Colorado 增加项目
科罗拉多 Rural Interpreter Skills Enhancement (上升) Project is a contractual collaboration between the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind (CCDHHDB) and the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) 美国手语 & Interpreting Studies Department (美国手语IS) under the leadership of Susan Brown (UNC 美国手语IS) and Trish Leakey (CCDHHDB). The goal of this collaboration is to increase the number of qualified interpreters by providing training and an induction period to practitioners working in rural Colorado and support the particitioners' efforts to obtain a state recognized interpreting 认证,e.g., Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf National Interpreter Certification (NIC), Texas Board of Evaluation (BEI) Certification.
飞行员
In early 2018, the Colorado Joint Budget Committee appropriated funding to CCDHHDB 创建 Rural Interpreting Services Project (RISP) pilot to address sign language interpreting shortages and barriers in rural 州内地区. One of the objectives of the funding was to provide American Sign Language (美国手语)-English interpreter training to rural* practitioners in Colorado.
*Rural indicates areas in Colorado outside the parameters of the Front Range.
To provide interpreter training, CCDHHDB partnered with the UNC 美国手语IS in 2019 to develop and implement a pilot training 程序 for a first cohort. The pilot training was implemented with 20 students completing the curriculum. In 2021, students moved on to a one-year apprenticeship working with RISP interpreter mentors.
Pilot Permanently Funded
The 增加项目 (2022-2025) is a continuation of the 2019-2021 CCDHHDB RISP pilot 程序. The RISP Pilot is now a permanently funded 程序 called Rural Auxiliary 服务(RAS). The RAS 程序 is intent on providing quality interpreter services 到科罗拉多农村地区. CCDHHDB and 美国手语IS will continue the training partnership with a second cohort beginning in summer 2022 through the 增加项目.
The Why Behind the 增加项目
Working and residing in rural communities involves challenging obstacles for all working 专业人士. For 美国手语-English Interpreters working with Deaf, hard of hearing, and Deafblind adults in rural communities these challenges go beyond the challenges of interpreters working in urban communities. Individuals providing interpreting services in rural communities are often not in compliance with state interpreter laws (e.g., RID NIC certification, licensing) nor are they monitored or offered mentoring opportunities. These practitioners work in isolation, many have not completed an interpreter training 程序, and have limited to no professional networking opportunities or access to substantial professional development. The impact on the rural Deaf community equates to a lack of appropriate access and results in unequal access to vital community-based 程序s and services.
增加项目 Objectives
- Increase the number of qualified interpreters working in rural areas of Colorado.
- Cultivate a Community of Learning and Practice by engaging facilitators, language/interpreter mentors, 上升 students, and RAS interpreting mentors in meaningful dialog of shared interpreting experiences in rural Colorado.
- Conduct pre-post diagnostic assessments to determine 上升 student progress and efficacy 的培训.
- Deliver eight, eight-week instructional modules to twelve practitioners interested in or are working in rural areas of the Colorado.
- Increase the capacity of instructional facilitators and mentors in selected rural areas who can continue to assist rural interpreters in acquisition of interpreting 知识与技能.
