"Interpreter as Worker", presented by Matt Salerno

 

Thursday, February 19 at 7 PM

 

This workshop will explore the career lifecycle of American Sign Language-English interpreters from entry into the profession through long-term career outcomes. Pathways to interpreting are diverse, and sustainable professional practice is consistently rooted in meaningful engagement with the Deaf community. As an historically marginalized group at the intersection of linguistic minority and disability, the rights of Deaf individuals were formally recognized through the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. However, trends over the past 35 years have resulted in what is being referred to as a nation-wide interpreter shortage. This presentation will analyze the major contributing factors that led to the current landscape of the interpreting profession. Participants will also better understand how to facilitate access services that prioritize language justice through the lens of a working interpreter.

 

Matt Salerno is a nationally certified interpreter with a decade of professional service across various sectors of the field. As a full-time freelance interpreter and founder of the boutique agency Matches Interpreting, he is uniquely positioned to bridge macro-level industry patterns and the lived realities of language professionals. He previously served as a staff interpreter at a research university and manager within the video relay service. These experiences, combined with a staunch commitment to equity and accessibility, inform his work at Matches supporting Deaf professionals in workplaces across the globe.

-To attend the event in person, there is no need to register. For a map and directions to Lakeland's Ryogoku campus, see our website: https://luj.lakeland.edu/contact

 

--To join on Zoom, please register here (before 5PM on the day of the event). You will be emailed a link that afternoon

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rYbybN0DJmlyZy5WVZgg4J3FlDphAvIUqwUgamR3kDg/edit

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Roger Grabowski, Jr.

Assistant Professor of General Studies

Lakeland University Japan