Sharing a post I put on KAI-RID page as I am not sure how visible it is to folks. For fellow interpreters and Deaf colleagues: Fellow KAI-RID members - As I sit here typing this post I am flooded with mixed emotions. On one hand I believe people who work as interpreters, in Kansas and across the country, are good people - we care about the people with whom we work, we take pride in our work, we want to do good work, and we have the best of intentions. I am proud to have many interpreter colleagues who: • walk with integrity • work diligently to unpack their own privilege • maintain respect for consumers of their work, and • who seek opportunities to grow and improve. On the other hand I see consequences of poor choices made by interpreters, often as a result of forgetting our own privilege as members of a society in which we have access to communication in our own language day-in and day-out. Sometimes the consequences of these choices (unintentional or not) result in: • Deaf people being blatantly left out of conversations, • Deaf people who have not gotten equivalent communication, • hearing people who have skewed perceptions of deaf people based on inaccurate interpretations, • flippant comments made by interpreter colleagues about Deaf people and/or ASL. Witnessing these consequences can leave me feeling angry – even hopeless sometimes. Since my life experience has taught me that what I think about expands, I work consciously to attend to that which I hope to “expand’ – to see more of. So, I intentionally focus on the consequences of the responsible and effective practices of interpreters, and do my best to engage in honest dialogue with colleagues in the interest of holding ourselves accountable (we are all human, after all). Most of the time, this approach works well. It provides opportunities for growth, recognition, support, and overall healthy interactions. However, I find myself at a time when it is difficult to focus on the positive actions that I hope see to expand. I recently learned of a vote by the Kansas Commission of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (KCDHH) to extend the transition from KQAS to NIC by two years. While I am unhappy about the actual extension, as I believe it is not in the best interest of either interpreters or people whom we serve, I am also very concerned about the process in which this vote happened. When the original decision was made in 2010 to transition the KQAS from a certification tool to a diagnostic tool and transfer the certifying responsibility to RID, it was a result of work done by a task force consisting of statewide representation. A process was followed, and a vote was made. After the vote occurred, the communication plan, which had been considered throughout, was carried out to inform key stakeholders. The original plan for the transition was no simple feat. As a member of that task force, I feel the work I did alongside my fellow colleagues has been completely devalued. Prior to the recent vote to extend the timeline, the original committee was not consulted. I am not aware of any outreach efforts done by any KCDHH representative to get a pulse of their community before placing their vote. Furthermore, I have yet to receive any official communication by KCDHH informing the community of this recent vote. I am very concerned that the board is making decisions of this weight in the absence of an Executive Director, and without greater outreach to the communities it represents and the stakeholders whom it serves. Since KAI-RID is our state, professional organization, I think it is time we come together more often to engage in responsible, professional and respectful dialogue about the state of our field. The recent happenings within KCDHH are a good place to start! I will be attending the next state board meeting in Wichita on Saturday, November 9 to express my concerns regarding the recent KCDHH vote and process. I hope from there, steps will be identified to help move us toward responsible, effective practices as a statewide organization of interpreters so we can focus on constructive, responsible ways to collaborate with each other (across the state) and with the greater Deaf community. Hope to see some of you there! If you can’t make it – be sure to keep an eye out for the minutes! ASL Version: youtu.be/MguCpGGvFpA
Posted on: Fri, 08 Nov 2013 14:56:50 +0000
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