Texas Society of Interpreters for the Deaf (TSID)

Hurricane Beryl Resources (courtesy of Texas Health and Human Services (HHS))
Dear Community Members,

Since Hurricane Beryl has made landfall, it's crucial that you are aware of resources available to you. Your safety and well-being are top priorities, and we want to remind you that Resource Specialists are available to help during this weather emergency and its aftermath.

The Resource Specialists provide services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as government agencies, service providers, employers, and private entities. They also can share resources that are available in the community to assist you with what you need.

If you are affected by this storm and need assistance or information, please reach out to a specialist near you:

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Technology Specialists

What services can a Technology Specialist provide? (English PDF link in comments)
What services can a Technology Specialist provide? (Spanish PDF link in comments)
Find the Technology Specialist near you.
(link in comments)

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Access Specialists

What services can an Access Specialist provide? (English PDF link in comments)
What services can an Access Specialist provide? (Spanish PDF link in comments)

Find the Access Specialist near you.
As always, you can call 911 for immediate emergency assistance. As you ensure your safety and the safety of your loved ones, please take the time to be aware of resources available to you.

Per Governor Abbott, “Texans are encouraged to visit the TDEM Disaster Portal or Texas Hurricane Center webpages for storm information. Additional storm safety and preparedness information is available at TexasReady.gov and tdem.texas.gov/prepare.” See the Governor’s message here for more information.

Stay safe and take care,
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
hhs.texas.gov/deaf-hard-hearing

Deaf and Hard of Hearing | Texas Health and Human Services The Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services is the center for awareness and education on deaf and hard of hearing issues and services in Texas.

Random photos of the 2024 TSID Conference- Fort Worth, Texas at the amazing Sheraton hotel!

2024 TSID - 60 years of Excellence!!

Thursday and Friday have been great! Now, here's the schedule for Sat and Sun!
For combo ticket holders, tomorrow you'll have a breakfast snack break at 10, boxed lunches at 12 and banquet dinner starting at 6:00.
Enjoy!

Happy FRIDAY!! Here is the schedule for today. There are a few copies of today's schedule at the registration desk.
Have fun, take pictures and learn a lot!

2024 TSID Conference update:
Good news / Bad news...
Our discounted hotel block of rooms is full! If you make reservations now it will be under their regular rate.
See you very soon!

2024 TSID Conference Schedule:

FAQs part 2:

Do the rooms have a refrigerator and microwave?
- refrigerator, yes
- microwave, no

Is there a swimming pool?
- yes! It's an INDOOR pool (on the first floor)

Is there food for purchase onsite and / or nearby?
- yes! the elegant West + Stone restaurant onsite serves a variety of delicious options
- the bar also has a grab and go menu
And, there are many restaurants, bars around downtown Fort Worth within walking distance. (Prepare to walk a 2-3 to 6-7 blocks depending on what you're looking for)

More FAQs coming soon!
See you in Fort Worth!

Peggy and Cheryl
2024 TSID Conference Co-chairs

We are looking forward to seeing you all at the 2024 TSID Conference in just a few days!!

This conference is going to be one of our BIGGEST ever! In fact, as you've seen, the Banquet is SOLD OUT!! We appreciate your patience as we navigate the conference space!

Below are some FAQs you may be interested in:

What is the conference theme?
- Western Elegance - TSID Celebrating 60 years of Excellence!

What should we wear to the Banquet?
- come as Western and / or as Elegant as you want

What is the language of the conference?
- ASL!! Please remember to be respectful to everyone and use ASL in conference spaces!! In fact, for those pledging to adhere to using ASL, we have a special surprise for you at the registration table!!

What about parking?
- $15 for valet parking. If you choose to self-park or if the valet lots are full, you may park on the street. After 5 pm and on the weekend, or in the A&M parking lot, parking is free!

Does the hotel offer free wifi?
- Yes! When you check in they will give you the code.

Is there construction 🚧 in the area?
- Yes! (What road in Texas doesn't have construction, right? Ugh!) but, yes... you may turn on Commerce from Lancaster! The hotel is at the southeast corner of downtown Fort Worth at Commerce and Lancaster.

More to come.... and if you have any questions please add them in the comments below and we'll do our best to answer them ASAP!!

