The Florida Department of Educational, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, has funded a new project called the Interpreter Preparation Initiative. The goal of the Educational Interpreter Project (EIP) is to increase the number of qualified, screened, evaluated or nationally certified sign language interpreters and oral transliterators who are currently providing services to students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing in Florida’s school or who may become part of this specialized interpreter workforce in the state’s K-20 education system.

Project Goals 2010

• Offer statewide professional development for interpreters/ transliterators working in public school settings. Four weekends will be offered on the topic of English to ASL interpreting. These activities will be approved for CEUs for certified interpreters by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

• Provide technical assistance to districts in matters relating to interpreting personnel.

• Provide college courses for personnel using non-traditional delivery methods, such as teleconferencing, video, online, weekends and commuity based.
  

• Provide financial assistance by way of professional development stipends to interpreters taking college courses or courses deemed by a supervisor to be necessary for their job.
  
  
• Provide financial assistance for credential testing. The Project will pay 1/2 the cost for up to 15 individuals taking the NIC Performance Evaluation and up to 32 individuals taking the EIPA Performance Evaluation.
  
  
• Provide an Interpreter Preparation Summer Institute , August 1 - 4, 2010.

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1. All interpreters/transliterators working the educational settings may attend weekend professional development opportunities. Individuals may register directly with the Project via fax/mail or online. There is no charge for any activities sponsored by the Project.

2. Registration forms must be received before the deadlines. Participants will be sent or emailed information about the weekend, including preferred hotel/motel, and the location of the workshop, with a map and directions.

3. Each participant is responsible for making hotel/motel reservations. Individuals are responsible for travel, meals and lodging expenses. You are encouraged to seek financial assistance from district resources. For questions and more information call: Lisa Lynch, lisa.lynch@unf.edu 904-620-1386 (w) or see below for Toll free number and email link or email Shannon Simon shannon.simon@unf.edu

4. The Institute will be held August 6 - 9, 2008 at the University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida. Register by clicking here.

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Fall, 2010, Weekend Workshops

Four (4) statewide manual weekends will be offered. Plans are being made for weekends in August and September in different parts of the state. Topics and content will be different each weekend. Registration will be available July 15, 2010. Click here for information on locations.

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Questions?

Lisa Lynch, Administrative Assistant

Educational Interpreter Project
University of North Florida
Bldg. 57/3500
1 UNF Drive
Jacksonville FL 32224

Toll Free 1-866-697-7150
Local 904-620-1386
Fax 904-620-3895 (ATTN: EIP)

or

Shannon C. Simon, M.S.; CI, CT, CSC, OIC:C
Professional Development Coordinator

Funding for this webpage was provided by the Florida Department of Education and was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.

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