring services for optimal alignment and collaboration.Cordano has held several leadership roles in different sectors, including health care; higher education as assistant dean for the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota; and in government as an assistant attorney general for the State of Minnesota.

Learn more:

Gallaudet University: Roberta J. Cordano

Hey, interpreters!! Earlier, I posted on ASL Idioms, and thought “hey, why not explore this topic a little more broadly”. So here we are. Next to jokes, Idioms are one of the hardest things to me interpret, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. The English language has a lot of Idioms, unfortunately that are used in everyday language. So to help explore Idioms, let’s get some help from Taylor. Taylor actually has a three part segment on Idioms. Try using some of these in your daily signing! Happy Interpreting!!

Part Two

Part Three

Practice makes Perfect! Today’s practices are relating to the recent election and its results. We’re going to talk about voting, people. I know you’re probably tired of it, but it’s important that we know the vocabulary and know how to interpret it.

Today’s Expressive Practice is from Eric Liu “There’s no such thing as not voting”

For the interactive script, click here: http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_liu_there_s_no_such_thing_as_not_voting/transcript?language=en

Today’s Receptive Practice comes from the Daily Moth. The Daily Moth is a news program that updates you on the most trending news in ASL. They have a website, a YouTube channel, an Instagram and twitter. Alex the host is covering the election results.

Website: http://dailymoth.com/

YouTube Channel: The Daily Moth

Instagram: @thedailymoth

Twitter: @thedailymoth

Practice makes Perfect!!! I’m so excited!! It’s my favorite subject: Fingerspelling!! I know most of you dread fingerspelling, but it is essential to interpreting. Today the videos are short, so don’t feel overwhelmed.

Today’s Receptive Video features Miss Patty Gold naming all the Presidents

Today’s Receptive Video comes from June McMahon past president of the Florida Association of the Deaf

Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf African-American female attorney in the United States. Born in Jamaica, Gordon became deaf at the 8 years old after having sharp pains in her ears. At 11, she moved to the United States and attended Lexington School for the Deaf in New York. In 1995, she graduated form Howard University with a Bachelors in Political Science. She later went to the American University Washington College of Law. She has worked as a staff attorney for the National Association for the Deaf, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as a Public Engagement Advisor and in the White House. She has received the 2005 Hurricane Response Award, the Paul G. Hearne Leadership Award, the 2010 Deaf Life Magazine Deaf Person of the Year award, and the 2011 Amos Kendall Award. The former Miss Deaf American and Delta Sigma Theta member, is a member of many organizations including the National Association of the Deaf Law and Advocacy Center and Black Law Students Association.

Learn more:

Claudia Gordon Prezi

Today in Deaf History: IDEA was signed into law

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) also known as Public Law 101-476, IDEA was intended to replace the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) of 1975. It established “people first language” and extended special education services to include social work, assistive technology, and rehabilitation services. It also extended provisions for due process and confidentiality for students  and added the categories of autism and traumatic brain injury. It also required states to provide bilingual education programs for students with disabilities and to educate students with disabilities for transition to employment. It was signed into law October 30, 1990 by President George H.W. Bush.

Learn more:

IDEA Act

So for those of us wanting to be certified interpreters, we are eventually going to have to take the National Interpreter Certification Test or the NIC. The NIC recently received a makeover and is now headed by the Center for the Assessment of Sign Language Interpretation (CASLI).  The NIC includes two parts; a written knowledge exam and a performance exam. After taking and passing the knowledge exam, the interpreter has 5 years to take the Performance Exam.

The Knowledge exam includes topics and scenarios pertaining to the Interpreter’s Code of Professional Conduct (CPC) . YouTube has an awesome playlist that includes scenarios and an overview of the CPC. Once certified, an interpreter is not limited to the field they can enter.

Video Link: NIC Practice

Now if you’re pre-certified and a little worried about the NIC, like me, I suggest taking the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA). It evaluates the skills of interpreters in regards to interpreting in the Educational field or K-12.  However, it is only limited to the Educational field, unlike the NIC. The text consists of voice to sign and sign to voice skills testing, and unlike the NIC, they provide feedback!! You are rated on a scale of 1-6 and Georgia requires a 3.5 to interpret in the state. Here’s some practice videos:

Video Link:

EIPA Practice 1

EIPA Practice 2

Practice makes Perfect!!! So before we practiced some educational interpreting, how about some medical interpreting?

To learn some Medical Interpreting Vocab, I suggest checking out Bill Vicar’s Series on Medical Interpreting Vocab. It includes a total of 33 videos. I’m going to post the first one and provide a link for the whole playlist.

Video Link: Medical Interpreting Playlist

If you’re pressed for time, ASL Interpreter S. Hansen provides a few terms and websites to visit for more info. I’ll provide them below.

Video Links:

Deaf Doc

Deaf Health

So you have some of the vocabulary, ready to practice?

Today’s Expressive Practice is a General Exam.

Today’s Receptive video is a Doctor’s Visit.