See you soon!
Peggy Cobb and Cheryl Sohns
2024 TSID Conference Co-chairs

2024 TSID Conference: BANQUET
SOLD OUT!

2024 TSID Conference Presenter / Workshop highlight:

Presenters:
Lauren Sheffield and Stephanie Sargent

Workshop:

Co-Interpreting: How to Co-llaborate (presented two times)
* Thursday, June 6th 12 noon - 3:00 PM
* Sunday, June 9th 9:00 AM - 12 noon

Description:
This is a group-lead discussion on ethical reviews and best practices for working
together as a team; “teams” are defined as two or more Hearing and/or Deaf interpreters working together to provide access to all. Using the RID Code of Professional Conduct (CPC), we will define ‘ethics’ and ‘professionalism,’ and then discuss where the two overlap. With these definitions as our guide, using Demand Control Schema (DCS), we will discuss various ethical dilemmas, how to solve these dilemmas, and collectively conclude how to better address these teaming situations in the future. To conclude our workshop, we hope to synthesize better collaborative strategies and best practices for working with other interpreters in various settings.

Bios:
Lauren is an advanced interpreter who also holds a M.S. in ASL/English Interpreting from University of North Florida in Jacksonville Florida. Aside from interpreting in a variety of settings, she mentors pre-certified interpreters, interpreters who are wanting to "level-up," and serves as adjunct professor from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia.

Stephanie Sargent was born and raised in California, and thanks to being a military spouse has lived in many other states since. After eight years in the classroom as an English teacher, Stephanie made the decision to follow her passion of becoming an American Sign Language Interpreter in the Educational and Community setting. She attended Tarrant County College's Interpreting Program in Fort Worth, Texas, where she also worked as an English tutor at the college’s Writing Center. After graduating from her ITP program, Stephanie passed the TX BEI Basic certification exam and began working as a freelance interpreter. In 2020 she earned her Master of Science degree in ASL/English Interpreting from The University of North Florida. In January of 2022, Stephanie founded ASL Terp Prep, LLC, a company designed to help people become English/American Sign Language Interpreters by offering TEP Prep Courses and self-paced BEI prep material. In addition to running ASL Terp Prep, LLC, Stephanie currently works as a freelance interpreter in Virginia, doing VRI and other remote work.

2024 TSID Conference Presenter / Workshop highlight:

Presenters:
Ashley Spalding and Lara Wagner

Workshop
Dear Interpreters, Teach us! Love Interns (presented two times)
* Saturday, June 8th 9:00 AM - 12 noon
* Sunday, June 9th, 9:00 AM - 12 noon

Description
Often during conferences, workshops, and training sessions, students attend to learn how to effectively work with interpreters in the field during their practicum and internship. However, it's important to consider how often we as working interpreters, who generously volunteer our time to teach and guide interns on-site, take a moment to reflect on our own effectiveness as mentors while building those mentor-protégé relationships.
As a certified interpreter, have you ever had to deal with an intern who acted unethically on an assignment, arrived late, or didn't take any notes while observing you during a full day of technical work? If so, how did you respond to that situation? How do you think the student felt after the debrief?
Interns, have you ever arrived late to an assignment and felt like you were scolded instead of shown understanding? Did it leave you feeling discouraged? Have you ever felt unprepared because you didn't know what questions to ask the working interpreter before an assignment because you didn’t know what you didn’t know?
TSID 2024 believes it’s time to have these discussions. Instead of discussing in separate workshops and classrooms, let’s have open discussions that help us learn and grow from each other’s perspectives and experiences, together in the same room. Let's create a better path for future interpreters and interns by sharing our experiences and supporting each other!

Bio:
Ashley Spalding is a BEI Advanced Certified Interpreter with six years of experience in the field.In addition to being a graduate of Tarrant County College's Interpreter Training Program, Ashley currently serves as an Adjunct Instructor of Interpreting at TCC. Ashley has also worked as a community interpreting for Hired Hands inc and has been the agencies Practicum Coordinator for the last two years. Ashley's passion lies in mentoring new interpreters, helping them build a strong foundation in their skills, and showcasing the diverse opportunities within the interpreting profession. Beyond her professional endeavors, Ashley finds joy in reading, traveling, and playing with her two australian shepherds with her husband, Cash.

