Recently I had a question from a hearing consumer I work with. Why do you need to sign what's on the slides? ASL Interpreters do not have every single sign for any topic just logged in their brain. One thing we do is look up signs we don't know or don't use often. The next thing is prediction. When a speaker is presenting, they have specific goals in mind and points they are driving home. I can't interpret for meaning if I don't know the meaning. Which leads to the next point

Signing Time (Recommended for HOH/Hearing kids only) https://www.mysigningtime.com/watch-free https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050AH1HK?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback This show was one of my first exposures to Sign Language. I would always ask my mom to get it from the library! It's like Ms. Rachel but for sign-supported speech. The language used in this show isn't fully ASL accessible. Rachel Coleman, the woman that signs in the show signs about half the words she

There's a subtle irony in what I do and who I am, in a way that is very difficult for me to put my finger on. This post is quite a bit more vulnerable and personal than most of my other content. I daresay in a society and near-constant AI slop, real is bold, and real is relevant. My JOB is to give people a voice, but sometimes, I can't use mine. When I voice-interpret, I am bold, I am articulate, and I am clear. When I express myself verbally, I stutter, sometimes I feel shy.

Here in Virginia, we have JUST had our open captions law gone into effect this month! I hope you're celebrating by going to the movies! I haven't yet, but I really should... I'm thinking about seeing The Odyssey. Open Captions... Who cares??? I feel like whenever I talk about Open Captions, no one cares. Open Captions are subtitles shown on the big screen for all to see. The personal devices that hook into a cupholder or the glasses are difficult to say the least. Users repor

Phew.... it's time to catch up. I've been MIA for a while now, blogging, YouTube, LinkedIN, even Facebook. First thing's first, I'm elated to announce, that I now have VQAS III/II, EIPA PSE Elementary 3.2, and have passed the EIPA Written test. These credentials have increased my work opportunities and earning potential. Here's a photo with me posing with the "PASSED" screen on my EIPA Written (blurred screen due to confidentiality agreement). The proctor said "Mentos make yo

We talked about bookkeeping apps last week, so this week we move on to apps I use in general. Google Apps This one is a package deal, I use Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Calendar, Maps, and Keep Notes the most. I like how they sync across my laptop, phone, and tablet seamlessly over Wifi. Calculator I have dyscalculia (It's like dyslexia but for math) so I have my Google Sheet set up to automatically figure my mileage, billing, etc. However, sometimes you need to be able to cal

Tax season is coming up! It's every freelancers favorite time of year (haha....). Both my grandmother and my mom were bookkeepers, so I came by bookkeeping skills naturally. Google Sheets and Google App Scripts I like to keep things simple, but somehow keeping things simple made them more complicated. I type every assignment and the details on a row in Google Sheets and then I asked my husband to use Google App Scripts to make it sync with my Google Calendar. This setup is pe

Disclaimer: I'm not a tax expert, so please make sure to double check current IRS rules and laws, and ask a CPA or EA any questions you may have. Also, all this information is based on my knowledge as of December 30, 2025. Gas Mileage This is definitely the biggest one, at least for a lot of us. Gas mileage to and from jobs (if you have a home office), and in between jobs. Gas mileage to the airport for business trips and gas mileage to workshops and trainings. It adds up qui

Most people dread this, but I love it. Let's explore the different things we need to keep organized. Assignments I keep them all on a spreadsheet. I categorize them broadly (educational, medical, community, etc) and then more specifically (K12, Primary Care, Meeting, etc). I do this so that if I want to, I can run off stats that I did X% of community jobs and X% of medical interpreting. There's a column for gas mileage as well. My spreadsheet syncs to my calendar and also aut

Last week we talked about free CEU courses, here's a list of ones that are worth the investment. All links are listed at the bottom! Sign Playing This one is so good, I don't even know how else I can explain it. The instructors are Deaf and teach how to use language creatively but also grammatically accurate. They have a variety of topics. ASL Pinnacle Also by a Deaf creator. I wanted to go to their workshop discussing political signs, but I didn't get the chance. Rainone Sis

Since the RID CPC states that "Interpreters engage in professional development" so many of us are always on the hunt for CEU courses and workshops. Then some of us are certified or licensed and are required to earn a specific number of CEUs annually. All the links are listed at the bottom of the article. Purple/ZP Say what you will about Purple, but they're always offering free CEU workshops on a wide variety of topics. Some of their workshops have been really excellent. You

Whenever I would ask my dad if I could watch tv as a kid he would respond by saying "Only if closed captions are on". My dad isn't deaf, he has no known disabilities, and English is his first language, he just likes to use captions. In addition, he believed closed captions would help my siblings and I learn to read. If you live in Virginia, please consider supporting the open captions bill (HB602). This is for showings with on screen closed captions for all to see in movie th

This is a fun topic. I always liked watching "What's in my bag" videos. It's also a common topic on social media platforms. Extra Clothes I bought a garment bag to keep in my car. So many times as an interpreter you show up and realize you're underdressed, or maybe you're overdressed! (I'd much prefer to be overdressed, honestly). I've had times I threw up in the car on my way to an assignment (I wasn't sick), but I had to stop at Walmart to buy a new set of clothes for the d

My first job interpreting was team interpreting in a K-12 Educational Setting. My team sat me down and told me that the RID CPC still applies, but the NAIE Ethics was more applicable to the job. My mind was blown. All I knew was the RID CPC. I had memorized them. I had been tested in them and I knew them. The RID CPC is made up of 7 tenets which are as follows: 1. Interpreters adhere to standards of confidential communication. 2. Interpreters possess the professional skills

Since I didn't attend an ITP (Interpreter Training Program), I found myself having to figure it out on my own. I was asking questions, doing research, anything and everything I could do to get myself in the field without going to college. Here's how I did it. Become Fluent Go to silent dinners, and other ASL events. Watch YouTube vlogs made by Deaf ASL natives. Make friends! In this day and age we have video chat and apps like Marco Polo which can really help. The only true w

People often ask if I teach ASL (spoiler, I don't). Read more to find out where you can learn!

This book put me on a roller coaster of emotions that I did not expect to have. The Butterfly Cage is a memoir written by Rachel Zemach, writing about her experience as a Teacher of the Deaf in Public Schools of California.

Not all interpreting is the same. This guide breaks down the key differences between ASL and tactile interpreting for Deaf and DeafBlind individuals.

Hosting a community or faith-based event? Make sure it’s accessible for Deaf and DeafBlind attendees with these simple tips and interpreting solutions.

Learn how CoNavigation supports DeafBlind individuals in Virginia through hands-on guidance, communication, and access to everyday environments.