Workshop set for deaf interpreters

From: Red Bluff Daily News, CA - Apr 14, 2005

By REBECCA WOLF-DN Staff Writer

RED BLUFF The Tehama County Department of Education will hold a deaf interpreter workshop Saturday to help interpreters prepare for new state standards.

Cathy Wilson, supervisor and interpreter coordinator for the Department of Education and a sign language instructor for Shasta College, is organizing the workshop hoping to bring national training to the north state area for local instructors.

Twenty people have registered for the class from as far away as Oregon and the Bay area.

According to Wilson, interpreters must meet be at a level four certification by 2007 in order to work in the K-12 school setting.

Saturday's training will focus on interpreters relaying information from student signing to voice and the ethics involved with confidentiality of students.

Catherine Thomas, the president of the Sacramento Valley Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, will lead the workshop.

Wilson said the class is just one step to help interpreters complete the level four certification.

"This workshop will give them tips and will allow them to work with fully certified interpreters," she said.

The class also counts as professional growth units for college.

Wilson said she would like to put on four workshops a year with grant money from the state intended to help interpreters become certified.

"We want to provide national level training in the local area," she said.

There are approximately a dozen deaf students in Tehama County schools, Wilson said.

While the class is designed for interpreters working in the K-12 setting, Wilson said that it is open to anyone who has taken some basic sign language classes.

The class will be held from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the offices of the Department of Education at 1135 Lincoln St.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and costs $25. To register, call Peggy Murphy at 527-5811.

WHAT: Deaf interpreter workshop

WHEN: Saturday, April 16 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

COST: $25

WHERE: Tehama County Department of Education, 1135 Lincoln St.