PRESENTERS

Keynotes

Sally Palusci (Toronto, Ontario)

"An Exploration and An Invitation to View the World Through Deaf People’s Eyes"

This presentation will look at interpreters and their historic and current position within the Deaf Community. It will challenge participants to think beyond the individual and examine how the profession may be viewed by the broader Deaf community. The presenter will challenge participants to examine how a commitment to life long language learning is shared with, or made explicit to, the Deaf community.

The concept of interpreters as allies, as professionals who want and need feedback from Deaf people is complex and many layered. As a Deaf person the presenter will share some of her own life experiences and draw on those experiences to reflect a broader Deaf perspective. The presentation will examine the concept of power and how power relations may play out in the interpreter-Deaf consumer relationship. Participants will be asked to look at how Deaf Interpreters are changing the field of interpreting and how they are, or are not, allowed into the power centre of the interpreting world. Finally they will be asked to reflect on how business practices can shape the relationships between the Deaf and interpreter communities and how certain decisions may affect individual Deaf people’s lives.

The presentation will be an invitation to view the world through Deaf people’s eyes, thus allowing participants to see their own world differently.

Kirk Ferguson-Uhrich (Edmonton, Alberta)

“Going Somewhere from Here... a journey, a plan and a compass ... oh yeah, and a GPS”

This keynote topic addresses the brief history of the sign language interpreting field in Canada, as well as current developments that continue to unfold. Highlighting the significant contributions by research in signed language interpretation in North America, the keynote speaker will address some of these achievements as well as the often overlooked but significant contributions of individuals and groups, from both Deaf and interpreting communities. As a professional on a lived-journey, what lies ahead, might indeed, affect personal and professional well-being. Further, the speaker will touch on the professional journey we all aspire to embrace and touch on reviewing our professional plans infused with a passion for community service, knowledge building and desire for continuous learning.

Presenters – AVLIC 2010

Karen Malcolm: “Interpreter Education in Canada: The Road Ahead”
-Formal interpreter education in Canada has changed greatly in its relatively short thirty-year existence. A panel of representatives from the five ASL interpreter programs will address the challenges, share successes and envision the future. Participants will have the opportunity to engage panel members in a question period.

Barbara O'Dea: “Lang. Essentials, The Classroom Interpreter”
-Language samples will be used to examine LATE first language acquisition and the impact of that on Deaf children. The language-related issues that interpreters deal with and the professionals with whom they interact will be explored.

Gary Malkowski & Donald Prong: "Exploring the relationship between the Designated Interpreter and the Deaf Professional; Strategies for Success"
- A discussion of the relationship, skills and dynamics required for a successful partnership between a designated interpreter and Deaf professional. Our experiences (Political, Human Resources, Senior Management and Media) will be shared as well as other examples for Deaf professionals in other disciplines.

Sara MacFayden: “The Power of Two”
- This session will include the screening of a short documentary video, a presentation on the theory of learning as a socio-cultural process, and a discussion, with your novice and experienced peers, about the ideas brought forward.

Nigel Howard & Liz Scully: “An Exploration of Deaf and non-Deaf Sign Language Interpreters within the Concepts of non-Deaf and Deaf Spaces”
-The area of human geography will be drawn upon to investigate Deaf space as created when Deaf people come together. The perspectives of Deaf and non-Deaf interpreters when in one’s own “home” environment and that of another culture will be contrasted in a matrix format looking at elements such as the power base, message ownership and efficiency of interpretation.

Marty Taylor: “Interpreting Skills: Novice to Expert Characteristics”
- Sharing the results of a research study that identified over 50 skills present in expert interpreter work as well as the analysis of results from interviews with Deaf consumers and interpreters.

Ava Hawkins: “Braided Communities: Native and Non-Native Interpreters Teaming Together”
-A discussion of the various aspects of teaming, including misconceptions about CODA and non-CODA relationships. Examples will draw from ASL and International Sign interpreting situations. Participants will have an opportunity to share challenges working in the community and contemplate current and future trends.

Gary Malkowski & Anita Harding: “The Evolution of the Interpreter’s Role in Audism: Past,Present and Future”
- Following a brief overview of the history of the interpreter’s role, presenters will share personal experiences of oppression, challenges and barriers created by some interpreters contrasted with positive professional services. How the profession can continue to build on the ‘Ally’ Model” will be explored.

Len Roberson, Debra Russell, & Risa Shaw: “Current Practices in Sign Language Interpreting in the Legal Settings”
- Reviewing the results of a research project exploring the high risk, high stress setting of interpreting in the legal domain. Key aspects discussed will be demographic information, training taken to begin working in the legal arena, current education and training needs, preparation approaches, and the impact being ill prepared.

Sylvie Lemay: “Powerful Dialogue in Mentoring Relationships”
-For anyone with an interest for mentoring interpreters, this workshop incorporates both theoretical and practical segments to focus on the powerful questions that can guide a novice practitioner in their overall professional development. Strategies that contribute to strengthening alignment and sustainability between professional goals, required actions and desired outcomes will be reviewed.

Christopher Stone & Robert E.J. Adam: “Interpreters, Deaf Interpreters and Deafhood”
- A look at the interpreting profession in Australia and the UK, and in particular the types of underground interpreting and translation as done by bilingual Deaf people. Also explored is how the newer deaf members of the Deaf community develop their Deafhood by being translators and interpreters and how non-Deaf interpreters can develop their interpreter-Deafhood.

Len Roberson & Debra Russell: “Best Practices in Legal Interpreting: Taking Small Steps Towards doing it Right”
- An examination of several best practices for ASL/English interpreting in legal settings and a review of recent findings in current research. Additionally, participants will be involved in hands-on activities to explore some of these “best practices”.

Joanna Bennett: “Interpreting in a Theatrical Setting”
- Interactive workshop that outlines teaming, stage placement strategies, hiring Deaf consultants, working with the cast and director, and negotiating fees. Video samples will be shown to inspire participants, some of who will experiment with performing in front of the audience!

Kirk Ferguson-Uhrich: “Signing Spaces – Compromise and Cohesion: What Deaf and hearing students are saying about “learning spaces” in a sign language interpretation program”
-A cohort of Deaf and hearing students in the interpretation program at Lakeland College, at University of Alberta, has lead to a mix of linguistic and cultural differences. How the ensuing challenges were addressed will be highlighted.

Elaine Campbell, Christine Wilson & Monique Dozois: “Deaf Palliative Care Team andInterpreters: A Crucial Team Relationship”
-Members of a Deaf Palliative Care Team will share their experiences of a partnership between the Deaf community, therapeutic services and interpreters in supporting the Palliative and Long Term Care needs of the Ottawa Deaf community. Participants will learn how to foster Deaf Teams in the provision of Palliative Care and the crucial role that interpreters have in the work of the Team.

Bijaya Shrestha & Sheila Johnston: “Deaf Interpreter Panel”
-An exploration of the current state of various interpretation services as offered by interpreters who are Deaf. Experiences working with varieties of sign language communication and between ASL-LSQ, as well as with hearing colleagues will be shared.

SMALL steps have certainly made a BIG difference!!!