2024 Conference
is here!
Going for Gold!
The Full Story
Please mark your calendars to join us for an
exciting learning opportunity for two full days
IN-PERSON
on September 13-14, 2024
9 am-5 pm CDT
Special School District
Student Center
2888 Brightside Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA.
Early Bird Registration rates (Ends August 24, 2024):
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LRID Member (as of August 1, 2024) $40
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Louisiana Resident (Non-LRID Member) $75
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Out of State $100
Regular Registration rate (August 25-September 8, 2024):
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Everyone $125
"At the Door" Registration- No Guaranteed meal (September 9-14, 2024):
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Everyone $175
Refunds:
50% written request must be received by August 24
**No registration required to attend the General Business Meeting
(**meals provided to those registered for the conference)
September 13
Day 1 Schedule
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9a-12p Platform Interpreting - English to ASL 0.3PS
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Presented by: Donavan Williams and Caroline Chabolla
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Course Description: Dive into the world of platform interpreting with our comprehensive Platform Interpreting 101. This session is crafted for interpreters who are new to or hesitant about this specialized setting. Join us as we demystify platform interpreting by addressing common concerns and misconceptions. We’ll provide a clear definition of platform interpreting, exploring its unique demands and opportunities. The workshop will cover practical strategies for effective platform interpreting and teaming, ensuring you feel confident and prepared. Designed for participants with limited experience or knowledge in this area, this workshop encourages an open exchange of questions, success stories, and even challenges encountered in platform interpreting. Bring your curiosity and your experiences, and leave with a solid foundation and actionable insights to enhance your platform interpreting skills.
Target audience: Students, Novice to Advanced Level interpreters with little to no experience
with Platform Interpreting
LRID is an RID-approved CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. This training is offered for 0.3 PS at the some content knowledge level.
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12p-2p Lunch/Business Meeting
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2p-5p Bowling with the Bumpers on - Setting Ethical Parameters 0.3 PS
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Presented by: Donavan Williams and Ernest Willman
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Course Description: The goal of this introductory training is to give participants a solid understanding of ethical decision-making in the field of sign language interpreting. The presenters, will walk participants through the fundamental frameworks and models that underpin moral decisions in practical situations. Through scenario analysis, participants will be able to recognize potential moral conundrums, consider several options, and comprehend the effects of each decision. The necessity of ethics in maintaining professionalism and confidence in the sector is also emphasized in the session. Lastly, participants will have the chance to consider their own past experiences and use the frameworks they have learned to either justify or criticize past choices.
Target audience: Sign Language Interpreters with Little to No Content Knowledge
LRID is an RID-approved CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. This training is offered for 0.3 PS at the little to none content knowledge level.
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5:30p Banquet/Game Show
September 14
Day 2 Schedule
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9a-12p Practicing Anti-Audism in the Workplace* 0.3 PPO
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Presented by: Marvin Miller
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Course Description: A 6-hour workshop that provides clarity on what Deafhood is all about where they begin to see the differences between deafness and Deafhood and how one can stand in
allyship with or behind Deaf people. Contents cover Audism, Deafhood, Deaf history,
Hearing Privileges Oralism, and “Surdinalism” which was adopted from a colonialism
framework. This workshop offers refreshed lenses to analyze their own personal
ideologies in the ways they consciously or subconsciously think about Deaf people.
Target audience: Sign Language Interpreters or any other Professionals working with
Deaf populations such as teachers of the Deaf or counselors, etc.
LRID is an RID-approved CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. This training is offered for 0.6 PPOs at the some content knowledge level.
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12p-2p Lunch/Business Meeting
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2p-5p Practicing Anti-Audism in the Workplace Cont'd* 0.3 PPO
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Presented by: Marvin Miller
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*Must attend both sessions to earn full 0.6 PPO CEU credit.
Donavan Willams Presenter/Interpreter
Donavan was born and raised in Northeast Florida, where he began his education and interpreting career. He worked diligently to develop a strong foundation of technical interpreting skills and interpersonal skills that are still the bedrock on which his current practice is built. His appreciation for diverse communities and exciting opportunities later brought him to Louisiana (Lafayette and Baton Rouge) where he worked in state government and served as the Designated Interpreter and Accessibility Specialist for the Superintendent of the Louisiana Special School District.
