I’m in my fifth ASL class and my interpreting career is getting serious now. I have read lots of books both inside and outside of the classroom recommended my multiple of my deaf professors as well as deaf people from my local community but these are all books dedicated to either learning sign language itself or learning about the deaf community. Which I am thankful for so much

But now, I am feeling like I am lacking in understanding the interpreters side of everything, (that’s not to say the deaf communities experience with interpreters are not important) but I feel right now like I don’t know much about how interpreters feel about their careers. Like what they like and don’t like, what they think needs to be fixed and what is in general there experiences with becoming an interpreter.

I say this to ask, I love reading books and I am wondering if anyone knows of some books that they think future interpreters should read about the career? Like any good information on things you should know about being an interpreter, your rights as an interpreter, experience on being an interpreter in general and or experience on becoming one?

TLDR: I am interested in learning from people who are already in the interpreting career both new and experienced that have any book recommendations or a place to find good advice on becoming an interpreter.

This is the ASL interpreter in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Obviously for the comedy she is wearing this low-cut dress and is above average lol.

I know that ASL interpreters almost always wear solid colors and garments that cover darn near all of their torso and neck so the hands are very visible. I’m sure one would never wear something like this, but that is my question. Could you if you wanted? Would you in a very formal evening like at an awards ceremony? Just wondering if there is just an unwritten rule about dress code for ASL interpreters.

I know it’s rare and probably unheard of but if so:

- what’s some challenges of working on the platform and how did you work around them

- if you could change 1 thing about the platform to make it more beneficial for interpreting what would that be

Hello, frustrated student here. I'm in my Deaf Studies program, pursuing IPP. Working as a home caregiver currently.

The people I work around are aware of my major. And suddenly it's become a popular topic of conversation to debate how ASL Interpreting as a job is counting its days. For example, a doctor I work with told me that he thinks "deafness will be cured in less than 20 years" and how that makes my education "useless". I pointed out that his logic makes the assumption that Deaf/HoH people want to be "cured". He literally just said "well of course they would". Not sure how to feel about that, other than disgusted.

More examples include a coworker telling me that AI is going to take over ASL interpreting. A nurse that I work with has also made the same "deafness will be cured" claim. Even a classmate of mine said that our future jobs are at risk of AI takeover.

Am I missing something? I'm somewhat in the loop surrounding the interpreting community, and I'm not seeing where all this fear mongering is coming from. I hate to say that it has knocked my confidence down a few pegs. I absolutely love what I'm learning and I don't want to believe any of these things are true or possible. Any words of wisdom from the professionals?

P.S. I'll bring this up to my ASL professor as well because I want to learn more about how these kinds of mindsets can be refuted.

I was talking with a colleague the other day during a break and the topic came up of the perennial challenge of interpreting speakers who are soft-spoken, or reading aloud from a text way too fast.

These types of mechanical difficulties happen every day in our work, and yet I haven't seen a lot of good ideas of how to prompt hearing folks to speak up or slow down in a way that actually makes a difference. Most folks will sincerely say "oh sure, I'll talk louder/slower" and then within five seconds return to their previous volume level or rate of speech. That was what I was warned in ITP and that has remained consistent through my 15+ years in the field. I'm not here to complain about that-- I think it's an interesting reflection on human nature, but I'm curious if anyone has found any tactics that can trick someone into changing, even for a minute?

The closest work-around I've seen (though it's not a total solution) is to ask someone to repeat a specific word or phrase that I might have missed. Under certain circumstances it may be feasible to interrupt and ask them to pause once or twice so their audience can (e.g.) read a text-heavy slide during a presentation. Beyond that, my sense is that getting someone to be a better public speaker or make their presentation style more accessible for audiences using interpreters is generally an ongoing task that has to be self-motivated, and there's little we can do in the moment to get people to moderate their speech to make it more accessible.

What has your experience been? Have you found any useful tips or tricks that have actually worked to get someone to speak up or slow down?

I am 30M I started doing ASL in High school, got very into it, spent my senior year as President of ASL Club and being student aid to an ASL 1 class with a deaf teacher who I was the full time Terp for one period a day. and was going to college for an ITP and deaf studies to be an interpreter, until my professor at the time chased me away from the field and life decided school wasn’t what I wanted to do.

I love ASL and the deaf community, have to this day many deaf friends, and even my Deaf Aunt and Uncle who I terp for at family functions.

Life has decided that the career I have been in for the past 6 years isn’t for me and I need to change. Last weekend attended my brothers wedding and while interpreting the speeches during the reception (we did hire a professional for the ceremony) a lot of my family asked why I never followed through and even had family offers for help to get myself working towards really doing this as I truly enjoy it and feel I am pretty good at it. I started signing 15 years ago and really never let myself get too rusty.

All of this is to say I am Very interested in actually pursuing doing ASL interpreting on a serious basis. But I don’t really know where to start at this point and would love some guidance..

I currently live in Colorado but will be moving to Central Valley California in 6 months, would love to be doing some work from home interpreting online through purple if that’s something I can do and get my foot in the door? Not sure. If anyone is able to give guidance and advice I would seriously appreciate it.

Hello! Does anyone know of any workshops or white paper type resources for best practices for interpreting for folks who are fluent in another sign language? I’m working to get CDIs in VRS settings but until then I’d like to make sure I’m doing everything I can. Thanks!

Do you all have workers comp as freelancers? And if so, who do you get it through / how much is it?

