Recent content by Ken Thomas

Yes there is more to it than learning signs. Which means just learning them and getting the certs doesn't equate to quality just yet. How many years of experience would you say was enough?

They didn't exactly give people enough time to get up to the new code. Enough time hasnt even passed to get them still. But they are supposed to pay for the new certs, take the time to matriculate through them, without being able to work as an interpreter. I know all may not agree with what I...

If anyone saw it coming they would all be able to work still. Its not really believable to think noone was paying attention. They didn't exactly consult anyone. And again its still good enough to work in every other state. Is Michigan supposedly better than everywhere else that the requirements...

That one from 2011 was separate. The requirements have been upped again.

It isn't that they weren't certified. They are nationally certified and now that's not good enough for the state of Michigan. So now the tenured interpreters that the Deaf clients would request arent allowed to anymore.

That's the thing. They just put that into effect. So now being nationally certified isn't enough. But only for that one state. Thank you for the well wishes

Many of our interpreters are CODAs! They have been living in it since birth! Its like telling someone born in Germany, who moved to the US, and is fluent in both language that they can't interpret for their own people anymore without a few extra pieces of paper.

We are trying to come at it from many angles, what you suggested being one of them. But these types of things can take years. That's years without work , with no guarantee of success. And I would think they would have from the beginning! 20, 30, 40 years of experience, they don't include at...

They suddenly imposed new certifications, even if you are already nationally certified. Any clients you had in legal proceedings, educational, or medical situations, you had to immediately drop because you can no longer legally interpret for them. Its a sudden decision, that did not include the...

Thank you. Please share with others if you can.

The way they went about it makes it seem like all they want to do is tap into the money going through the Deaf and Sign Language Communuty. Meanwhile people have lost their livelihoods, or have to try and pay for all these new certifications PAST their already nationally certified status...

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdcr/7202016ApprovedEndorsementList_529895_7.pdf http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdcr/StandardsChart-F-3-17-16_517263_7.docx http://www.michigan.gov/mdcr/0,4613,7-138-28545_28547-389155--,00.html The last one probably is the best informative on it. The...

Sure will. I will find whatever links I can.

Thank you. It would not allow me to put the entire link for some reason, thank you for your help. And I will take any help offered.... Although I'm new to this site and don't know how to PM.

Good afternoon. My name is Ken Thomas. I am writing you today to ask for advice, help, and support on behalf of the Deaf and Sign Language Community in Michigan. New legislature has affected around 1.2 million in the state. Many Interpreters who have been doing so for decades can no longer do...