April 2024

Neurodiversity Webinar Series

Beyond the Spectrum: An Introduction to Neurodiversity in the Interpreting Profession

Presenters: Amanda Kennon, NIC & Laura Polhemus, NIC Advanced

Where: Zoom

Participants will encounter privilege, identity, intersectionality, stigma, and ableism through a neurodivergent lens. This knowledge will encourage participants to assess and remove barriers throughout the interpreting profession. After the presenters provide an introduction to the neurodivergent community, conditions, and commonly used terminology, participants will have an opportunity to apply the Demand-Control Schema and analyze the unique challenges that neurodivergent interpreters experience. These activities will prompt participants to internalize the power of “and” regarding what neurodivergent interpreters bring to the profession – individually and collectively.

>>Register Here to Earn CEUs

>>Register Here for no CEUs

Language: Conducted in ASL with English interpretation

Educational Objectives: 

After this workshop, participants will be able to:

  1. Explain the differences between neurodiversity, neurodivergent, and neurotypical. 
  2. List at least three examples of neurodivergent conditions.
  3. Define key terminology including spoon theory, ableism, gatekeeping, and gaslighting. 
  4. Apply the Demand-Control Schema to analyze the unique demands and controls that neurodivergent interpreters experience.

Assessment of Learning:

  1. Participants will write their own definitions of the terms taught during the workshop.
  2. Participants will discuss neurodiversity and the Demand-Control Schema in small and large groups. 
  3. Participants will complete a Likert scale evaluation at the end of the session.

Prior Knowledge: Little to none

Beyond the Spectrum: Application for Neurodivergent Interpreters is a Community of Practice for neurodivergent interpreters to assess the stigmas and challenges of being a neurodivergent individual and interpreter. Using the RID Code of Professional Conduct and Demand-Control Schema as a framework, participants will have the opportunity to share stories, strategies, and resources while evaluating the implications and impact of spoon theory, imposter syndrome, executive functioning, time blindness, task paralysis, sensory differences, body doubling, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), and more.

>>Register for Session 2 and Earn CEUs

>>Register for Session 2 and not Earn CEUs

>>Package for Neurodivergent Interpreters: Register Here to Earn CEUs! (Webinar 1, 2 & 5)

>>Package for Neurodivergent Interpreters: Register Here for no CEUs! (Webinar 1, 2 & 5)

Language: ASL with no English interpretation

Educational Objectives

After this workshop, participants will be able to:

  1. Assess the stigmas and challenges of being a neurodivergent individual and interpreter.
  2. Evaluate the implications and impact of spoon theory, imposter syndrome, executive functioning, time blindness, task paralysis, sensory differences, body doubling, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), and more on neurodivergent interpreters using Demand-Control Schema as a framework.

Assessment of Learning

  1. Participants will engage in small and large group discussions.
  2. Participants will create a shared document on ways to make the field accessible to neurodivergent interpreters.
  3. Participants will complete a Likert scale evaluation at the end of the session.

Prior Knowledge: Some

Beyond the Spectrum: Application for Students is a Community of Practice for neurodivergent interpreting students to evaluate the challenges and successes they are experiencing in their Interpreting Training Programs. Participants will have the opportunity to describe what accommodations have worked for them, what they wish were offered, and how ITPs can foster inclusion and belonging. Participants will engage in breakout groups to facilitate growth and understanding.

>>Register for Session 3 and Earn CEUs

>>Register for Session 3 and not Earn CEUs

>>Package for Students: Register Here for Earn CEUs! (Webinar 1, 3 & 5)

>>Package for Students: Register Here for no CEUs! (Webinar 1, 3 & 5)

Language: Conducted in English with ASL interpretation

Educational Objectives

After this workshop, participants will be able to:

  1. Reflect on the stigmas and challenges neurodivergent students experience during their education.  
  2. Celebrate successes neurodivergent students are experiencing in their Interpreter Training Programs. 
  3. Analyze offered academic accommodations and reflect on their effectiveness. 
  4. Propose tools educators and non-neurodivergent peers can use to support neurodivergent students.
  5. Question current atmospheres of inclusion and belonging and identify potential areas of improvement. 

Assessment of Learning

  1. Participants will engage in small and large group discussions.
  2. Participants will create a shared document on ways to support neurodivergent interpreting students.
  3. Participants will complete a Likert scale evaluation at the end of the session.

Prior Knowledge: Some

Beyond the Spectrum: Application is Community of Practice open to all students, interpreters, educators,  and consumers to examine how we, as individuals and a profession, can support neurodivergent interpreting students, colleagues, and consumers while balancing accessibility and inclusion. Additionally, participants will reflect on the stigma that neurodivergent interpreters and consumers experience and propose how we can dismantle ableist thoughts and behaviors from a variety of perspectives.