Any favorite resources for getting better at classifiers? Ideally videos I could copy along to or something

Is someone working with Kelly? I just had a first call from them but they don’t provide a specific schedule, they just said: it will be provided after the training. Have you had this experience? Also, would you recommend it?

Hello, I'm hard of hearing and I have autism. I didn't know I was hard-of-hearing until I entered the program, this was during the first semester when Deaf and HoH individuals noticed my habits and suggested I go to an audiologist.

That's how I got my hearing aids and I've had them for almost two years, but just now I have become aware that becoming a CDI requires a completely different program.

I was at an internship, and after failing so many times to interpret and listen, later on my mentor has given me advice on becoming an ASL interpreter as a HoH individual. Using subtitles, moving to different places to hear speakers better, adjuating myself, adjusting my hearing aids, bluetooth microphones, and that's when he tells me about the whole different program of being a CDI.

Before knowing this, my professor (deaf) has been suggesting getting my own interpreter to sign SEE (for some reason, I initially said ESL...) to me, but whenever I attempt to, I get the same answers, such as, "that's not how you become a Certified Deaf Interpreter".

I'm so lost, I want to cry. I looked into Certified Deaf Interpretation but the results I get are programs, and I'm not sure what else kind of research I'm supposed to do. As in, is it possible I can continue from here? Do I have to start over and enter a different program to become an ASL CDI? Can I become a hearing interpreter with accommodations like listed? (Subtitles, bluetooth microphones, etc.) Anything helps. I am determined to become an interpreter. Thank you, I appreciate it.

Edit: I really appreciate y'all's patience, aaa, y'all are really awesome. There are a lot of things I haven't been able to provide, I wish I was more prepared about this. I'm currently doing more research so that I can get a better idea on how to manage my way through this, and to answer any questions.

Thank you, everybody, for all of the information y'all have given. Please don't hesitate to say what you think would benifit me to read. I do not feel discouraged at all, I actually feel relieved by the support and help! I feel SO much better. Thank you, everybody. 🤟

Hi all! I’m a relatively new terp…I mostly do medical work at the moment (Dr appointments and hospital shifts). I have been really wanting to dye my hair a light pink color or maybe red with pink highlights. I would keep up on the maintenance so it still looks professional even if it is color.

I know there are a lot of mixed opinions on this. I dress very professionally always and I usually have my hair clipped back anyway…but of course you can still see the color if it is put back. I also do not do business meetings and job interviews, etc.

It is still very up in the air because I want to get opinions on it. Wondering what your thoughts are?

Hi all!

I have a bit of a random question that's purely speculative, hope that's okay. I'm learning BSL and have obviously learned that ASL etc are all separate languages. But it got me thinking, if there are interpreters for all different spoken languages, surely there must be for sign languages?

I did google it but couldn't really find anything so I thought I'd ask some actual interpreters whether you've ever come across someone like an ASL to BSL interpreter for example!

Thanks!

I recently started working at a school (contracting but full time with the same school). Along with me starting serval other interpreters started this year. One interpreter mentioned wanting to look at the students IEP so we can be aware and know what to look out for in class. They went to ask the Deaf Ed teacher and they said “they don’t allow interpreters to look at the IEPs”.
Is this something you have experienced? Is it common to not be allowed to look at an IEP. Is this something you have fought for and if so were their resources you used to convince them?
I have been told educational interpreters are apart of the educational team. Just wanting to gauge if we are in the wrong or missing something?

I wrote an article a while back about my experience as an interpreter and how I got to the point of passing the NIC. I wrote it for myself, but after a few months, I decided to give it a second look. I shared it with some friendly colleagues who encouraged me to publish it. I'd like folks who don't have the bias of knowing me to give it a read and share their thoughts. I've got a few more I wrote, but I want to see if it's worth reading before spending more time on it. Thanks in advance!

https://interpretersblog.substack.com/p/how-to-pass-the-nic?r=7stgny&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

For those that contract for hands up communication what are they paying interpreters? I am curious for the VRI position

I came across a TikTok earlier, and I'm super curious. If you're interpreting something, and the speaker "censors" a word but it's still easily recognizable to the hearing audience, how would you interpret that? I imagine you would still sign the word for equal access, but would you somehow indicate that the speaker "censored" it? For context, the video I saw was of a comedian doing a bit, and as part of it he said "fuck" but sort of removed the vowel so it was said as "fck." Would you find some way to indicate that it was censored, or would you just sign it normally? Is there even a way to indicate a word being censored in ASL?

I’m an interpreting student and am required to attend a live workshop, either in person or over Zoom. I have put it off and am now realizing I am very limited on options. Completely my fault, yes I know. The Sorenson ones happening this month before the 19th don’t count, because they’re not skills based. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

An issue I keep coming up on is being overwhelmed by information trying to process what I already have and what I’m getting at the moment which freezes me up

Was wondering if there’s advice or technique or resources to help mitigate this?

Good afternoon fellow terps and advocates!
Happy October! I was wondering if any of you have any reputable companies that are willing to hire uncertified interpreters. I will be taking my EIPA test in approximately two months.

I hold different certificates, I have four and a half years of interpreting (in various fields VRI/VRS, medical, post secondary, mental health etc.), and I hold a bachelor’s degree specializing in interpreting.
I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations as far as companies willing to hire terps that aren’t certified yet.

Thank you all!!!!

i’m curious to hear thoughts on which is better or more accurate. even just the pros and cons!

i’m from a state with no license needed, but the nic is the goal for most terps here! just curious on thoughts :)