Academics

 
 

Deaf Organizations

Conference of Interpreter Trainers (CIT)

Conference of Interpreter Trainers (CIT) is an organization that provides quality educational training for sign language interpreters. According to their mission statement, CIT accomplishes the following:

  • Provides opportunities for the professional development of interpreter educators.
  • Serves as a vehicle for sharing information among interpreter educators;
  • Promotes high standards in institutions, faculties, programs and curricula for the education of interpreters.
  • Advocates for research relevant to the practice and instruction of interpretation.
  • Encourages collegial relationships with professionals in other related disciplines and organizations.

Minnesota Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division

The following is a sample of what the Minnesota Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division (DHHS) offers to the deaf community. Information regarding each category can be accessed on their website, as well as contact information for further inquiry.

  1. Hearing loss and available services
  2. Deaf blind services
  3. Sensitivity and awareness training
  4. Resource and demonstration labs
  5. Telephone equipment
  6. Community events
  7. FAQs
  8. Employment

RID (Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf)

According to the RID website, "The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID) is a national membership organization of professionals who provide sign language interpreting/transliterating services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons. Established in 1964 and incorporated in 1972, RID is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization."

RID advocates for the increased quality, qualifications, and quantity of interpreters through our three main triad of services:

  • Professional Certification through our National Testing System (NTS)
  • Professional development through our Certification Maintenance Program (CMP) and Associate Continuing Education Tracking (ACET)
  • Promoting our Code of Ethics through our Ethical Practices System (EPS)

You may be asking yourself, "Why should I care about RID? What's the big deal?"

First of all, RID is "the only national, professional organization that represents the needs and concerns of interpreters. RID has a slate of committees on everything from Professional Standards to Legislative Issues. [They] also actively participate in the Council of Organizational Representatives (COR), which provides a forum for public policy issues related to people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Through COR, RID has taken stands on important issues such as the education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and health care reform (http://www.rid.org)."

In other words, if you're pursuing a career as an interpreter, you will run across the RID frequently. If you become a member of RID (students are welcome!), many benefits will follow. For information on these benefits and how to join, again, visit the RID website.

National Association of the Deaf (NAD)

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is a private, non-profit organization, established in 1880, whose main mission is "safeguarding the accessibility and civil rights of 28 million deaf and hard of hearing Americans in education, employment, health care, and telecommunications."

As their website maintains, in order to support its mission, the NAD provides programs and activities for the following categories:

  1. Grassroots advocacy and empowerment
  2. Captioned media
  3. Certification of American Sign Language professionals
  4. Certification of sign language interpreters
  5. Deafness-related information and publications
  6. Legal assistance
  7. Policy development and research
  8. Public awareness
  9. Youth leadership development

Minnesota Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (MRID)

The Minnesota Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (MRID) is a non-profit organization of professional interpreters, consumers, and interested persons, established in Minnesota. According to their website, the MRID's mission is "to provide state and local forums and an organizational structure for the continued growth and development of the professions of
interpretation and transliteration of American Sign Language and English."

The MRID website contains information on membership, committees, Continuing Education workshops, contact information and more.