Presented by:
Staff at The Office of for the

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Recent graduates and new interpreters will be presented with ODHH’s core functions. Audience members will be presented, also, with some history, background, requirements, regulations, rules of the Pennsylvania Sign Language Interpreter and Transliterator State Registration Act (Act 57-2004). The information also includes how one can properly register, provisionally and state, as an interpreter with ODHH.

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Identify two types of registrations within Act 57-2004
   
2. Describe the types of registrations and the relationship between provisional registration and state registration.
   
3. Analyze the requirements to properly register provisionally with the Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
   
4. Identify assignments that are prohibited or restricted while holding provisional registrations.
   
5. Identify the renewal process and how to renew consecutively and be able to discriminate between Professional and General CEUs accurately.
   
6. Analyze the Pennsylvania’s Sign Language Interpreter Laws
   

Target Audience: Recent Interpreter Training Program (ITP) graduates and new interpreters working in the state of Pennsylvania

RID Prior Content Knowledge Level: Little/None

RID CEUs:  0.2 PS

About the Presenter, The Pennsylvania Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH):

The Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) helps people with hearing loss across Pennsylvania. They provide three main services:

• Advocacy: They stand up for people who aren't getting the services they need from government or private agencies.
• Information: They give out information and answer questions about hearing loss issues relevant to people with hearing loss
• Referrals: They connect people to the right organizations and help with understanding procedures. They're her to assist and no request is too small. 

When it comes to working as an independent contractor or ‘freelance’ interpreter there are various skills that go beyond just knowing two or more languages. In our time together, we will explore: Working with agencies, networking/marketing and how we exist on social media, invoices/Rates/common practices, organizational systems, a brief discussion about taxes/insurance options, and various other areas! This workshop is intended to be a free flow of ideas and an information sharing session.

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will learn and apply 6 organizational tips for being a self-employed freelance interpreter: 

1. Negotiating contracts - participants will be able to label the basic elements of an invoice.
   
2. Taxes - participants will gain a basic understanding of tax information regarding freelance interpreting.
3. Insurance - participants will be able to name the 3+ basic insurances required for freelance interpreting and the 2 basic options regarding retirement.
4. Marketing - participants will know 3 marketing strategies and our professional presence as interpreters.
5. Ethics - participants will leave with an understanding of various ethical business scenarios such as booking assignments, interacting with agencies and hiring entities.
6. Freelancing - participants will leave with more insight into the freelance interpreting world.

Target Audience: Recent Interpreter Training Program (ITP) graduates and new interpreters working in the state of Pennsylvania

RID Prior Content Knowledge Level: Little/None

RID CEUs:  0.2 PS

About the Presenter, Andrea Rehkopf, MA, NIC, BEI Master: Andrea has been a professional sign language interpreter since 2007, working in a wide variety of settings including post-secondary, conference, medical, and freelance. Her journey began in Michigan, took her through a few years in Austin, Texas, and she now calls Colorado home. Andrea earned her MA in Interpreting Studies from Western Oregon University, where she developed The Business of Interpreting workshop as part of her graduate work. She has taught as an adjunct instructor at various community colleges and loves creating and leading workshops, as well as mentoring students and newer interpreters. Most recently, she launched a podcast called Parking Lot Debrief—a space where she interviews folks from across the field about the real work we do. Outside of interpreting, she enjoys rock climbing, meditation, snuggling her dogs, and seeking out adventure wherever she can find it.

About the Presenter, Valoree Boyer NIC:
A lifelong resident of Michigan, Valoree and has been interpreting for 22 years. Her work has spanned a variety of roles including staff interpreter, independent contractor, camp director, and non-profit administrator. Valoree believes that the proverbial “interpreter car-office”, and the business skills associated are important aspects to include in the individual and collective growth of the profession. In her personal life, she is a mother, canicross trainer, crazy cat lady, beach seeker, and coffee addict.

This workshop is an introduction to RID (Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf), the professional membership organization. The workshop will introduce participants to the organization, to the Headquarters staff, and to the Board of Directors. We will delve into the RID website and learn about the member benefits of the organization. We will show how to become a member, and how to transition from a student member to an associate member. We will explain what the quorum is, and how voting works within the organization. Welcome to the profession, we are here to demystify the process! 

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Know more about the makeup of RID and the various benefits of being a member
2. Know how to renew your membership, and if currently a student how to move into an associate role
   
3. Understand the voting process and quorum
   
4. Know more information about the local AC (Affiliate Chapter), how to become members and other useful laws as they enter the profession.
   

Target Audience: Recent Interpreter Training Program (ITP) graduates and new interpreters working in the state of Pennsylvania

RID Prior Content Knowledge Level: Little/None

RID CEUs:  0.2 PS

About the Presenter, Christina Stevens:

Christina Stevens is the current Region 1 Representative for the RID Board. As a graduate of the The Theater School at DePaul University, Christina’s work with the National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) provided the impetus for her move to Connecticut, where she has served as the CRID president for four plus years.  Christina is a graduate of the ASL-English Interpretation program at Columbia College of Chicago, Illinois. In her time in Connecticut, she has had the honor of serving as a governor-appointed member of the Advisory Board for Persons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and is a designated lead interpreter for the Connecticut Robotics Chapter for K-12 students (FIRST). Additionally, she and her husband were married a few months before the pandemic lockdown on an All Elite Wrestling (AEW) Wrestling cruise. Her time on the RID board has fostered a passion for working with students and emerging practitioners and welcoming them into the profession.