The Interpreter Shortage Workgroup met on February 5 to review Solutions Summit decisions and plan next steps for the month. Discussions focused on gathering information, finalizing recommended solutions, and prioritizing diverse and marginalized communities' perspectives in the legislative report. The legislative report aims to guide future advocacy by including workgroup insights, focus group interviews, and survey information, with development starting in March and the final report to be submitted in June. ODHH will also train community members on implementing the proposed solutions. The workgroup will complete their work by the end of February 2025. Please click here to watch the report for the week of February 10, 2025.
A community survey is open until February 14, 2025, to gather experiences and recommendations for the report. DeafBlind community members can contact the DeafBlind Service Center for support to complete the survey.
The Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing has conducted a survey from the Washington community to address the shortage of Signed, Protactile, and Trilingual interpreters. Results will be shared shortly.
On February 1st and 2nd, 2025, the Signed, Protactile, and Trilingual Interpreter Workgroup met at Seattle University for the Solutions Summit. Deaf, DeafBlind, hearing, and Deaf interpreters came together to find ways to fix interpreter shortages and improve interpreter services in Washington. We reviewed at research and community feedback and worked together to share ideas to build a stronger interpreter network for the next decade. Please click here to watch the recap of the Summit: https://youtube.com/shorts/zdhRVYJ-2ZE
The Interpreter Shortage Workgroup is meeting regularly to work on solving problems with Washington state’s shortage of American Sign Language, ProTactile and Trilingual sign language interpreters. Four subgroups, focusing on licensure and certification, financial support, education and professional development, and supply and retention, are working with community members throughout state to gather data, stories, and experiences to develop recommendations. You will receive regular updates about the progress of each workgroup here. Please click here to watch the report for the week of February 4, 2025: HB2221 Workgroup Update (2/4/25)
Also known as "Washington State's Interpreter Shortage Workgroup." This workgroup was created as a result of House Bill 2221 in March, 2024. This bill did not pass, however ODHH received funding to support this special project. The main focus of the workgroup is to prepare a legislative report which will include an action plan.
The workgroup is analyzing the request load and fill rates for Sign Language interpreter services here in WA. They are studying the increasing demand from the growing community, underserved regions such as rural areas, training challenges, specialized skills, certification processes, and professional challenges. They are building a clear and complete picture about what is needed to improve communication access for WA State's Deaf, DeafBlind, Deafdisabled, hard of hearing, late deafened, and speech disabled individuals.
Click here for more description and details
WE NEED YOU! The work group is asking for community participation.
If want to participate in a focus group, contact Innivee Strategies at WWG@innivee.com by Friday, January 3, 2025.
Are you interested in learning more about the project as a state partner to stay up to date? Contact us at odhhspg@dshs.wa.gov
Next Town Hall Meeting: March 5, 2025, from 3:30pm – 5:30pm
ASL interpreters and CART will be provided. But if you need additional accommodations, please include a description of the accommodation you will need, including as much detail as you can. Also include a way we can contact you if we need more information. Please allow at least two weeks (14 days) advance notice. Last-minute requests will be accepted but may be impossible to fill. Send an email to morgan.jericho@dshs.wa.gov
HB 2221: Click here to see the House Bill 2221 Summary Click here to see the actual HB2221
Workgroup Overview: Click here to see the workgroup overview document
Work Group Members:
Angela Theriault
Ariele Belo
Ashanti Monts-Treviska
Cori Jones
Dan Mathis
Ellie Savidge
Erika Teasley
Gabrielle Hopkinson
Jeremy Sasser
Josiah Morrow
Katherine Taylor
Keith Clark
Melissa Klindtworth
Phelan Conheady
Sarah Hafer
Shawn Broderick
Taralynn Petrites
Town Hall meeting documents:
12/18/2024
Click here to see the Workgroup Update presented by Innivee Strategies