Sharon was challenged with answering the question, "Some interpreters prefer not to belong to local or national organizations" for interpreters. Why would this be, when belonging to local and national organizations can provide networking benefits and sometimes professional benefits too (like workshops)? You can reply to Sharon on the forum.
It would be interesting to know why. To me, an interpreter not belonging to an interpreting organization akin to a teacher of the deaf not belonging to deaf education organizations.
Many people have similar feelings about not wanted to join any labor unions. Those people just want to go to work and earn living, not interested in doing anything political.
That’s what particular people feel about organizations in general.
What the RID have done anything good for their own members?
RID ever hire many personnels, who could not able to sign or understand sign language. What a mockery of this so-called interpreter organization of the deaf!
RLM
It’s the interpreter organizations the reason the interpreters have been getting very expensive. Theres a good handful of terps here that have level 5 qualities and dont join the interpreter organizations.
Those who don’t want to join professional organizations are the ones who “fly under the radar” and are causing more problems than they are solving them!
People who don’t join interpreting organizations don’t unless they are forced to. There are many people who are comfortable working without credentials, in states that allow that, because then they do not have to keep up on CEU requirements. That does add up, between the dues and all of the money and time invested in workshops. It could be maybe $600-1000 a year easily. That doesn’t include testing fees. Within the last few months, I have paid for:
NIC Written: $240
NIC Performance: $325 (I think)
EIPA Performance: $400
EIPA Written: $150
Hopefully those are one-time fees, although then you want to go back at some point to get a higher NIC level or EIPA score.
People also are afraid that their skills are not up to par in order to get these credentials. That is a huge fear, so people would rather stay off the radar. It is a lot of risk to take one of these tests and fail because then you lose face in the interpreting community. People also blame testing anxiety.
If you can, though, it is totally worth it, because I feel one hundred percent better about my skills now that I have a credential. It gives you a gauge of where you are, and where you should be headed.
I have been a professional interpreter for 20 years and I always join my national and state organizations. Why?
#1 it is the professional thing to do
#2 I feel it is important to be involved in my profession and contribute something and not just take money for working
#3 there is more safety for the Deaf consumer when all interpreters have credentials and are professionals – with certification and membership, the Deaf community can better know what they are getting and they can make a complaint against me if I do something wrong
#4 if I am a member and am certified, the Deaf comsumer can know that I must keep up my skills with more education with CEUs
#5 now that I am certified, it only costs me less than $150 per year to join these and I can deduct that from my taxes every year
I do not always agree with RID, but it is MY professional organization and I feel responsible to be involved
The problem with not joining a state or national Interpreters Organization (like RID) is that these organizations are influencing legislation that will probably affect you in the future. You may need additional credentials for legal, medical or educational interpreting. Without your input you may suddenly find yourself out of a job because you do not have the correct certifications.
This is my personal opinion: I think that not every interpreter needs to be certified to perform in many situations. I believe is more important to take in account the needs of the clients. I have an interpreter who I really love, but she is not a trained interpreter per se, and doesn’t use full ASL. However, since anyways I do not know advanced ASL, I only need someone who understand the way I communicate and to provide me oral interpreting. Since she has been around the Deaf Community (her husband works directly with the Deaf Community) she has enough sensibility and knowledge to work with me as an interpreter. She is perfect for me since she understands English very well (I live in Puerto Rico, a Spanish speaking island) and has the ability to interpret from English to Spanish as I don’t know how to read lips in English. She also works interpreting to deaf girl at advanced med science college courses, which happens to prefer this interpreter over trained interpreters. Some interpreters do very well, or have been in the Deaf community forever (like friends or children of Deaf adults) that do not have the need to validate their knowledge. I would not request a certification from an interpreter that has been working wonderful with his client. In where I live, there is no certification and I have heard about, and seen, really good interpreters around (also with a couple of not so good). I also have seen professors of a bachelor degree in “Sign Language Interpreting Sciences” that I would consider bad performers (not taking into account the wording, but considering the way they deliver the language and the use of their body language to deliver the communication).
RID is worthless as long as state of NH requires interpreters be LICENSED at state level and any “unlicensed” (NH) interpreter is not allowed to interpret in NH.
what I have found in terps who do not get involved with other org. is that they don’t follow, or know the code of ethics. You must be involved.No man is an island, an usually they are not working as a prof. interpreter. Many of them are freelancers.
Interesting input! I’m a student taking 2nd level ASL, want to go on to Seattle Central U. to become an interpreter, been a subscriber to About.com for almost a year and was given a brochure about RID from an established “terp” @ my college. I’ve been told about how important reputations are in this feild, so I think that joining an organization (AFTER researching the best one & now I’m a little skeptical about RID) is a good idea at the beginning of a career. After getting established, maybe a person might feel differently, but as a person working with another person, I would want them to know that I wasn’t wasting their time, that I made every effort to give the best service that the profession has to offer. I am envious of those who have had connections to the Deaf community all of their lives, so I know it will require much more work for me to have communication skills as good as theirs, so maybe THEY wouldn’t need an organization, but those like me probably should. So far my tutor sais I’m coming along well though! =)
I recently graduated from an ITT program. During the 2 years in this program me and my classmates were required to join local and national Deaf organizations. My understanding of joining was to understand Deaf more through intergrated hearing and Deaf functions as well as recognizing I was on my way to becoming a professional and all professionals must pay professional fees. I would hate to know I was on my own in my profession without guidance and assistance from a governing body.
I really liked Su comments about the connections to the deaf community, because I’m and usually called a CODA, I grew up in the Deaf Culture and going though the program
is tough especially with the technical stuff that goes into the program. I do agree my communication skills are very good. I wish they would practice more hands on in the class room and to be in the actual deaf community for more experience. The class rooms expect you to do this out side of class, which takes away time off and family.