2025 Interpreting for Deaf Professionals Summit: Agenda

Friday, September 19, 2025
3:00 – 5:00PM (CT)

A1: Marketing 101 for Interpreters: Key Terms & Concepts

Katherine Lees

Not sure what marketers mean by “branding,” “positioning,” “conversion” or “lead generation”? Or how to sign marketing, sales, advertising and why they’re different signs. This session decodes common marketing jargon and explains how these concepts apply to your interpreting.

Participants will be able to:

3:00 – 5:00PM (CT)

A2 | Perspective on Interpreting for Deaf Professionals

Jeremy Quiroga, MFA, CDI and Trenton Marsh, CDI

Do you view the Deaf professional you work with as a consumer? Should that perspective shift? This workshop will explore shared experiences and mindsets of both Deaf professionals and the interpreters who work with them. We'll examine how boundaries can become blurred over time, especially in long-term partnerships, and how to maintain healthy, professional relationships.

Additional topics include effective teaming strategies—particularly when substitute interpreters are involved—the specialized skill sets and ethical considerations required in this unique context, and how to navigate situations where the Deaf professional is the subject-matter expert, especially when the interpreter may not fully grasp the technical content. Throughout the workshop, real-world stories and examples from the field will be shared and discussed.

Participants will leave this interactive workshop with:

5:45 – 7:45PM (CT)

B1 | From IEPs to Budgets: Interpreting for Deaf Educational Professionals and Administrators in High-Stakes Settings

Clara Baldwin, M.A.; Julie Rems-Smario, Ed.D; and Julie Stewart, M.S.

This session is designed for sign language interpreters to gain deeper insight into the experiences of Deaf and hard of hearing educational professionals. The panelists will share firsthand accounts of how interpreters’ choices profoundly impact their professional interactions—from the nuanced language in an IEP meeting to the sensitivity of budget discussions, crucial staff collaborations, and delicate parent engagements. This interactive discussion will highlight common issues that arise, delving into how your linguistic register, cultural mediation, and even your presence can influence tone, convey nuance, manage power differentials, and ultimately impact understanding and agreement. Come prepared to gain direct insights from our panelists and elevate your interpreting to ensure these professionals are accurately and effectively represented in critical settings.

Participants will be able to: 

5:45 - 7:45PM (CT)

B2 | Engineering the Gap: An Introduction to Systems Engineering for Sign Language Interpreters

William Harkness, MS

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the role of systems engineering is pivotal in ensuring the seamless integration of complex systems. This presentation aims to empower sign language interpreters with foundational knowledge of systems engineering principles, fostering a deeper understanding of the technical environment in which they operate. By exploring key concepts, methodologies, and real-world applications, we will illuminate the critical intersections between engineering and communication, enhancing the interpreters’ ability to convey technical information effectively. Together, we will embark on a journey to bridge the gap between technical knowledge and effective communication, ultimately enriching the interpreting experience for all stakeholders involved.

Session objectives include:

Saturday, September 20, 2025
10:00AM – 12:00PM (CT)

C1: Ctrl+Alt+Interpret: Tech 101 for Interpreters

Claire Labry

Tech jobs are everywhere — and so are deaf professionals working in them! But for interpreters, tech spaces can feel like stepping into a new world full of unfamiliar terms, fast-paced conversations, and a whole lot of acronyms. Ctrl+Alt+Interpret is a light, beginner-friendly session designed to give you the tools and confidence to interpret more effectively in tech settings. You’ll learn common concepts, workplace norms, and how to handle those “Wait… what are they even talking about?” moments with grace. No coding, no jargon overload — just a helpful introduction to the kinds of language, context, and culture that can make or break effective interpretation in the world of tech.

Participants will be able to:

10:00AM – 12:00PM (CT)

C2: The Interpreter's Influence: Shaping Communication in Professional Settings

Alana Beal

This session explores the often-underestimated, yet profound, impact interpreters have on professional interactions. As someone who relies on interpreters, I’ve seen firsthand how their linguistic choices, cultural mediation, and even their presence actively shape communication. We’ll delve into how an interpreter’s decisions can influence tone, convey nuance, manage power differentials, and ultimately impact understanding and agreement. Through discussions drawing on the presenter’s personal and professional experiences, this session will help participants better appreciate the interpreter’s role as a co-creator of meaning and learn strategies to optimize communication in diverse professional environments.

This session will:

1:30 – 3:00PM (CT)

D1: Decoding the "Green" Lexicon: A Deep Dive into Sustainability Terminology

Corryn Antonizio, MPA

In this session, you’ll become familiar with key terms and phrases commonly used in sustainability discourse: “the green lexicon.” We will focus on developing contextual skills when handling specialized green vocabulary in real-time interpreting settings.

