2026 Deaf in Healthcare Summit for Interpreters: Agenda
A1 | Interpreting Through the OT Lens: Supporting Function, Regulation, and Participation in Health Care
This session explores the healthcare environment through the lens of Occupational Therapist to support interpreters in delivering effective, sustainable, and client-centered interpretation. Emphasis is placed on understanding patient functional performance, sensory and emotional regulation, environmental demands, and the occupational roles of both patient and interpreter within medical and community settings.
Participants will be able to:
- Describe the occupational therapy process including referral, evaluation, intervention planning, treatment, and discharge considerations across multiple practice settings.
- Identify the role of occupational therapists in a variety of settings including early intervention, schools, acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient practice.
- Explain foundational concepts of sensory processing including vestibular, proprioceptive, and interoceptive systems as they relate to pediatric occupational therapy.
- Differentiate key features of pediatric outpatient occupational therapy practice compared with other pediatric settings.
- Discuss strategies for supporting caregivers and children in understanding sensory needs and promoting participation in meaningful daily activities.
A2 | Puberty, the Prostate and Phimosis - A Focus on Male Reproductive Physiology
In the complex world of medical interpreting, effective communication and trust are paramount. The “Fish Bowl” approach serves as a dynamic platform for interpreters, healthcare professionals, and patients to engage in open dialogue about the challenges and successes of medical interpreting. This discussion emphasizes the critical role of teamwork and trust within the interpreting process, ultimately enhancing patient care and outcomes.
During this session, Trenton and Jeremy will lead mock scenarios that allow us to explore various decisions and processes influenced by teamwork dynamics within different situational contexts. Participants will have the opportunity to analyze and discuss the implications of these scenarios. Participants will have the opportunity to analyze and discuss the implications of these scenarios, including how their respective biases may exacerbate situations that can be oppressive toward some individuals. Ultimately, the goal is to foster a deeper understanding of how effective collaboration can improve interpreting practices and patient experiences.
Join us in this engaging conversation as we work together to identify strategies for building trust and enhancing teamwork in medical interpreting.
Participants will be able to:
- List a minimum of five ways teamwork dynamics can impact medical interpreting scenarios
- Identify a minimum of three strategies to build trust and enhance collaboration in medical interpreting
- Describe a minimum of two ways that facilitated dialogue can be used to elicit diverse perspectives and address power, privilege and oppression.
B1 | Exploring Progressive Frameworks
This workshop will explore current and progressive frameworks for Deaf and hearing interpreter teams. This training places the interpreting process, client/participant experience, and holistic goals at the forefront. Workshop participants will examine how frames of thinking, historical and current biases, and entrenched norms have shaped our work and how to shift towards adaptive, participant-centered, collaborative practices that enhance language access.
Through guided dialogue & reflective discussions relying on participant and presenter experience and insights, participants will:
- Examine frameworks, biases, and decision-making patterns that influence teaming
- Consider power dynamics that exist within a team and how to effectively share and manage “Deaf and hearing space”
- Explore communication, inclusion, and collaboration using open process techniques
- Explore how cultural and experiential lenses affect teaming, message construction, and the access experience while challenging language/labels that may cause harm
B2 | Navigating the Critical Care Environment: A Comprehensive Guide to the ICU
This session offers an immersive look into the high-stakes world of Intensive Care. We will demystify the complex “symphony” of the ICU—from the specialized technology and life-sustaining machinery to the common pharmacological interventions used to stabilize critically ill patients. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of the multidisciplinary team, the unique nomenclature used at the bedside, and the clinical logic behind various ICU classifications.
Participants will be able to:
- Accurately differentiate between different types of ICUs.
- Identify at least three fundamental differences in staffing, monitoring, and intervention levels between an ICU and a standard medical-surgical unit.
- Identify and describe the primary function of at least three essential ICU machines.
- Recognize and define a minimum of three common ICU-specific medical abbreviations and "high-alert" medications used in hemodynamic support and sedation.
C1 | Applying Progressive Frameworks to Teaming Practices
This workshop will provide an opportunity to move from theory to practice, reviewing and utilizing five effective teaming processes for Deaf and hearing interpreter teams. Workshop participants will engage in deliberate practice with each process, increasing flexibility, collaboration, and confidence towards a participant-centered approach that enhances language access in medical settings. Communication within the Deaf/hearing team is essential and an “open process” has proven to be most inclusive and effective. During this application session, participants will practice utilizing an open process and employ communication cues and strategies that best fit the setting/context/goals.
