Renew today!

You can either mail in a check, or pay online at http://www.wsrid.com/membership.shtml. 

Regardless of payment method, please make sure to send in a completed membership form so that your name is processed and added to the membership database.  The PayPal information completed online is for payment purposes only and used to reconcile with your membership form once it arrives! 

You can send an electronic copy of the completed membership form to or send a hard copy to the WSRID mailing address at PO Box 20334?Seattle, WA 98102.  If you have questions regarding membership, send them to the above email address. 

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Furthermore, read "ASL Oncology Training Program for Interpreters" to get some information on the study of oncology for the Deaf community. This program is training interpreters via distance-learning modes to help the cause. Read further by clicking on the link above.

WAIT! There's more! I know that some of you read the introduction and almost closed this email. We would like to offer to you some thoughts and incentives. Leading a conference can appear to be a daunting task; however I have chaired two conferences and will be honored share what was so freely given to me through mentorship by in-turn mentoring you through the process of chairing a conference. We will also help recruit a team for you to work and share ideas and responsibilities with. Additionally, Melissa Klindtworth has been the registration guru for the East Side Professional Development Committee and two conferences and has volunteered to mentor the registration chair. The board will be offering support in different ways this year including a budget, guide book, and direction with topics like the conference theme. 

As you will find in any volunteer organization there are usually a handful of members that volunteer many hours. Often they become absolutely burned out or frustrated and leave; it is the members of the organization that lose out most. There are also generally a handful of folks that would love to volunteer but are intimidated or afraid. We would like to see a shift in this paradigm and for our organization to be strong and full of many leaders lending their strengths, showing their support, and volunteering their time. We believe this happens one person at a time. If our organization is to thrive we must be constantly growing leaders in our profession.

If you are interested or would like more information please contact me at 509-999-5326 or " href="javascript:void(0);">

Donna Walker, WSRID VP

The Deaf-Blind Service Center (DBSC) is a nonprofit agency that serves Deaf-Blind individuals. DBSC is currently seeking a motivated and dependable individual to fill the following position:

Position: Office Assistant

Hours: Full-time

Reports To: Executive Director

Staff Assistance:

• · Work with Executive Director providing support for administrative tasks
• · Support and assist with staff projects, contracts and monthly reports

Office Management:

• · Provide clerical assistance; copying, mailing, filing, dating, sorting and distributing mail
• · General reception duties
• · Process incoming checks
• · Keep database current with address information, donation information and mailing
• · Prepare thank you letters
• · Monitor and order office supplies
• · Perform errands to assist with daily office functions: post office, bank, etc.
• · Prepare and print materials from Braille machine (instruction provided)
• · Provide information and referral
• · Maintain and update DBSC website
• · Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• · A minimum of two years administrative work
• · Fluent in American Sign Language
• · Knowledge of Deaf and Deaf-Blind communication styles and culture
• · Strong English skills including verbal and writing abilities
• · Proficient in MS Office Suite
• · Excellent interpersonal skills and analytical skills
• · Self-directed, flexible, high organized and ability to prioritize

Application Process:

Resume

Include three references - at least one contact person work related

Send a cover letter specifically addressing how you are suited to undertake the main tasks and possess required qualifications

Please send your cover letter and resume to:

Angela Theriault - Executive Director

Closing Date: Open until Filled

Employment at will - DBSC maintains an employment at will relationship with its employees. Both parties are free to terminate the employment relationship at any time for any reason.

DBSC is an equal opportunity employer.

Edmonds Community College is looking for a part-time instructor to teach English as a Second Language to Deaf students in a multi-level classroom. This position will start January, 2012 and class is scheduled Monday and Wednesday 9:20-11:20. For more information, please contact Lyn Eisenhower at .

Thanks for passing it on!

WA State Job Bulletin – Office Assistant 3

The Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) serves deaf, hard of hearing and deaf blind individuals throughout Washington State. For more information about ODHH, go tohttp://odhh.dshs.wa.gov/   ODHH invites applications for the position of Office Assistant 3, “Customer Relations Specialist.”    The Office Assistant 3 provides clerical and secretarial support to ODHH staff.    Applicants can apply online here:   http://careers.wa.gov/index.html and type 08201in the keyword search.  The position will remain open until filled.

Any questions, please contact Rena Patch  

WA State Department of Social and Health Services

Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

PO Box 45301

Olympia, WA  98504-5301

(800) 422-7930 V/TTY

(360) 902-8000 V/TTY

(360) 902-0855 Fax

http://odhh.dshs.wa.gov

VP # (360) 339-7382

Dear WSRID Members ~ 

From FEMA -

The Office of Disability Integration and Coordination ODIC at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and our co-sponsors, the National Council on Disability NCD and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research NIDRR and our partners the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and People with Disabilities ICC and the Emergency Management Institute EMI are hosting Getting Real II - Promising Practices in Inclusive Emergency Management for the Whole Community, September 12-14, 2011 in Arlington, VA.    

This year, we’re particularly excited to have a webcast generously supported by the National Council on Disability available for people who cannot join us in person. This webcast will include many of the Promising Practices presentations (and all will be videotaped for “on demand” viewing after the conference). Click on the link provided to register for the webcast Getting Real II. 