Participants will be able to:

1:30 – 3:00PM (CT)

D2: From Citation to KPI Dashboard: How Academia and Business Build & Manage Data Differently

Adam Stone, PhD

Academic researchers and business analysts may both “work with data,” but what that actually looks like can be drastically different. This session will guide interpreters through the contrasting mental models of data in academic and business contexts. You’ll explore how data is collected, stored, analyzed, and shared in each domain—from the citation-driven world of academic research with static files and one-time analyses, to the fast-paced, value-focused world of business data dashboards, pipelines, and KPIs. By understanding these differences, interpreters will be better equipped to anticipate terminology, clarify intent, and support meaning-rich interpretations in data-heavy environments.

Participants will be able to:

3:45 – 5:45PM (CT)

E1 | The Cost of Winging It and the Value of Preparation: Getting Ready to Work with Deaf Professionals

David N. Evans, RID CI & CT, NIC Master

How much do you really need to prepare before interpreting for Deaf professionals? And what happens when you don’t? This immersive workshop invites you to experience the impact of limited preparation firsthand. We’ll unpack why prep matters, then move into activities to examine what can happen when we don’t know what’s coming. We will explore how preparation impacts clarity, credibility, and representation of the Deaf professional. You’ll leave this session with practical ways to prepare more effectively—and ensure your next assignment reflects your true skill, not your best guess. Because being ready isn’t just about feeling confident—it’s about doing justice to the message and the professional behind it.

Participants will be able to: 

3:45 - 5:45PM (CT)

E2 | Building and Sustaining Effective Designated Healthcare Interpreting Teams

Amanda M. David, MA, BEI: III, Medical, and Master; RID CI & CT; CoreCHI-P and Dr. Christopher Moreland

Designated healthcare interpreting occurs within complex health systems that influence the partnership. This session explores the structural and institutional dynamics that influence interpreter–Deaf professional relationships, including career stages, organizational parameters, and evolving field demands. We’ll examine how professional/interpreter teams form and how to enter these relationships with professionalism and intention. Participants will leave better equipped to describe these systems, relationships, and the research from the last decade that informs this work.

After attending, participants will be able to:

Sunday, September 21, 2025
10:00AM – 12:00PM (CT)

F1: Transcend: Seamlessly Integrating Interpreters into the C-Suite

Roberta Mather

How can rising Deaf professionals and interpreters build a partnership that thrives at the highest levels of leadership? Roberta Mather—a 25-year veteran in federal leadership, international policy, and strategic communications—introduces the Hierarchy of Interpreter Needs, a practical and nuanced framework informed by lived experience and national-level inquiry. Drawing from decades in the field and findings from nationwide workplace surveys, this session explores how Deaf professionals and their designated or emerging interpreters can co-create synergy, elevate impact, and unlock untapped potential in executive environments.

Participants will be able to:

10:00AM – 12:00PM (CT)

F2: Unseen Filters: How Interpretation Nuances the Perception of Men

Aaryn Adams, RID NIC, BEI Master & BEI Court; Adam Stone, PhD; TJay Middlebrook and TBD

This illuminating panel discussion will delve into the often-overlooked influence of interpretation on how Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing individuals may be perceived in various professional and social contexts. We will explore the subtle and not-so-subtle ways in which an interpreter’s choices—from linguistic register and tone to non-manual signals and cultural mediation—can shape perceptions of masculinity, authority, and interpersonal dynamics. The discussion will consider how these “unseen filters” might impact interactions, influence professional relationships, and contribute to or challenge existing gender stereotypes within professional settings and beyond. We will examine practical examples, discuss ethical considerations for interpreters, and foster a critical understanding of the profound impact of interpreting on the construction of identity and perception.

Participants will be able to: 

1:00 – 2:30PM (CT)

G1 | Interpreting for Deaf Professionals in Precision Machining and Manufacturing

Mark Davis

This workshop introduces interpreters to the world of precision machining and manufacturing. Participants will gain foundational knowledge of common tools, processes, and terminology used in machine shops and technical programs. Through hands-on vocabulary practice, real-world examples, and classifier development, interpreters will build confidence working in this technical and safety-focused environment.

Participants will be able to: 

1:00 – 2:30PM (CT)

G2: From English to ASL: Mastering Native-Like Production

Diana Cho and Eric Epstein

This workshop will explore rarely discussed principles of ASL syntax, supported by specific, practical examples, that interpreters should be aware of and work to master. We will also briefly discuss some essential English-to-ASL translation strategies that will help with effective interpretations. 

Participants will be able to: 

3:15 – 5:15PM (CT)

H1 | Driving Deaf-Centered Interpreting: Shaping the Future of Language Access

Bill Millios; Corey Axelrod, MBA; David N. Evans, RID CI & CT, NIC Master; Debra Patkin, Esq.; and Sheryl Emery, MA

To close the 2025 Interpreting for Deaf Professionals Summit, this panel discussion will explore the current state of language access for Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing professionals, and anticipate emerging trends, including those that disproportionately impact this community. We will delve into best practices for Deaf-centered interpreting, discuss the challenges faced in various professional settings, and consider collaborative opportunities to shape a future where effective and equitable communication is no longer a barrier to the full participation and advancement of Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing professionals.

Participants will be able to: 

Conference Registration

Registration for the 2025 Deaf in Healthcare Summit for Interpreters is now open.