Signed, Protactile and Trilingual Interpreter Shortage Work Group Community Discussion about Recommendations
On Wednesday March 5, 2025, the Department of Social and Health Services hosted a Town Hall to share the recommendations and considerations that will become part of the legislative report in response to HB 2221 Establishing an American sign language and protactile sign language interpreter work group.
Participants asked for a follow-up session to review workgroup recommendations. Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the workgroup sponsor, is hosting a community discussion to share the workgroup’s recommendations for community solutions and to share the progress of the report. Join us to learn what you can do now and after the report is submitted to the legislature. We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
This meeting will be in ASL. Voice Interpreters, on-screen close vision Interpreters and CART services are provided
If you need other accommodations email Morgan Jericho at morgan.jericho@dshs.wa.gov by Monday, March 17, 2025.
March 19, 2025
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Join Zoom Meeting: https://dshs-telehealth.zoom.us/j/82924186899?pwd=DHO7nEeWRo6jJRf34rg8dTn0PgR7LI.1
Meeting ID: 829 2418 6899
Passcode: 700088
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The Interpreter Shortage Workgroup met on February 5 to review Solutions Summit decisions and plan next steps for the month. Discussions focused on gathering information, finalizing recommended solutions, and prioritizing diverse and marginalized communities' perspectives in the legislative report. The legislative report aims to guide future advocacy by including workgroup insights, focus group interviews, and survey information, with development starting in March and the final report to be submitted in June. ODHH will also train community members on implementing the proposed solutions. The workgroup will complete their work by the end of February 2025. Please click here to watch the report for the week of February 10, 2025.
On February 1st and 2nd, 2025, the Signed, Protactile, and Trilingual Interpreter Workgroup met at Seattle University for the Solutions Summit. Deaf, DeafBlind, hearing, and Deaf interpreters came together to find ways to fix interpreter shortages and improve interpreter services in Washington. We reviewed at research and community feedback and worked together to share ideas to build a stronger interpreter network for the next decade. Please click here to watch the recap of the Summit: https://youtube.com/shorts/zdhRVYJ-2ZE
The Interpreter Shortage Workgroup is meeting regularly to work on solving problems with Washington state’s shortage of American Sign Language, ProTactile and Trilingual sign language interpreters. Four subgroups, focusing on licensure and certification, financial support, education and professional development, and supply and retention, are working with community members throughout state to gather data, stories, and experiences to develop recommendations. You will receive regular updates about the progress of each workgroup here. Please click here to watch the report for the week of February 4, 2025: HB2221 Workgroup Update (2/4/25)
Also known as "Washington State's Interpreter Shortage Workgroup." This workgroup was created as a result of House Bill 2221 in March, 2024. This bill did not pass, however ODHH received funding to support this special project. The main focus of the workgroup is to prepare a legislative report which will include an action plan.
The workgroup is analyzing the request load and fill rates for Sign Language interpreter services here in WA. They are studying the increasing demand from the growing community, underserved regions such as rural areas, training challenges, specialized skills, certification processes, and professional challenges. They are building a clear and complete picture about what is needed to improve communication access for WA State's Deaf, DeafBlind, Deafdisabled, hard of hearing, late deafened, and speech disabled individuals.
Click here for more description and details
HB 2221: Click here to see the House Bill 2221 Summary Click here to see the actual HB2221
Workgroup Overview: Click here to see the workgroup overview document
Work Group Members:
Angela Theriault
Ariele Belo
Ashanti Monts-Treviska
Cori Jones
Dan Mathis
Ellie Savidge
Erika Teasley
Gabrielle Hopkinson
Jeremy Sasser
Josiah Morrow
Katherine Taylor
Keith Clark
Melissa Klindtworth
Phelan Conheady
Sarah Hafer
Shawn Broderick
Taralynn Petrites
Town Hall meeting documents:
12/18/2024
Click here to see the Workgroup Update presented by Innivee Strategies