Sign Language Interpreter Accreditation: Lessons Learned? (D. Russell 2021)
ABSTRACT: Around the world, sign language interpreters are increasingly visible from media events to courtrooms, to post-secondary settings. As interpreter education programs grow and the employment opportunities expand , there are questions about how we determine where the interpreter possesses the competencies for professional practice. This brief presentation will offer an overview of some of the most effective models of accreditation of sign language interpreters and explore the lessons learned over 30 years of assessment practices in multiple countries. The presentation will conclude with recommendations for institutions considering creating assessment tools.
PowerPoint Handout: Russell – Lessons Learned in Assessment
- Presented by Dr. Debra Russell at the international Xiamen University 100th Anniversary Conference, Panel on Sign Language Interpreting Education & Assessment (April 2-3, 2021)
- Presentation Language: spoken English, with English captions.
- Run time: Approx. 14 minutes
Biography: Debra Russell, PhD, is a Canadian certified interpreter, educator and researcher. As the previous David Peikoff Chair of Deaf Studies at the University of Alberta, her research interests include mediated education with interpreters, interpreting in legal settings and with legal discourse, and Deaf-hearing interpreter teams. She is extensively published in the field of interpretation. Her interpreting practice spans over thirty years, and continues focus on medical, legal, mental health and employment settings. She has had a long history of leadership positions at the local, national and international level, serving on several volunteer organizations. She is the past President of the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI), and a Commissioner for the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education (CCIE).