Thank you!

IMPORTANT DATES & TIMES:

September 12, 2011

7pm – 10pm: Opening Plenary

September 13, 2011

9:00am – 10:15 am: Morning Plenary

10:30am – 12:40pm: Promising Practices

12:40pm – 1:30pm: Lunch

1:30pm – 5pm: Promising Practices

September 14, 2011

8:30am – 9:30am: Morning Plenary with Administrator Fugate

9:45am – 12pm: Promising Practices

12pm – 1pm: Lunch

1pm – 3:15pm: Promising Practices

3:30pm – 5pm: Team Reports and Closing Discussion

Please plan to join the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination and the National Council on Disability by webcast on Sept 12-14 for “Getting Real II- Promising Practices in Inclusive Emergency Management for the Whole Community”

National Preparedness Month - September 2011

“FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capacity to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.”

Donna Platt

Manager

Emergency Education Program

(formerly WashingtonState 9-1-1/TTY Education Program)
Hearing, Speech & Deafness Center (HSDC)

Over 70 Years of Building Community

Your United Way Gift Helps Here

There is a new trend in the hospital world where all freelancer interpreters must go through a brief "orientation" before s/he can work on-site.   UWMC is the first to initiate this.  CHMC will soon have theirs ready for us.

Here's the deal:

Read the attached 3-page document and answer the 4 Questions in an email:

TO:  

CC:  

UWMC is giving interpreters 3 weeks to get this in.  After that, any freelancer who hasn't done it, cannot work at UWMC (ouch) until it's completed.

It's really very simple... I promise you :) 

Here's a LINK to the orientation and four question response.

It is also on the UWMC website:

Contact me anytime with questions.

Thanks!

-Ginevra

Angela Theriault has resigned as Interpreting Coordinator, effective immediately. This fall, she will be taking classes at the University of Washington and starting work as full-time Executive Director of DBSC.

WSDBC has been very fortunate to have Angela as our Interpreter Coordinator, with her dedication to recruiting interpreters and skillfully matching them with Deaf-Blind members.

Both Deaf-Blind and Associate Members, who are highly motivated, can apply for the position of Interpreter Coordinator. This is a great opportunity to develop your skills and gain experience.

We would like the new coordinator to begin working very soon, so as to prepare for the WSDBC General Meeting on October 22nd. Angela has offered to help train the new Interpreter Coordinator.

Ideally two people will apply for this position and they can work together as a team. WSDBC will pay $100 for each meeting, which can be split 50/50 if there are two coordinators.

Please contact me if you are interested in becoming the Interpreter Coordinator, or if you have any questions. Email me at or call me at 206-395-7972 VP.

Warmly,
Caryn Tenin,
WSDBC President 

During the recent WSRID retreat, your board of directors discussed at length the issue concerning Health Care Authority’s (HCA) decision to incorporate sign language interpreters into the Broker system.  The Broker system is managed by HCA to assign interpreters of any language for Medicaid appointments.  To learn more about these alarming changes, you can review the attached State/Broker contract for detailed information or visit the WSRID website at www.wsrid.com for a synopsis of the changes. 

The WSRID Board of Directors feel that it is imperative we stand together as sign language interpreters, as professionals, as business owners and as advocates for the deaf, deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing consumers we serve to oppose this contract and the terms it includes.   

As your appointed board we have written an “Open Letter to HCA” opposing their proposed contact, you will find that letter attached.  The letter to HCA includes a cc to several interpreter and deaf stakeholders; in addition, we have included organizations and state agencies close to this issue.

We encourage you as individuals to take the following steps:

1)     Read the contract thoroughly and carefully; then, consider whether this contract reflects standards of practice for our profession and whether you are willing to accept this contract and its terms. 

2)     Send your own letters of concern to the HCA representatives listed below.   You may reference the WSRID “Open Letter to HCA” and its contents within your own letter for examples.

Doug Porter

HCA, Administration

P. O. Box 42682

Olympia, WA 98504-2682

360-923-2829

Heidi Robbins Brown

HCA, Deputy Administrator

P. O. Box 42682

Olympia, WA 98504-2682

360-412-4307

Todd Slettvet

HCA, Chief, Office of Community Services

P.O. Box 42682

Olympia, WA 98504-2682

360-725-1626

Elena Safariants

HCA, Interpreter Service Program Manager

P. O. Box 42682

Olympia, WA 98504-2682

360-725-1315

3)    Engage in ongoing conversations about these changes with deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing consumers

4)    Contact the WSRID Legislative Committee at  to become a volunteer with the goal of representing our organization on topics related to governmental decisions

 The WSRID board will continue the process the gathering of information regarding the HCA contract and promptly disseminate that information to our members. As written in our letter to HCA:  As an organization representing professional interpreters, the WSRID Board of Directors and its members must emphatically support the provision of ethical and appropriate interpreting services that do not compromise the established minimum standards. 

If you have further questions, feel free to contact us

WSRID Board of Directors

Open Letter HCA - Medicaid Changes

Broker Contract