Lara Wagner has been a sign language interpreter/transliterator since July 2009. Through experiences in agency and contract work, she has gained insight on how to work in a variety of settings such as K-12, post-secondary settings, media work, conferences, medical, mental health, legal encounters and in courtrooms. Experiences in many of these settings were teamed with
Certified/Deaf Interpreters (DI/CDI). Involvement as a Designated Interpreter (DI) for multiple consumers is also a part of her background. She graduated her interpreter training program at Collin College in the spring of 2009 and was certified by the summer that same year with a double major in interpreting and criminal justice. She received her undergraduate degree in criminology and criminal justice in 2014 from the University of Texas in Arlington.
Lara has tested and earned several advanced and specialty certifications such as the RID NIC in 2011, the BEI advanced in 2013, the state court certification in 2015 and CCHI’s CoreCertified Healthcare interpreter examination in 2017.
She has been teaching community self-defense classes in ASL for the Deaf community across Texas for 7 years and teaching as an adjunct instructor in the local Interpreter Training Program (ITP) at Tarrant County College (TCC) for the past 2 years.
Lara has developed and presented multiple interpreting workshops to a variety of entities. She continues to regularly attend interpreting workshops and conferences for the improvement of her interpreting and ethical decision-
making skills.
Lara’s proudest achievement would have to be her son, C**t, who is 4 years old whom her and her husband truly enjoy. Her family is actively engaged in their local church. For fun, she enjoys riding her horse and raising chickens. Competing in triathlons is way she relieves stress. Her hobbies include candle making and she is also an avid reader, with participation in multiple book clubs.

2024 TSID Conference Presenter / Workshop hightlight:

Presenter: Twyla Loftin

Workshops:
ASL to English Confronting the Uncomfortable
(Updated date)
* Thursday, June 6th - 9:00 AM - 12 noon

Purposeful Practice in Deaf Education
* Friday, June 7th - 1:30 - 4:30 PM

Descriptions:

Purposeful Practice in Deaf Education
Deaf Education is the place where far too many of our Deaf children are language deprived. This is not necessarily done on purpose, but it is the truth. In this workshop, we will look at why language deprivation happens and what we, as educational interpreters, can do to help create a language rich environment and be the best language models we can possibly be.

ASL to English Confronting the Uncomfortable
ASL to English is a skill that many educational interpreters struggle to master. It is not a skill that is typically utilized in your daily work, therefore; you have few opportunities to practice. In this workshop we will discuss the struggle many have with receptive interpreting, look at ways to practice, and discuss how we can confront vulnerability to become more skilled interpreters.

Bio:
Twyla Loftin graduated from Texas Woman’s University in 1996 with a Master's degree in Deaf Education. Twyla has been in Deaf Education for more than 30 years and has been certified BEI Master for more than 15 years. Currently, Twyla is the Texas Sensory Support Network Deaf Education Project Manager as well as teaching ASL classes at Texas Christian University. She previously worked as a teacher at Texas School for the Deaf for 18 years, taught at Baylor University in their Deaf Education/Interpreting program as well as having worked as an outreach specialist at the Educational Resource Center on Deafness.

2024 TSID Conference Presenter / Workshop highlight:

Presenter: Laurel Whitsett

Workshop:
What are YOU looking at? Prosodic Cues in ASL and English
* Thursday, June 6th - 12 noon -3:00 PM

Description:
This presentation deals with the topic of prosody in both ASL and English, and it will focus on the differences and similarities between the two languages’ transmission of phrase boundaries and prominence. Attendees will learn to recognize predictable prosodic cues that signify non-lexical meaning, the goal being to enhance receptive interpreting skills.

Bio:
Laurel Whitsett (she/her) is a passionate advocate for language diversity, accessibility, and
creativity. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Linguistics at UT Arlington with a focus in
American Sign Language (ASL) structure and pragmatics. In addition to her academic pursuits, Laurel teaches full-time in the Theatre Arts and Dance department, Disability Studies minor, and Modern Languages, offering innovative courses like Universal Design in Performing Arts and Interpreting Humor. Her scholarly contributions include publication in the Journal of Curriculum and Pedagogy, Severed Connections and Timely Reflections: A Collaborative Autoethnography Navigating Uncertainty Amid COVID-19 in Higher Education (Hobbs & Whitsett, 2023). Laurel is recognized for her expertise in accessibility solutions, having served as the keynote speaker for UTA’s 2023 Accessibility Day and collaborating with TCC’s Sign Language Interpreting Program (SLIP) to offer language access for UTA’s theater productions ---thank you, TCC! She was awarded the 2024 Experiential Learning Faculty Fellowship (ELFF), empowering her to redesign course curricula for richer learning experiences. Beyond academia, Laurel has contributed to the film and TV industry as a dialogue coach for actors such as Alice Braga (Queen of the South) and Chuck Norris for the final season of Walker, Texas Ranger. Grateful for the collaborative efforts that make TSID 2024 a success, Laurel extends her sincere
appreciation to all involved.

