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ASL Interpreters in Hospitals — A Right for the Deaf Community

William Woods ASL

Pain or illness can be tough to articulate even when spoken in the same language. Describing pain to a healthcare provider in an emergency room means choosing between a series of specific, but highly subjective words — is it sharp, dull, burning or throbbing? Now, imagine how much the gap in communication multiplies for a […]

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November 5th, 2018

Posted in ASL At Work

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Bachelors in ASL students draw inspiration for reducing the Deaf unemployment rate

William Woods ASL

The U.S. unemployment rate is an issue that always garners much attention from politicians, with promises of more jobs and news outlets frequently reporting national trends. There is one sub set of the unemployed population however, that does not receive as much attention, and that is the Deaf and hard of hearing community. According to […]

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August 10th, 2018

Posted in ASL At Work, Deaf Culture

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Creative paths for Deaf, hard of hearing, and ASL interpreting majors: Deaf-led theatre

William Woods ASL

Paula Garfield spent 15 years as an actress, and for most of that time she was the only Deaf professional she knew working within a “mainstream” theatre company. Garfield became increasingly frustrated with the barriers that Deaf actors and directors face in the arts, and even more so, the lack of theatre created by Deaf […]

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May 16th, 2018

Posted in ASL At Work, Deaf Culture

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ASL Interpreting Specializations: Combining ASL studies with other practice areas

William Woods ASL

People with an understanding of ASL and Deaf culture are needed in nearly every field to help communicate with Deaf and hard of hearing people and ensure access for everyone. Did you ever think about how you could combine ASL Studies with another area? Often, William Woods University ASL interpretation studies and ASL Studies students […]

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March 21st, 2018

Posted in ASL At Work, Deaf Culture

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How Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDIs) Help in ASL Interpretation

William Woods ASL

It is not uncommon that William Woods University students and graduates of the ASL Interpretation Studies bachelor’s degree program will work alongside Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDIs) in their internship experiences and well into their professional career as ASL interpreters. But what exactly is a CDI, and what do they bring to the interpreting/communication experience? What […]

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February 14th, 2018

Posted in ASL At Work, ASL Books & Resources

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Be Encouraged: ASL Interpreting for Hip Hop

William Woods ASL

The Look into ASL blog has mentioned before that ASL interpreters can pursue a specialization as a performing arts interpreter, including interpreting concerts. Very often, musicians hire interpreters for their large venue concerts, and Deaf attendees can request interpreters for shows as well. Known for his powerful lyrics and heavy involvement in several philanthropic causes, […]

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July 26th, 2017

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Tips for new interpreters: the job search

William Woods ASL

With spring break in the rear-view mirror, ASL Interpreting seniors make their final move toward employment as full-time interpreters. It is always a good idea for beginning interpreters to ask themselves a few questions before they even begin their job search process: “What kind of hours do I want to work?” “What are my long-term […]

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May 5th, 2017

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True Confidence for New Interpreters

William Woods ASL

There is always new ground to cover in American Sign Language interpreting, and new interpreters — no matter how practiced or knowledgeable or sharp — can only gain experience from time in the field. Thankfully, experienced interpreters can pass on ideas and personal experiences to help new interpreters gain confidence, and understand certain situations. For […]

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March 6th, 2017

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Infographic: The steps to becoming an ASL interpreter

William Woods ASL

In a previous Look Into ASL Studies article, we covered how to become an ASL interpreter, mentioning that no person’s journey to becoming an interpreter looks the same, but they all include patience, persistence, dedication, professional training, and practice. We’ve put a few steps in the process into an infographic below. But remember, meeting with […]

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January 13th, 2017

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5 Fun Ways to practice ASL interpreting

William Woods ASL

The only way to learn a new language to fluency is through a lot of hours of practice and immersion. Most people studying ASL Interpreting find communication with ASL to already be pretty fun, but returning to the same practice methods can often leave you in a rut. With ASL, the more you can grow […]

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December 1st, 2016

Posted in ASL At Work

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