Interpreters are often under enormous pressures that distract them from paying attention to relationships with Deaf consumers. It’s not uncommon for interpreters to be solely focused on achieving the technical skills of interpreting rather than soft skills. However, healthy relationships are the key to solving a problem or achieving effective communication. Deaf individuals do experience barriers such as negative attitudes, prejudice, and reduced accessibility to effective communication. Building and sustaining the foundation of trust is central to your work as interpreters of the community. In order to achieve success in building the connections, we all need to explore our inner biases and increase self-awareness and of others. The goal is to become comfortable with the idea of being uncomfortable in order to regain trust in our relationships with the Deaf community.

CEU Opportunity: 0.2 CEUs

Presented by Amanda Tuite in ASL.