2024 TSID Conference Presenter / Workshop highlight:

Presenter: Jordan Ward

Workshops:
You Can’t Sit with Us: Interpersonal Relationships and Horizontal Violence among Interpreters (2 parts)
* Friday, June 7th - 9:00 AM - 12 noon (part 1 of 2)
* Friday, June 7th - 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM (part 2 of 2)

Modernizing Professional Standards in K-12 Interpreting
* Sunday, June 9th - 9:00 AM - 12 noon

Descriptions:
You Can’t Sit with Us: Interpersonal Relationships and Horizontal Violence among Interpreters (2 parts)

Interpersonal relationships lay the foundation for the work of ASL–English interpreters. Professional relationships can have a significant impact on one’s behaviors, physical health, and psychological health, all of which can have impact on the work of an interpreter. This thesis explores the perceptions of, and relationships between, interpreters working primarily in community and K-12 educational settings. Prior to this study, no known research has been conducted examining the nature of interpersonal relationships between professional interpreters working in settings different from their own. An exploratory study was conducted through a survey and an interview to understand if and how interpreters develop and maintain cross-setting relationships with interpreters working in different primary settings.

Modernizing Professional Standards in K-12 Interpreting

Ethics lay a foundation for the work interpreters do and K-12 educational interpreters face some unique ethical challenges every day. This workshop will explore various topics related to working as K-12 educational interpreters through the lens of the profession’s guiding ethical standards. Using the RID Code of Professional Conduct and the educational interpreter Code of Ethics (CoE) developed by the National Association of Interpreters in Education (NAIE), participants will engage in discussion and apply ethical guidelines to their daily work experiences. In order to stay relevant, combat stagnation in ethical practices, and promote professional accountability, engaging in discussions about the work in a safe environment is vital to interpreter growth and development. This workshop will provide space for the discussions that are often challenging to have in the daily work environments.

Bio:
Jordan Ward graduated in 2022 with a master’s degree from Western Oregon University in Interpreting Studies on the Teaching Interpreting track, where she has also taught as an adjunct instructor. She holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Oklahoma in Legal Ethics and Social Issues, and an A.A.S. from the Interpreter Training Program at Oklahoma State University. Jordan is a full-time educational interpreter for a North Texas school district and serves as the district’s interpreting team lead. Jordan began interpreting in 2017 and works as both an educational and community interpreter. Her master’s thesis, titled “Examining the Divide: Understanding the Perceptions and Relationships between Community and Educational Interpreters”, is published and accessible online.

2024 TSID Conference Presenter / Workshop highlight:

Presenter: Randi Turner

Workshop:
Educational Interpreter Pay - A Panel Discussion
* Saturday, June 8th - 9:00 AM - 12 noon

Description:
The TSID Policy and Advocacy Committee (PAC) is working on issues surrounding K-12 educational interpreter pay, recruitment and retention. We will cover the Committee’s work to date. In addition, the PAC invites you to a Regional Day School Programs for the Deaf panel discussion. Panelists will share how they were successful in increasing interpreter pay in their districts so that participants can use this “how to” knowledge in their own communities.

Bio:
Randi Turner is the TSID Policy and Advocacy Committee chair. She currently works for Disability Rights Texas as an advocate. Turner is a graduate of Texas State University, where she received the Outstanding Service and Excellence in Academics'' award upon graduation. In addition, her work as an advocate for people who are deaf or hard of hearing earned her the honored Deaf Celebration LBJ Award. The award signifies her “contributions toward equality and equal opportunities for people who are deaf as exemplified by the spirit of Lyndon B. Johnson and the Deaf President Now movement at Gallaudet University.” She holds Texas BEI Advanced sign language interpreter certification and the RID CI/CT.

