Pre-Conference
May 2-3, 2024
Learn from the Experts!
A total of .6 CEUs will be offered during the pre-conference for the 2024 Deaf in Healthcare Summit for Interpreters. A specialized learning opportunity, this pre-conference will explore the magic behind STEM and its application to interpreting, medical health education, and STEM discourse skill development.
Pre-Conference Agenda
Thursday, May 2, 2024
3:00 – 5:00PM (CT)
Reintroducing the Magic of STEM through Visualization and Creative Language Play
Alicia K. Wooten, Ph.D. and Barbara Spiecker, Ph.D.
In third grade, we dug through the soil in search of earthworms and watched caterpillars morph into butterflies. By 12th grade, we were reading from textbooks and connecting scientific concepts with big words. Over the years, we have transitioned from being tactile and creative to passive and regimented. As a result, science has lost its vitality within many of us, and it has carried over in our interpretations. This workshop will provide a series of hands-on, interpreter skill building activities focusing on:
- developing scientific thinking skills for comprehension of new science content;
- applying these skills for conceptualization of content;
- choosing appropriate signs and expanding the ASL science vocabulary repertoire;
- delivering science concepts in an engaging, accurate, and relatable manner.
The presenters, two deaf scientists, will also discuss how several elements of education and language may have helped or hindered their journey to becoming scientists. Along this vein, we will discuss how we, as educators and interpreters, can work together to re-frame inner bias toward science, and re-breathe tactility and creativity into science through interpreting. The goal of this workshop is to cultivate confidence in understanding, developing, and interpreting engaging science-related topics through creative and collaborative language play.
After attending this session, participants will:
- Be able to list at least 10 new science signs
- Be able to analyze and decipher the meaning and context of science signs
- Be able to discuss the process of delivering science concepts in an engaging, accurate, and relatable manner
- Practice expressing various science topics in ASL for effective instructional delivery and communication of science content
- List several sources of science in ASL
6:00 – 8:00PM (CT)
Hands-On Health: Empowering Medical Education in ASL
Alicia K. Wooten, Ph.D. and Barbara Spiecker, Ph.D.
In the dynamic landscape of healthcare, effective communication is paramount to ensure equitable access to quality medical services. However, medical interpreters, particularly those serving the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, often encounter challenges stemming from a limited grasp of fundamental biological concepts. This deficiency in biological knowledge can inadvertently contribute to misunderstandings and exacerbate health disparities.
To address this critical gap, we present a specialized workshop designed to empower healthcare interpreters with a comprehensive understanding of essential biological principles. This educational initiative aims to equip interpreters with the necessary foundational knowledge to navigate medical appointments with heightened proficiency and accuracy.
After attending this session, participants will:
- Grasp essential anatomical and physiological concepts for precise healthcare interpretation.
- Master the interpretation of medical signs, improving communication in healthcare contexts.
- Navigate the nuances of medical terminology across different healthcare scenarios.
- Convey signs with precision in relevant medical contexts for effective interpretation.
- Recognize and interpret commonly used healthcare equipment, procedures, and supplies.
Friday, May 3, 2024
11:30 – 1:30PM (CT)
Healthcare in ASL: Untapped Potential of ASL in Discourse
Alicia K. Wooten, Ph.D. and Barbara Spiecker, Ph.D.
Let’s embark on a learning experience that blends scientific discourse with the intricate demands of healthcare interpretation. In the evolving landscape of science education, we often find a detachment from the tactile and creative experiences that once fueled our curiosity. This workshop bridges that gap by infusing hands-on, interpreter skill-building activities aimed at reigniting scientific thinking skills. Participants will engage in activities to:
- Reconnect with the inherent curiosity that made science a dynamic exploration in our earlier years, fostering a deeper comprehension of new health-related content.
- Enhance your signing repertoire by selecting appropriate signs that capture the essence of health concepts.
- Learn to convey complex scientific ideas in an engaging, accurate, and relatable manner, elevating the interpretative experience in healthcare scenarios.
After attending this session, participants will:
- Improve comprehension of scientific concepts for effective healthcare interpretation.
- Apply scientific thinking to accurately interpret complex healthcare content.
- Expand signing repertoire for clear communication in healthcare settings.
- Develop skills for captivating and accurate presentation of science concepts in healthcare interpretations.
Presenters
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Alicia K. Wooten, Ph.D.
She/her/hers
Dr. Alicia K. Wooten is a deaf immunologist and associate professor of biology at Gallaudet University. She earned a Ph.D. in Molecular and Translational Medicine from Boston University and a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Her expertise lies in lung biology, infectious diseases, and the immune system, with research focusing on HIV, autoimmune diseases, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Dr. Wooten co-founded Atomic Hands, a non-profit aiming to engage the deaf community in STEM through American Sign Language (ASL) and facilitate networking opportunities among deaf STEMists. Beyond academia, she actively contributes to public health efforts, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is dedicated to developing ASL-based STEM educational resources. Dr. Wooten advocates for inclusive science communication and encourages minority groups, especially in the deaf community, to pursue careers in science.
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Barbara Spiecker, Ph.D.
She/her/hers
Dr. Barbara Spiecker is a deaf marine ecologist at University of New Hampshire who uses mathematical and statistical tools, coupled with experiments and field observations, to answer questions related to responses of marine communities to climate change and monitoring and management of marine habitats. She is a co-founder of a non-profit, Atomic Hands that focuses on making science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) engaging through American Sign Language (ASL). We create videos covering varying STEM topics, give presentations and training nationally and internationally on how to deliver STEM topics in ASL, and offer ASL-English translation services for anything STEM related. Barbara has also worked with state- and nationally-funded projects on developing STEM signs in ASL and state education departments to translate English-based standardized tests in ASL. She has a Ph.D. in Integrative Biology from Oregon State University, M.S. in Marine Biology from Northeastern University, and a B.S. in Biology from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Pre-Summit Registration
Registration for the 2024 Deaf in Healthcare Summit for Interpreters and the pre-conference is open.