Archives

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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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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What kind of ASL interpreter do I want to be?

William Woods ASL

There are a few routes American Sign Language interpreters can take to earn their livings, three of which are described by the Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf: Agency, Freelance, and Contracted. You may work as an agency interpreter, which means you are employed by an agency that provides you job assignments. Sometimes interpreters work […]

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September 14th, 2016

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How do I become an American Sign Language Interpreter?

William Woods ASL

No origin story of an American Sign Language interpreter looks the same. You may have grown up with a Deaf member in your family. Or perhaps you got a taste of the language — whether in a class, at a concert, presentation or anywhere else — and knew that is what you wanted to do […]

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September 7th, 2016

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ASL Interpreting Career Spotlight: Educational Interpreting

William Woods ASL

A child’s understanding in the classroom is fundamental to his or her success. For Deaf and hard of hearing students attending a school with mostly hearing students, American Sign Language interpreters make the difference. Pepnet 2 — a federally funded project aimed at increasing the education, career and lifetime choices available to Deaf or hard […]

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July 12th, 2016

Posted in ASL At Work, Living Language

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ASL career spotlight: Deaf advocacy – Part 2

William Woods ASL

According to the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), 80 percent of the world’s 70 million Deaf people do not have access to education. Less than two percent of Deaf children have access to learning sign language, with the most limited access in developing countries. “The rights of Deaf people are often overlooked, especially in […]

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April 21st, 2016

Posted in ASL At Work, Deaf Culture

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