Press Release: ADARA, November 2007
Deaf Advocacy Training through the National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers
By Rosa Ramirez, member of the Deaf Advocacy Training team, NCIEC
The National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers, a collaboration of six member centers funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, is dedicated to the advancement of interpreter education and service to the Deaf community. Of particular focus are interpreters working with vocational rehabilitation clients and other adult deaf consumers.

In response to the federal priorities for these grants, the Consortium established the Deaf Advocacy Training (DAT) work team to pursue the development of training to enhance the Deaf Community’s experience, effectiveness and utilization of interpreting services. (“Deaf Community” is used to include Deaf, Deaf-Blind and hard of hearing individuals.) Because of specific limitations imposed by the grantor, grant activities must focus on addressing the communication access needs of those in the Deaf Community who utilize interpreters.

The DAT team recognized that the expertise to discuss and respond to questions of teaching self-advocacy lies within the Deaf Community. As a result, the DAT team sought to partner with entities that are “of, by and for the Deaf.” There are three partnership opportunities, or phases, of this initiative: to collect data, develop the training curriculum and deliver the training.

Phase 1 of this initiative sought partnership with an entity to collect data regarding the need for self-advocacy training and identify the best method(s) for delivery of such training. CSD, the successful applicant for this phase, used surveys and interviews with Deaf consumers to identify specific content needed for self-advocacy training, and suggest effective training strategies. CSD’s recommendations included providing Deaf-led training in face-to-face settings to maximize participants’ access to, and integration of, the information. This data collection phase was completed in June, 2007.

Phase 2 of the program seeks a qualified entity to develop a professionally designed curriculum that responds to and incorporates the findings of Phase 1. The end product would be ready to use, and must include an interactive instruction plan with all necessary print and media materials. The successful applicant for this phase would also develop a train-the-trainer curriculum with instruction manual/teaching guide. It is believed that this approach will provide all the necessary tools and resources for interested trainers to learn and share self-advocacy training with others, and offers the greatest potential for reaching grassroots Deaf individuals. Applications for this phase are currently under review, and the contractor is expected to be announced in December, 2007.

Phase 3 will award funding to a qualified entity or entities to conduct initial trainings. Activities will include training a core group of trainers, training diverse groups within the target population, and participating in evaluation activities.

Upon completion of the three phases, the developed curriculum will be an affordable resource available to agencies and individuals for the purpose of educating peers and clients about self-advocacy. With the proposed framework to include a teaching guide, it is anticipated that even individuals who do not have the opportunity to take part in the initial train-the-trainer events can use the end products to provide communication self-advocacy education in a variety of settings.   

The DAT work team looks forward to sharing the exciting results of this program with ADARA members, the Deaf Community and others. Updates will also be posted on the Consortium’s website: www.asl.neu.edu/nciec.

The National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers is funded from 2005 – 2010 by the U.S. Department of Education RSA CFDA #84.160A and B, Training of Interpreters for Individuals Who Are Deaf and Individuals Who Are Deaf-Blind.

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