Workshops

We’ve all heard the saying, “don’t judge a book by its cover.” But that is easier said than done. The human mind is an efficient machine designed to do so regardless of our beliefs and intentions. It uses shortcuts, hidden and obstructed from our view, to help us navigate our world. Unfortunately, these shortcuts include assumptions of a person’s competence, education, class, status, and values based on our perceptions of a person's physical attributes and appearance. 

However, we can make a concerted effort to align our behaviors with our intentions. In this interactive discussion, we will uncover and explore the cognitive processes of our unconscious mind through a scientific lens. With this knowledge, we can shed light on these hidden biases to minimize its influence and strengthen our community.

Did you know that every second our body on consciously processes only 0.0000004% of the 11,000,000 bits of information it receives? The billions of stimuli that bypass rational and logical thinking and influence our behaviors and how we navigate the world around us. Answers to questions such as: "Do I trust this person?" and "Is that person competent?" have already been formulated before I even meet a person. That is unconscious bias; a powerful invisible enemy to good intentions.

Even though no one is exempt from its pitfalls, we can take steps to align our unconscious behaviors with our conscious intentions on a personal, social, and systemic level. In this interactive workshop, we will identify the scientific root cause of unconscious bias develop strategies to combat its negative effects.

 Everyday we receive feedback, whether solicited or not. Feedback that comes in both verbal and non-verbal forms is so crucial to our growth and understanding of how to navigate society. Yet it can be so challenging at times to accept and apply.

The ability to filter the feedback and find the information applicable to the situation and our needs is not an easy task. We may find ourselves thinking, “Why is this person giving me feedback?” “What makes them an expert in this matter?” “They don’t even appreciate the positive things that I have accomplished.”

However, feedback can be beneficial for not only the recipient but the giver. Maximizing its benefits takes skill and practice. It is an art. This interactive workshop will allow us to channel our inner feedback Picasso. In both large and small groups, participants both novice and expert will discuss the art of listening.

Asking questions is a lost art. Perhaps this is due, in part, to our expansive knowledge base as experienced professionals. The more we know, or think we know, the less we ask. Regardless if that is applicable to you or not, asking questions for our own growth as opposed to the growth of others is quite a different story. 

No doubt, we have been approached by an emerging interpreter seeking answers, advice, or even mentorship. When they pose questions or problems, how do we respond? The standard interpreter reply “it depends” may be our default. 

However, asking the right questions can prompt valuable intrapersonal dialogue. They will critically reason to unpack an issue, gain meaningful perspective, and grow. This begs the question “Have you asked questions about questions?” How do you ask them? What do you ask? How do you know to ask the right one? This interactive workshop will allow us in both large and small groups to dig deeper into the art of this critical problem-solving skill.

Language and identity are intricately linked. Interpreters play a critical role in facilitating communication between a diverse population of individuals with varying linguistic and cultural backgrounds. 

This workshop aims to delve into the fascinating intersection of interpreting and identity, acknowledging the profound impact it has on the lives of interpreters and those they serve. 

We are not "just" interpreters. We are human. How we navigate our environments and make decisions is influenced by who we are and not simply a code of conduct. By examining the complexities of this intersection, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges, responsibilities, and opportunities that arise in the field of interpreting.

Decisions, decisions, decisions. Interpreting is predicated on decisions before during and after any assignment. When working with a team, we must collectively make important decisions to optimize the efficiency and efficacy of our facilitation. 

How will consumer orientation take place? How should we switch? When should we switch? How can we support each other? These are all common questions a team may ask. But is there something missing? 

We all can agree takes a cognitive toll. A solid team is essential to mitigating internal and external factors, resulting in a more positive experience for the consumers we serve. But a solid team is built on a foundation of trust, which requires having open, honest dialogues. In this interactive discussion, we will examine the efficacy of current common pre and post assignment briefing practices. During our discussion we will address possible gaps in these practices using a cognitive bias framework. We will discuss how to unpack those hidden factors to maximize effective teamwork.

Interpreting is hard. Environmental, interpersonal, paralinguistic, and

intrapersonal demands can further complicate the process and stretch the cognitive load of even the most experienced interpreters in the hot seat. A good team can help to mitigate those factors and provide much needed support resulting in more effective outcomes for our consumers.

What are the elements of a good team? What is my role as a team support?

What does building a synergistic relationship entail?

Those questions will address those questions in this interactive workshop.

It has been estimated that as much as 90% of communication is non-verbal. Our body language and facial expressions all add meaning to our expressions. ASL uses non-manual morphemes, spatial references and other phonological processes.

How can this visual information be conveyed to someone with little or no vision? 

This workshop reviews the grammatical divergence between Visual ASL and Tactile ASL.  

Participants will practice research-based strategies for implementing the appropriate modifications to our sign production, effectively convey implicit and explicit visual contextual information to Deaf-blind consumers tactually.