Classroom Interpreters - Professional Organizations and Resources

Educational interpreting is a fairly new profession, and there is no national organization specifically for interpreters who work in the K-12 setting. However, recently the national organization of interpreters, the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf has joined with the EIPA in order to ensure that educational interpreters are represented.

The RID and EIPA are finalizing an agreement where individuals who meet a certain level on the EIPA performance test, and other criteria, will be considered as fully-certified by RID. We hope this partnership will be finalized in summer 2006.

When this occurs, educational interpreters will be given RID membership at a reduced rate. Stay tuned to this web page for updates as this relationship becomes reality.

• Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf: A national organization that has long served community interpreters and in recent years has welcomed educational interpreters. This organization and its continuing education is an important resource for all interpreters, including those who work in the K-12 setting.
• University of Northern Colorado, Distance Opportunities for Interpreter Training Center: A national program for training educational interpreters using a combination of distance education and intensive summer classes. This program is directed by Dr. Leilani Johnson and Anna Witter-Merithew, with grant funding from the Office of Education. They are currently transitioning to a four-year distance education model.
• K-12 terps web-based discussion group: This is a group that uses Yahoo groups to have a national discussion group on issues related to K-12 interpreting. Joining is easy.
• Deaf Education website: This is a great resource website with lots of information and materials related to educating deaf and hard of hearing students.
• Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center: A great website hosted by the Clerc Center at Gallaudet University.
• Hands & Voices: A nationwide, parent driven, non-profit organization dedicated to providing unbiased support to families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• American Society for Deaf Children: A national organization for families of deaf children.
• AG Bell Association: A national organization that focuses on spoken English development.

Books and articles

Seal, Brenda C. Best Practices in Educational Interpreting. Published in 2003 by Pearson Education.

Marschark, Marc Raising and Educating a Deaf Child. 1998 Oxford University Press.

Sign Language Interpreting and Interpreter Education, Directions for Research and Practice
Edited by Marc Marschark, Rico Peterson and Elizabeth A. Winston. Oxford University Press. 2005

Educating Deaf Students, From Research to Practice, Marc Marschark, Harry G. Lang and John A. Albertini. 2001 Oxford University Press