[ID: My name is Mona Mehrpour and I am RID’s president. I identify as a middle eastern woman with dark brown hair pulled back, light tan skin, dark brown eyes and eye brows, gold jewelry which included earrings, necklace and rings, I am wearing a black cardigan with a wine/maroon top under and a blue background.]
On behalf of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), we acknowledge the profound impact of recent events in Minneapolis and their repercussions nationwide. These moments of crisis deeply affect the Deaf, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled communities, as well as the interpreters dedicated to serving them.
The Critical Necessity of Access
During civil unrest and emergency response, access to accurate information is a life-saving mandate, not an elective service. RID affirms that high-quality sign language interpretation is a fundamental right—especially during public safety briefings and moments of crisis.
When information is withheld or delayed, the result is more than a communication gap; it creates information deprivation, leading to significant psychological and emotional trauma for Deaf, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled individuals and can be life-threatening.
Supporting Our Linguistic First Responders
We must also address the immense toll this work takes on the interpreting profession. As linguistic first responders, interpreters are frequently exposed to distressing content. The resulting vicarious trauma and emotional labor are cumulative and often overlooked. Protecting interpreter well-being is a prerequisite for ensuring sustainable, high-quality access for the communities we serve.
Core Advocacy Principles
Our advocacy remains centered on three vital pillars:
- Access as a Mental Health Intervention: In a crisis, qualified interpretation is more than legal compliance—it is essential for safety. Information deprivation compounds fear and uncertainty, escalating trauma in high-risk environments.
- Second, interpreters must be supported and integrated as essential responders. We call on local and state authorities to formally recognize interpreters as an integral part of emergency response frameworks. RID advocates for a proactive partnership with State Departments of Emergency Management to ensure that communication access is embedded directly into the planning and mitigation phases. This integration must also include comprehensive mental health supports—such as trauma-informed debriefing and resilience resources—as a standard, non-negotiable component of all emergency preparedness and response protocols.
- Ethical Sustainability: We affirm that an interpreter’s well-being is directly linked to their ability to provide accurate, neutral, and effective communication. Prioritizing mental health is an act of professional integrity that protects both the interpreter and the consumer from the risks of burnout and diminished service quality.
Our Ongoing Commitment
RID continues to champion best practices, including the use of Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDIs) for high-stakes communications, proactive emergency contracting, and the formal integration of interpreters into training protocols.
We reaffirm our support for peaceful civic engagement. The history of the civil rights movement reminds us that communication access is inseparable from justice. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) serves as a reminder that access is a right, never a privilege.
We call upon our Affiliate Chapters and interpreting agencies to lead proactive, regional efforts in establishing robust emergency response networks. To ensure a unified and effective response during times of crisis, chapters should prioritize the following:
- Strategic Coalitions: Build formal partnerships with local, state, and national Deaf organizations to synchronize advocacy and resources.
- Capacity Building: Invest in the local interpreting workforce by providing specialized training in emergency settings and trauma-informed care while working collaboratively and proactively with first responders.
- Community-Centered Action: Ensure all initiatives are fundamentally rooted in—and guided by—the lived experiences and specific requirements of the Deaf, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled communities.
By fostering these connections now, we move from a reactive posture to a state of readiness that honors our commitment to communication access as a human right.
RID stands in solidarity with the communities and interpreters in Minnesota and across the country. We recognize the disproportionate impact that systemic instability has on marginalized groups, including immigrants and refugees within the Deaf community.
Our collective responsibility is to ensure access while upholding the principle of “do no harm.” This work requires courage, care, and an unwavering commitment to standing together.
RID remains dedicated to this mission.
Announcing Our Community Resource Hub
In a continued and renewed effort to improve our collective response, RID is exploring options in developing a centralized Resource Hub. Created in partnership with national organizations, this hub will serve as a “one-stop shop” for interpreters and the community. It will host emergency protocols, trauma-informed resources, and advocacy tools to ensure that when a crisis hits, our community is not just reacting—we are ready. We need your expertise to build this foundation. We invite you to contribute to this growing repository by sharing relevant resources, tools, or research.
RID remains committed to our work.
Thank you.