Through interactive demonstrations, guided practice, and reflective discussions, participants will:
- Develop trust, rapport, accountability and flexibility within interpreting teams
- Consider power dynamics that exist within a team and how to effectively share and manage “Deaf and hearing space”
- Practice and analyze five co-interpreting/teaming processes: Consecutive, Expressive Loop, Receptive Loop, Clarification and Feedback
- Strengthen communication, inclusion, and collaboration using open process techniques
C2 | When the Body Turns on Itself: Understanding Autoimmune Disorders
Join us for a clinical deep dive into the physiological “glitch” where the body’s defense system becomes its own adversary. This session moves beyond basic terminology to provide interpreters with a conceptual map of how autoimmune dysfunction ravages healthy tissue and the specific mechanisms by which various treatments intervene. We will explore the delicate balance of systemic steroid use, including the path to secondary complications like Cushing’s Syndrome, while examining the primary categories of medication used to manage Thyroid disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Multiple Sclerosis. By understanding the “why” and “how” behind each pharmacological approach, participants will gain the background knowledge necessary to accurately interpret complex diagnostic discussions and medication regimens in a healthcare setting.
After this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Explain what autoimmune disorders are and how they impact the body
- Discuss the pros and cons of systemic steroids used for treatment of autoimmune disorders
- Identify signs and symptoms of Cushing’s Syndrome along with treatment
- Highlight common autoimmune disorders: thyroid disorders, Rheumatoid arthritis, and Multiple Sclerosis
- Outline key medications used for treatment of each autoimmune disorder
D1 | Access, Equity, and Accuracy: Parallels Between Legal and Healthcare Interpreting
The distinctions between medical and legal interpreting are becoming increasingly blurred. While some may have once believed, “I’m a medical interpreter; legal interpreting is too high-stakes,” the reality is that many medical encounters carry significant legal implications. The stakes have always been high, and it is time to engage in an open dialogue about strategies to promote access, advance equity, and ensure accuracy in our interpreting practice.
Join us for an in-depth discussion on advocating for appropriate staffing, effectively utilizing medical language to navigate challenging conversations, and centering Deaf clients in our interpreting work. This workshop will provide practical insights to enhance your professional practice across both legal and healthcare settings.
Participants will be able to:
- Identify two key principles common to legal and healthcare interpreting that highlight the importance of access, equity, and accuracy.
- Identify a minimum of three types of healthcare interpreting scenarios with potential legal implications.
- List a minimum of three strategies for effectively interpreting legal matters within healthcare environments.
D2 | Breast Health Across the Lifespan
Session description coming soon.
Interpreters play a crucial role in bridging communication gaps and ensuring equitable healthcare for Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing individuals. During this session, Corey Axelrod will facilitate a collaborative session where all participants can actively participate and ask each other questions – the discussion will revolve around providing freelance and staff interpreters practical strategies to navigate the individual and systemic biases within healthcare organizations and effectively advocate for cultural sensitivity and equitable language access in a manner that does not oppress or further marginalize Deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
Participants will be able to:
- Discuss the interpreter's role as a language and cultural mediator, including ethical considerations and best practices for advocacy;
- Develop practical strategies for collaborating with healthcare providers and administrators to champion language access policies and procedures; and
- Share experiences and challenges related to advocating for language access and brainstorm solutions collaboratively in a manner that respects Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing individuals’ collective autonomy.
E1 | Bridging the Gap: The CODA Experience in Senior Healthcare Navigation
This panel explores the complex experiences of Adult Children of Deaf Adults (CODAs) navigating the healthcare system with their aging parents. As healthcare shifts toward relationship-centered care, panelists will discuss the unique dynamics and ethical dilemmas that arise when CODA family members balance roles as advocates and cultural brokers. The discussion will highlight strategies for professional interpreters to collaborate effectively with families while mitigating the systemic harm caused by the “invisible labor” often expected of CODA caregivers.
Participants will be able to:
- Identify a minimum of two systemic and interpersonal challenges faced by CODAs in medical settings, including the tension between family advocacy and professional interpreting boundaries.
- Analyze a minimum of two impacts of caregiver burnout and its effect on long-term healthcare coordination for Deaf seniors.
- List a minimum of three strategies for interpreters to empower Deaf seniors and collaborate respectfully with CODA family members without compromising professional standards.
E2 | Session Information Coming Soon
This session is designed to provide healthcare interpreters with the skills and language required to provide patients with access to perioperative information. Providers often use medical terminology and anatomy to clarify surgical procedures to patients. Julia will provide classification of anatomy, review typical “day-of-surgery” vocabulary, and visually describe common physiology seen in surgical diseases. Participants will leave feeling more confident about physician-patient communication.
