Sorenson Communications has announced two initiatives focused on increasing the number of nationally certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters available.

 

Sorenson Communications provides Video Relay Services (VRS) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language to communicate.

 

The company has collaborated with Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and local community partners, to add four to six testing sites in key locations for people who wish to take the RID National Interpreter Certification (NIC (News - Alert)) exam.

 

The NIC reportedly is the only nationally recognized professional accreditation for ASL interpreters. Through both written and English performance tests, this examination measures the fluency and quality of people’s ASL interpreting. In addition, this exam also measures the knowledge of interpreter standards, ethics and professionalism.

 

Sorenson Communications has developed, and is presenting, comprehensive test-preparation training to Sorenson interpreters who have yet to take the NIC exam. The company encourages its interpreters to acquire the NIC credential by their fifth year of employment.

 

For the second initiative, Sorenson has developed a comprehensive six-hour pre-test training. This unique training program aims to boost the interview and performance skills of Sorenson interpreters who are not yet NIC certified. Accompanied by a helpful DVD, the new program demonstrates 50 interpreting scenarios. Ten deaf individuals, male and female, from different areas of the United States have been chosen to demonstrate these scenarios.

 

Sorenson Communications Eastern Region District Manager, Michael Canale informs that the new Sorenson Communications training has already been presented in many Sorenson VRS Interpreting Centers throughout the U.S. and will be presented in designated locations in coming months.

 

Beth Dowers, a video interpreter in the Chattanooga Sorenson VRS Interpreting Center is happy about the workshops. She is pleased with the opportunity given by their workshop instructors to build their foundation for the NIC performance test.

 

“I acquired an incredible amount of understanding that will help me prepare.”