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 2008

• 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 FEEDBACK FORUMS to 7 districts, designed to assist individual skill development through producing work from a stimulus and engaging in group discussion and production.
  
• Provide financial assistance by way of tuition reimbursement to interpreters taking college courses or courses deemed by a supervisor to be necessary for their job.
  
• Offer two (2) interpreter education courses at partnering colleges (Pensacola Junior College, Valencia Community College, Florida Community College at Jacksonville) which currently offer ASL classes but do not attract sufficient numbers of students to offer courses in the areas of interpretation or transliteration.
  
• Provide an Interpreter Preparation Summer Institute , August 6 - 9, 2008.

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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: Lori Tetzel , 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, 2008, Weekend Workshops

ThFour (4) statewide manual weekends will be offered. Plans are being made for weekends in September, October and November in different parts of the state. Weekend content will be on skills necessary for accurate interpreting from English into ASL, or ASL-like signing. Check back for details and registration.

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Questions?

Lori Tetzel, Administrative Assistant

or

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

Educational Interpreter Project
University of North Florida
Bldg. 15/3101
1 UNF Drive
Jacksonville FL 32224

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

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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