Participants will be able to:
- Recognize common surgical procedures from total hip replacement to laparoscopic cholecystectomy
- Apply and classify anatomy and physiology to benefit patient education during pre-operative visits
- Understand and clarify common medical terminology used in the perioperative setting
F1 | Opioids Explained: Understanding Use, Risk, and Impact
In this session, interpreters will explore the pharmacological and social landscape of opioid use to better facilitate sensitive medical and community dialogues. We will examine how these substances function within the body to manage pain and the specific clinical scenarios where their prescription is appropriate. Moving beyond basic definitions, the presentation will provide a brief explanation of how these medications work to provide participants with general knowledge of the physiological transition from tolerance to dependence and addiction. We will further analyze the profound impact of misuse on an individual’s holistic well-being and the cascading effects on public safety and healthcare systems. Finally, the session will outline critical harm-reduction strategies, including safe disposal practices and recovery resources, ensuring interpreters have the conceptual depth to accurately handle discussions ranging from acute pain management to long-term recovery.
Participants will be able to:
- Explain the medical uses of opioids, including when they are appropriately prescribed for pain management and how they work in the body.
- Identify the short-term and long-term risks of opioid use, such as tolerance, dependence, addiction, and overdose.
- Analyze the impact of opioid misuse on individuals, including physical health, mental well-being, and quality of life.
- Evaluate the broader societal and community impacts of opioid use, including effects on families, healthcare systems, and public safety.
- Demonstrate awareness of prevention and harm-reduction strategies, including safe prescribing practices, proper medication storage and disposal, and access to treatment and recovery resources.
F2 | Linguistics and Considerations: Muscular System
This interactive session is designed to expand participants’ understanding of the structure and function of the muscular system and to provide model language that participants can use when interpreting in healthcare settings. Ultimately, the goal is for participants to render more accurate and comprehensive interpretations of the human muscular system, including muscle types (skeletal, smooth, and cardiac), common musculoskeletal conditions, and diagnostic interventions.
Participants will be able to:
- List a minimum of three ways 3-D space can be utilized when rendering interpretations about muscle groups, localized pain, and the mechanics of contraction and extension.
- Demonstrate a minimum of five signs that can be used to represent the muscular system, specific muscle disorders, and medical interventions.
G1 | Dermatology - Listening with our Eyes
This session explores the unique approach to dermatology consultations in community- and hospital-based settings, which differs from many other medical specialties. In dermatology, the skin surface tells the story; it reveals the diagnosis, patterns, and provides insight into nearly every other organ system.
Participants will be able to:
- Identify a minimum of three common reasons for dermatology consultations in community vs hospital settings.
- Distinguish a minimum of two main differences in approaching a dermatology problem vs other medical problems.
- Identify three broad categories of diagnoses in dermatology.
- Identify a minimum of two common devices used in dermatology.
G2 | Linguistics and Considerations: The Reproductive System
This interactive session is designed to expand participants’ understanding of the structure and function of the male and female reproductive systems and to provide model language that participants can use when interpreting in healthcare settings. Ultimately, the goal is for participants to render more accurate and comprehensive interpretations of human reproduction, hormonal cycles, and medical interventions.
Participants will be able to:
- List a minimum of three ways 3-D space can be utilized when rendering interpretations about internal anatomical placement, the stages of gestation, or surgical procedures.
- Demonstrate a minimum of five signs that can be used to represent the reproductive system, corresponding conditions, and medical interventions.
H1 | Session Title Coming Soon
To close the 2025 Deaf in Healthcare Summit for Interpreters, this panel discussion will explore the current state of language access in healthcare and anticipate emerging trends, including those that disproportionally impact
underserved and marginalized populations. We will delve into best practices, discuss the challenges we face, and consider collaborative opportunities to shape a future where language is no longer a barrier to quality healthcare for Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing individuals.
Participants will be able to:
- Identify a minimum of three key legislative and regulatory updates impacting language access in healthcare, including potential changes anticipated in 2025 and beyond.
- Explore resources and tools available to interpreters for promoting language access and staying informed about relevant regulations and best practices.
- List a minimum of three collaborative strategies that interpreters, agencies, and healthcare organizations can take to address individual and systemic biases and, ultimately, improve the delivery and management of language access services.
Conference Registration
Registration for the 2026 Deaf in Healthcare Summit for Interpreters is now open.