TSID is committed to ensuring communication access for all participants at TSID Conferences and all TSID board meetings.
During the process of hiring interpreters to work at TSID functions, preference will be shown to interpreters with current TSID membership who hold current Texas Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) of at least Advanced, Intermediary, CDI, Oral Certificate: Comprehensive, Oral Certificate: Visible, and Trilingual Advanced and/or current Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) certifications of CI/CT, CDI or NIC, and/or equivalent credentials;
- Interpreters holding other valid Texas BEI or RID credentials will be given consideration based on need;
- Opportunities for non-paid mentoring will be considered as appropriate;
- Whenever possible, TSID will utilize Deaf Interpreters in order to provide a model for best practice;
- Interpreters of every race, ethnicity, and gender are welcome and every effort will be made to select interpreters who represent the diversity of the TSID membership. Ethnicity of interpreters will be taken into consideration when assigning interpreters for workshops given by minority presenters. Gender matching of presenters and interpreters will be given priority in sign-to-voice assignments following the presenter’s preferred source and target languages. In either of these situations, interpreters capable of handling the subject matter will hold a higher priority;
- Any event presented in sign only is required to be clearly advertised in advance and posted on-site;
- All concerns, requests, or changes regarding accessibility services are to be directed to the Interpreter Coordinator or TSID Executive Board. Requests or concerns will be addressed individually.
The TSID Conference Interpreter Coordinator position will be advertised and contracted by the TSID Executive Board. The contract will detail the Interpreter Coordinator’s responsibilities, including timelines and compensation. For other TSID events, a person from the local sponsoring chapter will be named to coordinate interpreter services when requested and/or provided.
The TSID Conference Interpreter Coordinator will:
- provide input as requested by the Conference Chair and TSID Treasurer during the negotiation process for the conference interpreters’ contracts;
- coordinate and schedule interpreter services according to this Communication Access Policy;
- ascertain and employ interpreters’ preferences and skill sets to ensure the most qualified are utilized for all workshops and events;
- recruit qualified general and specialty interpreters to fulfill needs not met by the applicant pool;
- must have a contingency plan readily available in the event that no hired interpreters are available for emergent situations;
- provide copies of signed interpreter contracts and W-9 forms to TSID Treasurer at least two weeks prior to the interpreted event;
- assign the appropriate number of interpreters for each event or session in order to comply with the presenters’ requests, satisfy all accommodations request(s), and/or provide model interpreters;
- participate in conference planning to ensure that appropriate technology will be available in order to maintain full communication access for participants;
- confer with the Conference Chair to determine which workshops lend themselves to modeling a variety of interpreting services;
- provide information to the facilities staff regarding communication access resources;
- maintain contact (or assign a designated representative) to ensure the scheduled providers are in place and ready to work;
- will submit written justification proposing any exceptions to the Communication Access Policy to the President or President Elect for approval;
Review, approve, and submit interpreter time logs to TSID Treasurer and the current conference chair for payment no later than 1 week after conference ends.
Interpreters are to:
- negotiate all contract details including lodging, meals and travel expenses;
- be paid for their services according to certification and negotiated rates;
- be paid as outlined in their contract;
- be paid a one-hour minimum for each assignment and paid in 1/4 hour increments, unless otherwise negotiated;
- arrive at each assigned job fifteen (15) minutes prior to the start time of each session in order to ensure appropriate room and technology setup, assess modality, speak with presenter, confer with team member(s), etc;
- receive prior authorization before trading assignments;
dress professionally and appropriately at all assignments in accordance with industry standards; - refrain from wearing or using cell phones, pagers and other electronic equipment while on assignment;
- attend all meetings scheduled or called by the Interpreter Coordinator and/or responsible party;
- submit timesheets, receipts and expense forms (as applicable) to the Interpreter Coordinator or responsible party at the conclusion of the event;
- maintain contact with the interpreter coordinator for updates, changes, messages, etc;
- submit cancellations of an assignment (for purposes of the TSID Conference) in writing at least thirty (30) days in advance. If TSID has incurred any cost (i.e. airfare), the interpreter is to reimburse TSID for such costs. In the event of an unforeseen emergency (illness, death in the family, etc, with appropriate documentation), notify the Interpreter Coordinator immediately in order to find a replacement.
Interpreters working the TSID Conference Business Meeting or any TSID Board meeting and wish to have their vote counted, must assign their proxy to a current voting member. Interpreters are NOT eligible to earn CEUs when working even if time is donated. Interpreters will model professional standards at all TSID events.