His love for interpreting (and undoubtedly his love for FOOD!!) was enriched and seasoned by his experiences in Southern Louisiana and he is delighted to resume his contributions to the local interpreting community. Since leaving Louisiana, the wind has blown Donavan westward to Texas and now Arizona, where he has worked primarily in the Business/Corporate, Post-Secondary, and K-12 (Residential Deaf School) settings. Thanks to the investment of many mentors, colleagues, and educators, Donavan has been able to achieve his National Certification through the Registry of interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and his Master-level Certification through the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI).
Additionally, Donavan holds a score of 4.5 on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment. As he starts his second decade of professional interpreting, Donavan aims to shift his focus to elevating other practitioners by enhancing their craft and their connections with colleagues, consumers, and themselves.
Caroline Chabolla Presenter/Interpreter
Caroline Chabolla is a certified American Sign Language Interpreter based in Austin, Texas. With a
Bachelor of Arts in Interpretation from Gallaudet University, Caroline also holds the National Interpreter
Certification (NIC), the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters Master Certification (BEI) and the BEI Court
Interpreter Certification (CIC).
Since 2013, Caroline has been working as a freelance interpreter in a wide range of settings, specializing
in post-secondary education, STEM, conference, and medical. As a lifelong learner, Caroline is
passionate about platform interpreting because it has been a rewarding challenge and offers many growth
opportunities. She is dedicated to sharing tips learned along her journey and supporting colleagues in the
field.
When not interpreting, Caroline enjoys exploring the outdoors, swimming in the natural waters of Texas,
traveling, reading, and cooking.
Ernest Willman Presenter/Interpreter
Ernest Willman is a faculty member at Pima Community College, teaching American Sign Language, Interpreting, and Deaf Culture. Ernest is a Certified Deaf Interpreter with a Legal license in the state of Arizona.
Ernest holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies and American Sign Language from Gallaudet University, as well as a Masters of Education in Higher Education from Drexel University. He completed his doctoral studies (working on his dissertation now) at Lamar University, with research interests in Deaf identity development, language deprivation, and the ASL/English interpreting field.
He also owns a business that focuses on life coaching, leadership consultation, interpretation, and translation (English to ASL).
Marvin Miller
Presenter
Marvin T. Miller has taught over 1,000 hours of Deafhood classes, which began during his term as president of the Indiana Association of the Deaf in January 2011. A dynamic and powerful presenter, Marvin currently teaches Deafhood 101 and 201 classes as well as Deafhood and Allies workshops for sign language interpreters all over the country
His prior accomplishments include publishing Our First Discovery: The heartbreaks and joys of traveling in our motorhome, 2022 and launching several monthly newspapers of, for and by the Deaf and signing community including: The Deaf Michigander and DeafNation (www.deafnation.com); he later helped launch SignNews with Communication Services for the Deaf. Marvin has worked in media, video relay service and he has consulted with organizations on business development. He is a founding board member of the Deafhood Foundation.
He has a Masters degree in Sign Language Education from Gallaudet University. In his free time, Marvin loves traveling in his 2001 Fleetwood Discovery 37U. Soon, he hopes to publish: Our Deafhood Journey and Deafhood and the Art of RV Maintenance. His four Deaf children join him when they are off from their work or on a break from Gallaudet University.
Andrea Rehkopf
Interpreter
Andrea Rehkopf has been interpreting professionally since 2006. She grew up in Michigan, worked and lived in Austin, Texas for a few years and now resides in Colorado. Andrea works in a variety of settings as a freelance interpreter, such as: post secondary education, meetings, mental health, platform, high profile settings and many many more.
Andrea currently is working full time as a freelance interpreter and also teaching interpreting students, virtually.
In her free time Andrea loves to hike, snowboard, rock climb, bike and adventure in the beautiful mountains of Colorado.
LRID is an RID-approved CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. This conference offers 1.2 CEUs.
RID CEUs have been requested.
Target audience: Working and aspiring interpreters
Sign language interpreters will be provided.
Any other special requests must be received by August 24, 2024.
Special School District Requests:
Anyone who uses SSD's facilities must comply with campus rules, including:
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No smoking or other tobacco
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No alcohol
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No weapons
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Follow the posted speed limit, and park in parking spaces only (no parking on the grass)
Other Information
To receive RID/BEI CEUS and/or Certificate of Attendance, participants must attend sessions in their entirety.
LRID is committed to diversity both within the organization and within the profession of sign language interpreting. We promote an environment of mutual respect and free from bias. LRID shall not discriminate in matters of membership or professional development attendance on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, or gender identity, hearing status, marital status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.