Materials:

This workshop will present an overview of these complex situations and an introduction to the techniques used in mental health interpreting. These techniques can be valuable to interpreters working where legal and mental health overlap, providing additional tools to assist in responding to the inherently difficult multiple demands. This two-hour webinar is designed for interpreters with legal interpreting experience who have an interest in, or already are, working in these situations.

Presenter Bio: Mr. Williams is the Executive Director of the Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center. He has a M.S.W., specializing in community mental health, and has worked as an interpreter and trainer, primarily in mental health interpreting, for over 40 years. He is RID/NAD certified and a Qualified Mental Health Interpreter-Supervisor.

Educational Objectives: Participants will be able to

• Explain the differences between the typical approaches used in legal and mental health interpreting settings and potential challenges that each present in forensic mental health settings.
• Define the role of the interpreter in forensic mental health settings and how they would work as part of the assessment team.
• Describe three techniques which might be used during an evaluation to assist in obtaining an accurate assessment.

Materials:

Description: There is a swell of energy and interest in the field of sign language interpretation to examine equity from many different perspectives. When investigating issues of power, privilege and oppression, commonly used texts do not acknowledge the importance of racial identity, and the Deaf identity, as equal influences for a persons’ whole identity formation. Research on how race intersects with power, privilege and oppression in interpreted events is sparse at best.

This webinar will explore some of the racial microaggressions American Sign Language interpreters commit. Through a lens of transformative justice and authentic critical self-reflection you are invited to consider the notion that American Sign Language interpreters can view their practice as an act of social justice. This is offered with the hope that serious and honest dialogue can provide an understanding of cultural competency beyond a Deaf–hearing binary. The work of social justice does not only benefit those that are oppressed, but by everyone confronting acts of injustice we all have the opportunity to gain liberation. “The true focus of revolutionary change is never merely the oppressive situations that we seek to escape, but that piece of the oppressor which is planted deep within each of us” (Lorde, 2007).

Educational Objectives: Upon completion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Describe how racial microaggressions impact Deaf consumers of color
• Define the meaning of white fragility
• Identify transformative behaviors interpreters can enact in their practice
• Recognize the cultural capital and rich complexity of intersectional identities

Materials:

Shifting Perspectives: Navigating the Legal System Through Deaf Eyes

Pre-recorded Date: May 2019 
Presenters: Panel

Description: Interpreting is not just about the words and signs being used but about understanding the goals and world views of the people communicating in that particular situation. More importantly, interpreters benefit from having an understanding of the impact and outcome of the situation that is being interpreted.

This is a panel that was held during a national training that brought together individuals who were working with deaf people who are navigating the legal system to explore and understand the impact that interpreters have on that process. These experts are deaf people who will share their lived experiences through recorded narratives and individuals who represent deaf rights and advocacy organizations and the attorneys who are representing deaf people in various stages of legal experiences; criminal, family, & civil matters. The opportunity for interpreters to shift their perspective and to hear directly from these experts has never been done before.

Educational Objectives: During the webinar, participants will demonstrate comprehension and integration of information presented by

• Recognizing different legal-specific settings where interpreters are providing services
• Recalling, explaining, and comparing/contrasting any personal experience they have had interpreting or witnessing interpreting in legal settings
• Differentiating the interpreter’s knowledge, skills, and abilities that apply to different legal settings based on information shared from the experts
• Inferring how different decision making approaches impact deaf people in legal settings based on the information shared from the experts
• Generating solutions to apply in their own community to reduce institutional and systematic barriers for deaf people navigating the legal system.

Materials:

Materials: