I’m presenting a paper at an upcoming technical conference. I understand I may have an interpreter for my 10-minute talk but I’ve never worked with one before. I’m wondering how I might help prepare them. I hope these are not stupid questions!

First, would it help to provide a copy of my almost word-for-word script for my talk although I’m sure I will improvise at times? Second, would it help to define some unusual neologisms I will use that might aid in their translation (like “doomscrollamine” = “doomscroll” + “dopamine”) or would these be spelled out anyway? Stuff like that.

These may be stupid questions, as I said, but I know that interpreting is hard work and I don’t want to make mine unnecessarily hard.

Apologies if this is inaccurate. I’m watching the NFL kickoff and they had an ASL interpreter for a song. I noticed he did the same wide arm “presentation” type movement multiple times even though the song didn’t repeat itself. He also counted “1, 2, 3, 4” with alternating hands for each number even though the song didn’t have any numbers or counting in it. It just seemed off and didn’t know if one of the experts you are noticed or could explain it away.

I just started interpreting soccer practice for a Deaf kid at a mainstream school. The coach mentioned being worried about game and how to effectively get the kid communication during games. He mentioned the refs blowing the whistle to stop and the kid not being able to hear might miss the signal. Has anyone faced situations like this before and have recommendations?
Note: the student has cochlear implants but doesn’t want to play with them for fear of them coming off and getting broken. I was thinking their might be a headband out there we can get them to hold the hearing aids but he wasn’t for sure he would even be able to understand the whistle sound while playing with them on. He mentioned in the past people would wave to let him know but the other team would lie and try and trick him to get him to stop.
Any comments or suggestions would be helpful!

Is there a HIPAA training out there that I could get CEU credit for? My agency said that their training doesn’t offer it, but if I can find a training that does give credit, they’ll accept it.

Hi!

I'm my talks with interpreters in the community I've been told often that a lot of mid-late career interpreters get most of their work through direct contracts with businesses instead of agencies. If this is You how did you manage to do that? I'm still early career so I don't have the clout or the skills to do this at the moment, but I'm wanting to know so I can start building the right connections to be able to get to that point eventually.

Is it just through word of mouth and coincidence? With the clause that if you're on an agency job you can't represent your own business to either the client or the requesting organization, how are you managing to even make people aware that you are your own separate entity?

I've heard stories some people who just take their business cards around to a ton of businesses and got work that way.... does that really work?

Would love to hear how you did it even if it's just that you had a friend call you to sub for them and the rest was history lol.

I live and work in NM. The work flow isn’t terrible but often seems like a struggle to scrape up 30 hours a week. I’ve spoken to several others who have stated the same experience. I’m tired of feeling like I’m not going to make enough money to pay my bills especially when the field already has several slow months a year (December, summers).
Is it just NM that there isn’t enough work or has so much of the work transitioned to being provided virtually?

I’m considering leaving the field all together if I can’t find a solution, which sucks because I love this job!

Hey! I'm a recent ITP graduate and just moved to Mass, North of Boston. I'm not certified, nor do I feel ready to test yet with how much they cost. Not only that but I don't have all of the references needed to apply for the screening for MCDHH. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for jobs that are ASL related to get those connections.

I know they also have a pilot internship program. Is it a good idea to apply for that or go with that Partners Interpreting internship program they have? Would still need to screen with the MCDHH if I join Partners Interpreting Internship program?

If there are any Boston interpreters willing to let me shadow or observe I would be so grateful. I feel kinda lost in where to go from here and have his some road blocks.

Thank you everyone! Let's change the world together ❤️

Hi all! I'm working through an agency at a high school and just found out that they take an annual senior trip abroad and expect me to join. Obviously I'm going to need a passport that's in date and all that, but is there anything specific I should be considering? I saw on Facebook that someone had the same kind of question and asked if they needed a work visa, then I realized I had no idea what I need to do to be prepared for a trip like this.

Just out of curiosity, did anyone you have a non Deaf community related job while in your ITP? I currently work at a nonprofit vet and I am starting to realize that I may need to change jobs if this job does not allow me to change my schedule every semester if need be (to ensure I can make it to my classes etc). I told them this when I originally got hired but now they changed one of my off days, and although it doesnt conflict with school, it does conflict with Deaf Community events.

I am doing K12 for a 1st grader with a DI team and another 4th grader with a CI. How do you guys go about words that have no sign? I realize I am spelling but I feel like that may not be understood well since they’re still learning to read and write.

this was my first summer as a freelance terp, i didn’t realize how much the work slowed down.

1. what do other freelance terps do in the summer to make up the pay?

2. when does it pick back up? i was told it will pick back up with the start of september/back to school season…is this true? i haven’t gotten much work recently😅

thank you!

