RID Changes the Rules Again

HoHGuyOhio · 06-10-2008, 04:08 PM

Just wanted to share some information and get some feedback on what RID-certified interpreters and Deaf adult consumers of interpreting services think of this.

If you remember, last spring/summer there was quite a bit of discussion and heated debate surrounding the fact that RID's board of directors chose to accept the EIPA as a specialist certificate and educational interpreters who pass the EIPA at a 4.0 or above (both written and performance) could now join RID as certified members. This new speciality "certificate" is called the ED: K-12. Many felt that the board was out of line, seeing this issue clearly as one of certification. Issues relating to certification, per RID's bylaws, are required to be brought to the membership for a vote.

In another turn of events, the ED: K-12 certificate has now been changed from a specialist certificate to a generalist certificate (even though the EIPA doesn't test for generalist skills--it's specifically designed to assess the skills one needs to interpret effectively in an educational setting). So now an educational interpreter who passes the EIPA written test and the Manually Coded English (MCE) Elementary-level performance test can now say they hold RID Generalist certification and take the SC:L legal exam designed by RID.

This is CLEARLY a matter of certiifcation--did I miss a membership vote on this?

This is from the EIPA website: "Before the early 1990s, the only available methods for evaluating the skills of interpreters were designed to assess skills in individuals who interpreted for adults, not students. Yet, there are many differences between interpreting for an adult and interpreting for a student in the school setting. For example, interpreting interaction in the classroom is different than interpreting a lecture by an adult or a conversation between two adults."

So the people who designed the test state that it tests for different skills than those needed to meet the needs of deaf adults in the community. RID's board knows differently, I guess?

Thoughts? Opinions? I'm especially interested in feedback from RID-certified interpreters and adult Deaf consumers of interpreting services.

Ariakkas · 06-22-2008, 12:19 PM

RID is way too focused on community interpreting, and often neglects other aspect of the interpreting field. Them reconizing the EIPA is a way for them to bring educational terps into the program, and i imagine...to get those dues that they have been missing out on.

i wont comment on the vote issue as i don't know the specifics of it.

the EIPA being a generalist certificate boggles me...however it is still a very focused test, so if you tried to walk into any reputable agency or company, and tried to pass off your EIPA cert as anything more than proof you can interpret in an educational setting, you will be laughed out of the office.

06-10-2008, 04:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
HoHGuyOhio Certified Interpreter Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 178	RID Changes the Rules Again Just wanted to share some information and get some feedback on what RID-certified interpreters and Deaf adult consumers of interpreting services think of this. If you remember, last spring/summer there was quite a bit of discussion and heated debate surrounding the fact that RID's board of directors chose to accept the EIPA as a specialist certificate and educational interpreters who pass the EIPA at a 4.0 or above (both written and performance) could now join RID as certified members. This new speciality "certificate" is called the ED: K-12. Many felt that the board was out of line, seeing this issue clearly as one of certification. Issues relating to certification, per RID's bylaws, are required to be brought to the membership for a vote. In another turn of events, the ED: K-12 certificate has now been changed from a specialist certificate to a generalist certificate (even though the EIPA doesn't test for generalist skills--it's specifically designed to assess the skills one needs to interpret effectively in an educational setting). So now an educational interpreter who passes the EIPA written test and the Manually Coded English (MCE) Elementary-level performance test can now say they hold RID Generalist certification and take the SC:L legal exam designed by RID. This is CLEARLY a matter of certiifcation--did I miss a membership vote on this? This is from the EIPA website: "Before the early 1990s, the only available methods for evaluating the skills of interpreters were designed to assess skills in individuals who interpreted for adults, not students. Yet, there are many differences between interpreting for an adult and interpreting for a student in the school setting. For example, interpreting interaction in the classroom is different than interpreting a lecture by an adult or a conversation between two adults." So the people who designed the test state that it tests for different skills than those needed to meet the needs of deaf adults in the community. RID's board knows differently, I guess? Thoughts? Opinions? I'm especially interested in feedback from RID-certified interpreters and adult Deaf consumers of interpreting services. __________________ Chris Certified Interpreter NAD V, NIC Advanced

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06-22-2008, 12:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ariakkas Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 237	RID is way too focused on community interpreting, and often neglects other aspect of the interpreting field. Them reconizing the EIPA is a way for them to bring educational terps into the program, and i imagine...to get those dues that they have been missing out on. i wont comment on the vote issue as i don't know the specifics of it. the EIPA being a generalist certificate boggles me...however it is still a very focused test, so if you tried to walk into any reputable agency or company, and tried to pass off your EIPA cert as anything more than proof you can interpret in an educational setting, you will be laughed out of the office.