Interpreters from all over the east coast traveled to Providence for TERPexpo this past weekend.  As a new interpreter, I have a love/hate relationship with workshops.  I love learning new information, I hate realizing I have a a long way to go.  This love roller coaster didn't seem like such a long ride when a few presenters used an arts integrated approach to their topics.  Peter Cook and Crom Saudners applied Acting I and improv lessons to teach interpreters how to better understand Characterization and describe the indescribable.  Not only did we learn how to broaden our ASL skills, but there was a feeling of openness and acceptance amongst the group.  I also noticed that the idea of "Yes, and...." can be useful with teaming.  In improv, everyone needs to contribute ideas and accept ideas equally to keep the story flowing and funny.  So if I was leading my group in one direction for an improv skit and another person took the lead, they would transition by accepting my story so far ("Yes"), then adding their own spin ("...and...").  I worked with Curtis, another RI interpreter, to become an inanimant object with a personality.  Our creation of an exhausted treadmill needed quite a few "Yes, and..." moments.  We ended up creating a vivid relationship between a treadmill and an en I can see this technique working well with teaming.  Afterall, it is two cast members sharing the same goal to keep the story flowing.  
 
 
I stumbled upon DeafDoc's people at a DeafExpo in Chicago a few years back.  I thought it was a bunch of hearing people awkwardly signing SICK, HOSPITAL, and VOMIT.  Boy, was I wrong.  What they developed was a pretty extensive medical resource for Deaf people, interpreters and hearing health care professionals.  


Here's a sampling from www.deafdoc.org from their page titled, "Health Care Providers: How to Evaluate Interpreters"


Clear and unfettered communication is a vital first step in establishing an effective and safe provider—patient relationship.

How many of you have experienced a situation where you ask a patient a question through an interpreter.  The interpreter and patient seem to go back and forth for quite some time, finally, the interpreter says, “yes (or no).” 

This situation creates a dilemma for the health care provider, AND for the patient!  You, the provider did not understand what just took place, and the patient is not sure if the interpreter accurately represented what you just asked.  You also can not effectively evaluate the interpreter or the communication process......

This site touches upon various areas in medical interpreting including, turn taking, jargon, and payment. DeafDoc.org paired with our standard practice papers could be a winning pair if you find yourself at a loss for words in an interpreting situation.  



Hayley J.
 
 
RI RID needed a face lift, so what did we do? 

Added board members....check!
Colorful newsletter....check!
Updated website....check!
Trendy blog...um check?

Our new blog is way to connect people to RI RID's real membership.  Sure we post information about conferences and workshops, but do we go?  We post about things happening in RI, but what do we think? 


Our first blog will give a kind nod to a fellow interpreter showcasing his work on YouTube.  Eric Witteborg, or Ewitteborg as he's known on YouTube is getting lots of hits, and rightfully so.  Ewitteborg shows some of his interpretations of songs in English and Spanish, and stories about being a CODA.  I've laughed, I've cried, I've tried to make my face move like his.  I'd like to share one of his recent posts showing how dynamic ASL really is.  He uses a few handshapes in this interpretation basically to show how awesome ASL.  His more articulate reasons are posted below his video at http://www.youtube.com/user/ewitteborg#p/u/3/t3JIL_IW7Rg 

Enjoy and tune in soon to see what else is going on with RI RID!

Thanks!
Hayley J.