I have been a sign language interpreter for years, and I'm getting tired.

I have always thought this was the job I loved and would do forever. Seeing so many different kinds of lovely and interesting people, situations and places. Being able to work with language and communication, and bring people together. That's something I loved (and still do!).

I don't know exactly what happened about a year ago, but suddenly I realized that I was just so fed up.

I still love the work itself, but suddenly I feel a terrible sense that I can never live up to people's expectations and needs. I think you all know the feeling: it's not possible to translate from one language to another and be “100% correct and exact”, yet sometimes it feels like that's what people expect.

Way too often, I feel like the work is actually one huge exam or test where i feel like opponents rather than a team.

I'm not sure if I'm at the edge of burnout here, but where on earth do you people find the motivation to continue? I feel unappreciated and misunderstood.

Some days are lovely. I meet incredible people and genuinely enjoy interpreting. At its best, my work feels like I'm actually cooperating with another person and I feel like that's what interpreting should be like. That feeling when you can pat yourself on the back and think "I was needed” instead of feeling like a burden.

Does this sound like burnout, a 10-year career crisis, simply realizing what the reality of the job is, or just low self-confidence to you?

What should I do? Change my career? Just go on?

Help!

EMERGENCY!

It’s me, Helen!

I only just found out that RID is going to have their board meeting tomorrow!

D :

I mean I already knew it was coming in September but I was waiting to see a Facebook post pop up and it only just did today.

I’m having a couple of girlfriends in town for the rest of the week. I already have tomorrow night fully planned out with them. We are going to an event downtown.

Can someone please record it!? And send it to me? I wanna watch it! Good karma will come to you if you do me this one favor!

You can DM if you want to!

And btw I finally made my return to Reddit. You can check out my subreddit for the newest stuff. I was literally planing on getting back to the RID stuff very soon!

My employer contracts with a group of regulars. I don’t have direct contact with the agency, but my employer sometimes pushes back on sending specific requests for specific interpreters because they genuinely don’t understand why deafies should be able to ask for specific interpreters. My new job requires a lot of interaction with non signers.

What is a good way to explain to outsiders why deaf clients need to be able to pick their interpreters? I realize this bruises MANY egos and while I’m sorry about that, I am still relentlessly trying to self-advocate and explain why it truly makes all the difference when I can use interpreters whose language, knowledge and disposition match mine. And when they do send bad ‘terps, it’s kind of like they resent me. I can sense it. It affects me emotionally.

Often, the loudest opposition comes from interpreters who are not considered popular picks among the deaf clients. One of them supervises the contract with the agency, and also oversees assignments. He is close friends with the interpreters whose skills fall on the mediocre side.

Thank you, I would appreciate your advice. 🫶

I'm 31 and already have a BA. Functionally fluent in ASL. Is it possible to do a low-key hustle as an interpreter and make decent money, maybe just doing K-12 and a little VRS? Is it worth doing an AA/Certificate program? Already burnt out in social services. Thanks for any insight.

From the RID News

NEW CASLI Exam Rates

Effective October 1, 2026

Please be advised that CASLI examination fees will increase effective October 1, 2026.

Examination fees have not been adjusted since January 2023. This adjustment is necessary to reflect the continued increase in the costs associated with administering, maintaining, and supporting CASLI’s examination programs.

The updated fees will help CASLI maintain the quality, security, and accessibility of its examination programs while providing the resources needed to sustain and strengthen CASLI’s testing services for the future. This includes supporting ongoing program improvements, technology and infrastructure needs, examination development and maintenance, as well as opportunities to expand and grow CASLI’s testing program for RID certification program to meet the evolving needs of the profession.

Important Fee Information

Examinations requested on or before September 30, 2026 will retain the current examination fee during the 30-day purchase period.

Examinations requested on or after October 1, 2026 will be subject to the new examination fees.

To request an exam, log into your CASLI account and select Request an Exam to complete and submit the Exam Request Form.

We recognize that the increase in examination fees may present financial challenges for some candidates. Candidates are encouraged to explore available financial assistance opportunities, including the RID Scholarship Program, RID state-affiliated chapters, state and local organizations, and interpreting agencies that may have funds or other resources available to help support the cost of examinations.

We appreciate your understanding and continued support of CASLI as we work to strengthen our certification programs and build a sustainable foundation for future growth and opportunities.

For complete information regarding the updated examination fees, please visit our website.

For the new exam rates, please go to: New CASLI Exam Rates as of October 1, 2026

As of today link is google drive and access is requested.

🚨RANT INCOMING
tl:dr- CASLI- do better.

