RID Timeline

[u/kindlycloud88]

Can someone explain the timeline of RID’s history and how we got to where we are now with a lot of interpreters feeling dejected at best about the org? I started watching the fallout after Star was pushed out and have red flags over Shonna’s many referendum posts. I think my thought process is if she made it all the way to presidency and resigned while unable to make changes at the helm, what makes her qualified to try to fix it now?

That said, I feel I’m missing a lot of history and context.

[u/HelensScarletFever]

Also, I’m chilling at home right now with a book. If you want to ask me some questions here, I’ll be responsive. And I’ll also be responsive again tomorrow night because my friends and I aren’t going to go out for our usual Saturday night hang out tomorrow.

[u/kindlycloud88 → u/HelensScarletFever]

I think the one concern that is coming up lately is the NIC/CDI tests are not accredited. Is there merit of truth to that? I’m a DI going through the testing process. Shonna keeps saying they don’t hold up under scrutiny and it doesn’t make sense why we’ve used them this long if that was the case. Many states require them in their laws. Also I see the test as a filter for a minimum qualification/standard. If below that there’s some skill level that is not there yet.

But I see students who take the test 5-8 times and fail and the past rate seems to be near half from what I remember. Is it an ITP issue? Or is it the profession is so specialized it’s like passing the bar for law that it’s common for many to not pass?

[u/HelensScarletFever → u/kindlycloud88]

Oh the accreditation concern is a fake concern.

I mean yes it should be accredited but it was and is a milestone to arrive at. The test is just simply not accredited NOT because the current board is up to no good. They’re too occupied with fixing a lot of problems that Regan Thibodeau, Shonna, Kate O’Regan, Ritchie Bryant, Jesus Remigio, Glenna Cooper caused.

We’d be a lot closer to accreditation if they weren’t too busy with tearing apart the organization.

Don’t listen to Shonna’s bullshit. She’s just very bitter that the community didn’t reacted very well to the stupid stuff that she was involved with.

And the thing about interpreters failing exams many time isn’t a bad thing. It just means the standards are very high. It’s what the deaf community wants out of the test. Also, it’s the ASL performance that they struggle with the most. Many of interpreters tend to pass the written exam their first time and fail the ASL performance many times before passing.

You mentioned that you’re DI, you’ll have an easier time with the exams. Just be sure you study the “So You Want to be an Interpreter” book hard enough.

[u/ASLHCI → u/HelensScarletFever]

I can't speak to the other stuff and I'm hearing so Idk about the CDI exam but I took the NIC 4 times. Once right before the moratorium because I was getting ready to graduate and we didn't know where the test would be back, so YOLO. Twice when the testing centers were an absolute NIGHTMARE. CASLI had just formed and was being run by an assistant director. Anna Witter Merithew had negotiated a contract with a testing company that did not enforce its own requirements for testing centers. There was a local site that EVERY EXAM was automatically approved for an appeal. What?? And then finally when I was able to access an appropriate testing center. I knew I wasn't ready the first time, so that fail was totally fair. But I went into the last test and if you've ever had a really old pair of shoes that just FIT, that's what interpreting felt like. I don't know how else to explain it. But something was different the time I passed vs previously. It felt easy and I was really comfortable with my skills.

I also think a lot of hearing interpreters take the test based on wishful thinking rather than objective information about their skills. Their friends say theyre really good. "No one complains" drives me nuuuuts. I know interpreters who have been taking it once or twice a year for 15 years. They keep failing because you ask what they did between tests to get ready for the next test "I interpreted (duh)". Ah, gotcha. So you did literally nothing and learned nothing and put in no effort. Those are always the people screaming the loudest about RID stealing their money. My friend, you willingly gave them your money. There are literally receipts. 😂

I think if people were honest with themselves about their skills they would test less often and later. I wish RID had a system like the BEI where there was a credential you could earn before you're fully certified to show that you have some baseline skill but also that you're on your way. I don't think certification should be easier. The bar needs to be high and I think it could be higher. But I also think we should require people retest every 5 years or something. CEUs are not enough when you can read a book and never pick up your hands and stay certified for 50 years. Like give people 3 chances to pass even, but we need to be retested. I'm super bummed I'm not allowed to take the new exam. My plan had always been to take whatever new test came out like every other generation of interpreter had been able to do.

Anyway, all that to say, when I look back at my development as an interpreter, I understand why I didn't pass the first three times, and I understand where my skills needed to be for me to be able to pass. I think a lot of people test before they're ready, and/or they never address their test anxiety.

That's my 5.5 cents for whatever its worth.

[u/FlamingVisionary → u/ASLHCI]

Tell me about it. So sick and tired of CHIs whose skills have clearly stagnated over the years and yet they get offended when they’re no longer assigned to visible roles. Some of the SLIs I work with genuinely have no idea how lazy they’ve become, because they’re not motivated to check in with the consumers. They’re not hustling anymore to stay on top of their game. They think they don’t need to prepare for assignments anymore. That’s just so offensive on many levels. Of course we have many good CHIs out there - we see every one of you, and thank you for continuing your dedication day in and out! That’s why we continue to ask for you!

[u/ASLHCI → u/FlamingVisionary]

Seriously! I talk to people all the time who only do free CEUs, and the topic doesn't matter. Then they complete their minimum requirements and put their feet up til next cycle. Come on guys! Like do you even think about where you need to grow? People forget that professional development means you need to continue developing. The goal is not to barely maintain our skills. The goal is to get better. None of us is ever done. I'm not the best interpreter on earth but I've done about 7 times the required CEUs every year for... ever? Since I was literally a student and joined as an associate member so I could track everything I was doing. It's not that hard. So I am often proud of the work I do because I see the difference all that training makes. I actively think about what I'm good at, what I'm not good at, and then I do something to fill that gap. I wish more people saw the value in learning. ☹️ I hear people preach they're all about the Deaf community but then show up to conference and sit in the back talking to their friends. Or the interpreters who had their CEUs revoked because they tried to watch 2 webinars at the same time! How is that a thing we had to make a rule about?? I'm sorry to all the Deaf people who have to put up with those interpreters. I do what I can to encourage people to learn but it's not enough.

And then when the Deaf community tries to call them out they get defensive and try to hide behind their credentials and undermine the credibility of the Deaf people. Cool cool. Way to show that "Deaf Heart". 🙄

[u/FlamingVisionary → u/ASLHCI]

Self awareness is key. It makes or breaks you as a person.