2024 TSID Conference Presenter / Workshop highlight:

Presenter: Jennifer Hunter

Workshops:
Can you understand the Language of Education?
* Thursday, June 6, 2024 - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

Building Interpreter Advocacy Skills Young
* Saturday, June 8, 2024 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Interpreting Academic Vocabulary
* Sunday, June 9, 2024 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Descriptions:

Can you Understand the Language of Education?
PLAAFPs, IEPs, ARDs- These are just some examples of the unique terminology encountered in educational settings. Do you know what these mean? Are you aware of how they impact the deaf students you are serving? Come to this session for a crash course on various educational laws, acronyms, personnel, and the ever-dreaded ARD meeting to assist you in becoming a better advocate for the students you work with.

Building Interpreter Advocacy Skills Young
When working with students who are deaf or hard of hearing, you are not only interpreting for them; you are often teaching them how to use interpreters. As such, it can be difficult to determine when and where to provide support to ensure the student becomes successfully independent. During this session, we will review educational documents establishing interpreter milestones for students and discuss how to build interpreter advocacy skills for our students during the hustle and bustle of the day-to-day classroom.

Interpreting Academic Vocabulary
Educational interpreting very often becomes technical interpreting. With graduation requirements like Biology, Geometry, and US History, educational interpreters find themselves in settings with complex academic vocabulary. As such, it can be difficult to determine or establish the best signs to use. In this session, we will explore resources available to find appropriate signs for academic vocabulary and how to troubleshoot establishing signs for the class.

Bio:
Jennifer Hunter serves on the Texas Sensory Support Network (TxSSN), a grant-funded project of the Texas Education Agency (TEA), as a Deaf Education Specialist. She served for ten years as a Teacher of the Deaf in the Irving RDSPD, and she has 15 years of experience as an interpreter in a variety of settings. Jennifer has worked at both the elementary and secondary levels and has experience in resource, inclusion, and life skills settings. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Education from Stephen F. Austin State University and her Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is currently certified as a BEI Advanced.

Jennifer is passionate about bridging the gap that exists for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students in many aspects of life. As a CODA (Child of a Deaf Adult), she feels she was blessed with a level of access to the Deaf community and a depth of language that many deaf and hard-of-hearing students do not have the opportunity to experience. Jennifer is excited to stand in the gap with the statewide network of professionals while navigating effective ways to serve this unique community.

2024 TSID Conference Presenter / Workshop highlight:

Presenter: Deb Martinez

Workshops:
Using Intentional Communication to Navigate Difficult Conversations
* Thursday, June 6th - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

Consecutive Interpreting; Lines of Questioning in Legal Settings
* Saturday, June 8th - 9:00 AM - 12 noon

Descriptions:

Using Intentional Communication to Navigate Difficult Conversations

Our words can be used to create connection or distance. How do we initiate and partake in highly debated conversations pertaining to our field? How many of us were taught how to navigate difficult conversations? How often do we leave difficult conversations feeling misunderstood or unheard? What conversations are we avoiding and at what price to ourselves and the communities we serve? This session will introduce the concept of Intentional Communication. Intentional Communication incorporates the practices of Mindfulness and Non-Violent Communication to create a roadmap, internally and externally, towards more effective communication. Mindfulness creates the pause from reactivity to reacting. NVC provides the structure or framework to be able to define the parts of a conversation that allow people to have more effective communication. Together we will explore common communication approaches that are unhelpful, tools for being able to listen to another without judgment, blame, defensiveness, etc., and an approach to structuring difficult conversations that lead to being able to listen to another for understanding. We do not need to have a shared world view to understand each other however we do need to have the ability to listen and speak with intention. Intentional Communication is about making the decision to take responsibility for our thoughts, words, and actions. Through Intentional Communication we can speak and listen more effectively thereby enhancing collaboration, embracing differences, and take a greater step towards equity, inclusiveness, and belonging within our interpreting communities.

Consecutive Interpreting; Lines of Questioning in Legal Settings

Legal interpreting has life changing consequences for the participants involved. Legal settings by nature are adversarial and often the questions being asked are complex. This workshop will look at how attorneys, police officers, and judges construct questions and how we can use consecutive interpreting to provide a more accurate interpretation. We will analyze the different types of questioning used in legal settings such as attorney client conferences, depositions, and interrogations. We will analyze effective approaches to interpreting in these complex settings through individual analysis as well as group work. This workshop will provide an overview and an opportunity for participants to use and practice consecutive interpreting skills. Those who are ready and interested will also be able to practice consecutive notetaking. Everyone is required to bring their own notetaking materials.