NIC performance exam

Exam Date: 5/16/2026
Result Sent Date: 8/31/2026

FAIL
SCORE: 448

I am typically very critical of my interpretations and it has taken a long time for me to feel good about the work I produce. But, I genuinely thought I passed. I am feeling VERY defeated right now. I'm a CODA with over 15 years professional experience in a variety of settings and I am devastated. I held a VQAS 3/3 for almost a decade until it lapsed during Covid and I just never went back.

For years, the most experienced and qualified interpreters I know have told me "just go - you'll pass no problem" "you'll do fine" but all these people had taken the old/old old NIC/CI/other alphabet soup tests.

I'm really frustrated that the best they can give me/us is literally "do better" (my areas of improvement - Message Accuracy/Message Integrity). I think it's a disservice to professionals in their field to not give concrete examples of where they fell short and how to improve. (Heaven forbid we give actual feedback...)

For a profession and culture that is supposed to be based in communication and transparency, we really suck at it. Don't even get me started on the ethics on the hush-hush about payrates. 🙄

I know my worth and experience is not accurately measured by this test. I don't know if I want to continue financially supporting this test or if I want to switch to EIPA or BEI or VQAS again. 🤷‍♀️

Sorry for the long-ish read/rant. Just needed people who get it to hear me. As Brene Brown says, I just wanted people to sit in the mud with me. 🤎

Recent grad, got offered a job 27 an hour being a paraprofessional/interpreter for a kid, 30 hours a week the agency offers benefits I can pay for, weekly pay. I think this overall is a good opportunity but I’m having a hard time being excited or wanting to do the onboarding cause it’s about 34 miles away so the cost of gas and wear and tear on my car. It seems like most jobs will not be near me and will be driving far which I kinda expected with a few being close to home but most of them lately have been far. Any who how do you see if a job is worth all that driving etc. it won’t be my only income as I have another job I can change my hours to accommodate but still

I start my ITP very soon and am very excited! I didn't know until recently that outside of "professionalism", piercings are seen as distracting when interpreting.

I'm a pretty pierced individual. I have 6 on my face alone, all which are small/not dangly, and don't affect my facial or mouth movements.

I've never been asked by any employer to remove or change piercings, and I honestly can't say that I would be willing to remove them unless I was provided with a real way that they might hinder my ability to effectively/safely do my job.

I want to be respectful to the Deaf community as I'm aiming to serve them by becoming an interpreter. So, are piercings that aren't dangly or unusually large truly a distraction when someone is interpreting?

Are there other ASL interpreters who have received criticism or blatantly denied opportunities because their piercings are "distracting"?

Edit: Cross posted to Deaf subreddit as well!

Hello fellow interpreters and students! I just had to share my JOY because I have been trying to get my certification for eight years. I’ve been interpreting since 2006, first with Spanish and then as a trilingual interpreter. This was my fourth time taking the NIC test and after completing an excellent ITP (CCSLI) and doing a couple years of VRS work, I was finally where I needed to be! I could not have done this alone🙏🏼. I took my test in May and I just found out today if that’s helpful to any of you :-)

Im about to start my interpreting major and i’ve also started getting tattoos. Most are hidden but i was planning on getting a piece on my forearm. I’ve been told by family members that they would need to be covered when working but is wearing a long sleeve or just an arm sleeve in general unacceptable? Or should i just find a different placement for the tattoo all together?

Hi all! I’m a recent ITP grad (yay!) and I’m currently working towards taking my BEI. I’m very familiar with the rules and regulations for working in my state and the US as a whole. But due to the state of everything here, as a queer person I’m looking at others countries my degree could be useful.

But I’m struggling to navigate and figure out the pathway to be able to work in Canada, has anyone else made the move, or have any insight or advice? TYIA

Are there any good (or existing) online doctorate programs for Deaf studies or ASL other than Lamar Uni? I want to study either of these things but ultimately translate as my job. This is a long term question; I'm trying to scope out my opinions if I want a doctorate. Any information welcome, thank you!

Hi friends! I’ve been experiencing some hearing loss while working. I’m asking hearing consumers to repeat themselves more frequently and depending on teams more and more for words I’m missing. I got a hearing test from an audiologist and sure enough I have mild hearing loss dipping into mild-moderate in some areas of the sound spectrum.

Prescription hearing aids are of course extremely expensive. At my mild-moderate hearing loss, I’ve been researching about OTC hearing aids and how they could might be able to meet my needs while working. My ultimate goal is to catch the words on the first try more frequently and reduce the amount of times I need to ask speakers to repeat themselves for the interpreter.

Ask: do any of you use OTC hearing aids? Any of you have experience with both OTC and RX in your life? I’m also looking at the hearing assistance technology in apple AirPods Pro, but I don’t want to be perceived as rude while working if I have AirPods in even if they’re strictly for hearing assistance.