NAD-RID National Interpreter Certification (NIC) Survey

The Time is NOW for Your Feedback and Participation
Your input is needed for an important step in the NAD-RID National Interpreter Certification (NIC) Examination enhancement process. By providing feedback on your experience, you can help identify specialty certifications in the field of sign language interpreting.

This Pre-Job Task Analysis (Pre-JTA) is a profession-wide survey being conducted by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) for the purpose of identifying future enhancements to NIC Examination program. The Pre-JTA survey is being distributed to practitioners and consumers of interpreting services to help determine the need for specialty certifications within the field of sign language interpreting.

Specialty certification plays an important role in meeting the demands and realities of the marketplace and we know that interpreters are increasingly working in specialized settings that require specific expertise, knowledge and skills. We are trying to determine those specialized areas that are most critical to serving the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing consumers.

In order to accurately evaluate and identify these areas, it is important to have substantial participation from sign language interpreters and Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing consumers.  So, please, take a moment to share your feedback today by completing the Pre-JTA survey.

It is anticipated that the survey will take 15 minutes to complete.

Follow this link to the Survey: Take the Survey

The survey will be open until October 24, 2011 so share your input today!

-Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf

New NBDA President’s Letter

Greetings Members, Friends, Partners and Supporters!

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the new president of National Black Deaf Advocates, Inc. (NBDA), as I officially assumed the duties of this position on October 1, 2011. With a new leadership team in place, we bid farewell to our member, Mr. Ernest E. Garrett, III, who has now joined the ranks of “NBDA Past Presidents.” Mr. Garrett will continue his call to leadership in the role of Executive Director of the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. While serving as Mr. Garrett’s “right hand man” as NBDA Vice President, I have grown both personally and professionally from his leadership and guidance. In perceiving him as an exceptional leader, I aim to be a great leader to move NBDA toward higher levels of organizational effectiveness over the next two years, and beyond.

Moving forward – and in working with the Executive Board, Board of Directors, our family of 32 NBDA Chapters, as well as our Standing Committees – I intend to increase the commitment of advocacy efforts on behalf of Black Deaf and hard of hearing people and throughout the American deaf community at large.

Some goals and priorities for the next two years include, but are not limited to:

• Implement the NBDA Strategic Plan, which will allow us to serve as a model of “transformational advocacy” for all NBDA Chapters;
• Create and sustain partnership opportunities with other organizations in order to collaborate on common goals and missions, notwithstanding limited financial resources;
• Support inactive Chapters in their efforts to return to the NBDA family with all rights and privileges as any other member, in addition to providing resources to ensure that newly activated Chapters are empowered to advocate effectively within their local communities;
• Increase organizational visibility and public awareness of our diverse Black Deaf and Hard of hearing community;
• Increase opportunities for Black Deaf and Hard of hearing members to become more educated about and involved in political processes within their own communities, and as a part of their advocacy efforts;
• Develop a comprehensive fundraising strategy to support NBDA programs and operations and ensure the organization’s fiscal solvency for future generations.

All of the objectives outlined above are guided by a need for greater advocacy efforts on the part of our organization to address the unmet needs of Black Deaf and hard of hearing people as we thrive for equal access and opportunities.

For nearly 30 years, NBDA has worked diligently to promote the leadership development, economic and educational opportunities, social equality, and to safeguard the general health and welfare of Black Deaf and hard of hearing people throughout the country. Next year, NBDA will be 30 years old. It is our wish that you, your colleagues, and friends will join us in celebrating this milestone by your continued commitment to supporting National Black Deaf Advocates, Inc.

I look forward to a great working relationship with you and I will depend on your support to serve this organization to the best of my abilities.

Sincerely,

Benro Ogunyipe, President
National Black Deaf Advocates, Inc.