Bio:
Deb Martinez has an AS in interpreting, BS in Human Services, and a MS in Public Administration. She has been professionally interpreting since 1994. Her certifications include RID (CI/CT, NIC: Advanced, SC: L) and Texas BEI (Master and Court). She has served in various volunteer capacities within organizations and communities locally, statewide, and nationally. In the past she has trained interpreters, developed a local mentoring program, and has presented on topics such as legal, depositions, ethics, case conferencing, the interpreting process, and consecutive interpreting. In addition to interpreting, she is an Integrative Wellness coach, Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor, Yoga teacher, certified to teach mindfulness, and trained to be an intentional communication instructor with the Kane Intentional Communication Institute. Currently Deb is enrolled at UNT Dallas in their MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. She looks forward to sharing her love of the work, her knowledge, and experiences with others at TSID 2024.

2024 TSID Conference Presenter / Workshop highlight:

Presenters:
Jacob Thornton, LPC and Monique Champagne

Workshops:
Does your Job Spark Joy (Monique Champagne)
* Friday, June 7th 9:00 am - 12 noon

Trauma-Informed Interpreting Practices (Jacob Thornton and Monique Champagne)
* Saturday, June 8th 9:00 am - 12 noon

Descriptions:

Does your Job Spark Joy (Monique Champagne)
Whether working as a VRS interpreter, VRI interpreter, or a Community interpreter, we all encounter numerous challenges in our work and must find ways to manage stressors (i.e., navigating the flow of communication between all parties, managing relationship conflicts that might come up while interpreting, recognize impacts of skill level to ensure that we are the appropriate interpreter for the assignment, and many others). Little is known about job satisfaction within the field of interpreting, yet we are personally impacted by the work that we do.
This workshop is intended to encourage interpreters to understand and explore the elements of job satisfaction as it relates to values they hold about their work. Specific work values to be discussed include: autonomy, altruism, safety and comfort, achievement, status, and relationships. Interpreters will leave this workshop with a new awareness of their own career satisfaction and tools with which to assess and implement change in their own work.

Trauma-Informed Interpreting Practices
(Jacob Thornton and Monique Champagne)
This workshop will outline current psychotherapy approaches to trauma, including Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Judith Herman’s Trauma Recovery Model. Presenters will outline specific techniques for interpreters to utilize when working. Participants will discuss elements of interpreting relevant to interpreting mental health topics, vicarious trauma, and coping tools for stress.
This workshop will be taught in American Sign Language only. No voice interpreting will be provided.

Bios:
Jacob Thornton, LPC
Jacob Thornton (he/him) is a compassionate licensed mental health therapist practicing in Texas and New York. Since beginning his clinical journey in 2017, Jacob’s expertise has expanded to include serving clients with a wide variety of backgrounds, many with unique language challenges. Growing up as the only Deaf son of hearing parents raised in a rural area, Jacob’s personal experiences fuel his commitment to marginalized communities, particularly the Deaf community. He passionately advocates for linguistically appropriate mental health care and has become a beacon of support for the Deaf population both in and outside of therapy. Jacob’s experience and influence extends beyond the therapy room. As a former
Access Specialist, he worked to empower individuals by empowering them to advocate for their rights and working alongside them to dismantle obstacles.
Through numerous training presentations, Jacob has highlighted and supported exploration of pervasive concerns that impact the Deaf community, particularly
language deprivation and its impact on K-12 students in mainstream classroom settings.
Currently, Jacob works full time with Mesquite ISD, where he fosters a safe, culturally affirming environment for the students he serves. His therapeutic technique blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), grounding techniques and person-centered approaches, ensuring tailored care for each individual. Jacob’s unwavering commitment to the clients he serves allows him to illuminate pathways for empowerment within the Deaf community as a whole.

Monique Champagne
Monique Champagne (she/her) is a working sign language interpreter with 20 years of experience, a trained psychotherapist in the state of Texas, and an educator and researcher in the field of mental health and sign language interpreting. She was raised in the Deaf community (identifies as a CODA) and is particularly passionate about empowering sign language interpreters in the area of mental health and wellness. She is the owner of Healing Haven Outreach Services, a community organization that provides education and coaching services to interpreters in the area of mental health and wellness. Specialized topics cover skills focused on identifying and interpreting mental health topics and working towards increased confidence in addressing their own emotional wellbeing during and outside of work. Additionally, Monique has experience with and specialized training in providing affirming services for marginalized and traditionally underserved populations, and she provides services from a humanist, social justice, and multicultural lens.