>>Register for Session 4 and Earn CEUs

>>Register for Session 4 and not Earn CEUs

>>Package for Anyone: Register Here to Earn CEUs! (Webinar 1, 4 & 5)

>>Package for Anyone: Register Here for no CEUs! (Webinar 1, 4 & 5)

Language: ASL with no English interpretation

Educational Objectives

After this workshop, participants will be able to:

  1. Examine how we, as individuals and a profession, can support neurodivergent interpreting students, colleagues, and consumers while balancing accessibility and inclusion.
  2. Reflect on the stigma that neurodivergent interpreters and consumers experience.
  3. Propose how we can dismantle ableist thoughts and behaviors from a variety of perspectives.

Assessment of Learning

  1. Participants will engage in small and large group discussions.
  2. Participants will create a shared document on ways to make the field accessible to neurodivergent interpreters.
  3. Participants will complete a Likert scale evaluation at the end of the session.

Prior Knowledge: Some

Finally, the workshop series will conclude the Beyond the Spectrum: Community Voices with Deaf neurodivergent individuals sharing their experiences and perspectives as consumers, interpreters, and educators through a facilitated discussion.

>>Register for Session 5 to Earn CEUs!

>>Register Here Session 5 and not Earn CEUs!

Language: ASL with no English interpretation

Educational Objectives

After this workshop, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe the intersectionality of identities, including deafness and neurodivergence.
  2. Propose how interpreters can mitigate the stigma experienced by neurodivergent consumers.

Assessment of Learning

  1. Participants will complete a Likert scale evaluation at the end of the session.

Prior Knowledge: None

Accessibility Notice: As a reasonable accommodation, the Exploration session will be conducted in ASL with English interpretation and the Application for Students will be conducted in English with ASL interpretation. All other sessions will be conducted in ASL with no English interpretation.

Deaf History Month

The Power of Deaf Interpreters Through History

Presenter: Anne Leahy, PhD, CI and CT, NAD V

When and Where: Monday, April 8, 2024 1-4pm EST, Zoom

Language: ASL with no English interpretation

This webinar seeks to break old assumptions and beliefs about the roots of deaf interpreters. Did you know that…

  • Deaf interpreters are not a recent development. Their work has evolved over centuries, and this workshop demonstrates how the DI role emerged with separate historical foundations from their hearing counterparts. Understanding our origins from different and complementary centers is critical to unpacking stereotypes, challenging assumptions, and moving forward as a profession.
  • Deaf interpreters do have historical evidence. This workshop reveals inspiring accounts about centuries of DIs from documented court cases. Participants will recognize themselves as they explore centuries-ago creative interpreting strategies under pressure in working with deaf witnesses, victims, and defendants – both with and without hearing interpreter teams.
  • Deaf interpreters were not begun only in the United States. Though we use different signed languages, we share substantial intersectionality with BSL interpreters, through our common past of older educational and especially legal access in the United Kingdom.

  1. Participants will re-orient their self-concept to a revised historical perspective, through a brief snapshot of the hearing interpreter role within a 700-year legal framework. We will unpack the impact of that history to the present-day work of DI–HI teams.
  2. The development of the deaf interpreter pipeline from sociocultural origins will be shown as distinct from the HI pedigree. Early examples of deaf translators, educational intermediaries, and researchers are reclaimed and re-examined as part of the DI DNA.
  3. Participants will then trace evidence of deaf expert witnesses and interpreters along a timeline that challenges the way we situate ourselves within history today. In particular, the bases of historical DI privilege relative to deaf people they worked with will be deconstructed.
  4. To supplement folk narratives about DIs, participants will unpack transcripts and other documented accounts of deaf parties interacting with the legal/criminal justice system. Participants will broaden their understanding of the ways DIs have contributed to a safe and culturally affirming experience for centuries.

ASL with no English interpretation

March 2024

Women Empowering Women

Presenter: Tempest Cooper, MSW, ASW

When and Where: March 20, 2024 from 1-4pm ET, Zoom

Join Tempest on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at 1pm ET to celebrate women and learn how we can build one another up in the Deaf and interpreting worlds. This engaging webinar will discuss iconic figures in women’s history, touch on the experiences of women developing Alopecia and PCOS, address challenges Deaf women may face, and allow for discussion of various approaches to removing barriers black Deaf women can encounter with non-BIPOC interpreters. This webinar will be recorded for asynchronous viewing.

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

  1. Highlight achievements of historical women,
  2. Communicate the concepts of Alopecia & PCOS, and how these impact mental health in women,
  3. Identify common challenges women face in various fields,
  4. Advocate for and empower Deaf women working with interpreters, &
  5. Implement strategies for effective communication between black Deaf individuals and non-BIPOC interpreters.

ASL with no English interpretation