Certified ASL Signer

[misstink84]

I would like to try to be certified to an ASL person, but I know I will have to take a test to do so. Does anyone know what I might expect to find on the test? What are certain signs I need to know? I'm currently taking Basic ASL in school. I'm not sure whether or not I know enough, but I want to try! Thanks for any help I can get!

 

[mousermerf]

Takes a few years to get "certified" so to speak. Your instructor would have the best information about your local area certification etc..

If you're thinking of doing it for Disney you have to be fluent to get the "language pin." By fluent - they put you with a deaf person ("native speaker") and you carry on a conversation. It's brutal - even with the spoken languages.

I have a friend who is working to become an instructor of ASL and teacher of deaf children. It's very difficult and she's been studying for years.

But it's a good goal - just takes time and dedication

 

[DisneyPhD]

1st what state are you in? It varies from state to state. Many states don't required liscence, but certification (many are working on it to be sure every state requires liscense).

There is also state and national levels.

In Michigan it is called QA (quality assurance) Levels I II and III. You need level II to interepet most places, III or above for some cases (Mental health, Doctor appointments, courts ect....)

Here is a web site with some info on it.

http://www.deaflinx.com/terp.html
This is the NAD site, a good place to start

http://www.nad.org/site/pp.asp?c=foINKQMBF&b=91587
RID is Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf

http://www.rid.org/
http://rid.org/119.pdf

As mousermerf said you are going to need much more then a basic course. I have been signing for 15 years now and I perfer to sign for myself (I am a therapist that works with deaf and hard of hearing people) then be an interpreter. It is very challenging work.

I went to Madonna Universtiy in Liviona Michigan and have a bacholors degree in sign lanuage services (along with social work, and a master in social work also.)

It takes as much work to be fluent in ASL as any lanuage. While I learned a great deal in school I really only started to be fluent once I started working in the community and useing it daily.

Good luck. It can be a great field to get into and the pay can be good too (around 25$ a hour). It can be hard to find consistant work 40 hours a week though. I have a friend who interepts on cruise ships often. She loves that. :sohappy: However it will require as much work and training as any college degree

There is a lot of web information out there (Deaf people LOVE the internet. You don't need to hear for it!)

Good luck.

 

[misstink84]

Sorry for the confusion!! I am talking about just at Disney! Not anywhere else or as a degree. Just for when I go work at the College Program. I may not get the little pin on my name tag ... I'm not sure I know enough. But hopefully I can still help any deaf people I meet in the park! When I told my ASL teacher (who is deaf) she was so excited for me! I can manage a converstaion with her pretty well. If I get stumped on a sign, I finger spell it, and she jumps in w/ the sign. I feel like a pretty quick learner. I don't know ... maybe I'll just take the Disney "test" and see what happens. What's the worst they could do? Tell me no?

 

[DisneyPhD]

Sorry for the confusion!! I am talking about just at Disney! Not anywhere else or as a degree. Just for when I go work at the College Program. I may not get the little pin on my name tag ... I'm not sure I know enough. But hopefully I can still help any deaf people I meet in the park!

What I would do is just keep an eye out for guests who are siging. Then be friendly. Say "Hi, how are you? Having fun?" Make sure you brush up on signs that explain who you are, where you are from and why you know some sign. (they will ask, they might ask who you know who is deaf and where you learned, the Deaf world is a very small one.) Oh and make sure you know how to say you are an ASL student and please be slow and patient. :lol:

Remember signing has local acents too and people in different areas have different ways to signing things.

Good luck and keep up your interest. If you get a chance while in the CP check out some of the interpeted shows. Every one I have found there is great and very enjoyable.

 

[misstink84]

Thanks for your help!! I had made a list of different "disney" signs and my teacher has been helping me learn them! And I will check out the interpreted shows! It seems since I started taking ASL I'm just fascinated by sign! I find myslef staring at people who are signing! It's just an amazing use of language!

 

[DisneyPhD]

Many people who know a little sign try to get themselves in interpeting situations and that isn't good for anyone really. However if you aren't trying to get in over your head, but mearly saying "me or the person next to me is going to help this deaf person and I know a little sign, am willing to be patient, friendly and excited to help them, then why not me?" That makes total since to me.

So I guess it really depends on the expectation of having the sign on your name tag. I would ask when I get to WDW and make sure to put it in your paper work, so they know. It does make you more marketable.

Sure you knowing begainers sign is going to be more helpful (and friendly) then someone who has no idea how to communicate with someone who is deaf. Depending on yor job there, brush up on the signs you might use (where is the bathroom, questions for the front desk if you are there, how to say show times ect...)

Good luck. Sounds like you are doing good. I just started off as interested in ASL and came a long way. Who knows where it could take you.

Good luck in the CP program too. I wish I had done that when I was college.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Thanks for your help!! I had made a list of different "disney" signs and my teacher has been helping me learn them! And I will check out the interpreted shows! It seems since I started taking ASL I'm just fascinated by sign! I find myslef staring at people who are signing! It's just an amazing use of language!

BYW, that is just how I got started too. I would learn whatever I could get my hands on, movies, books videos.

As I am sure you know be sure not to stare or eves drop, but go ahead and be friendly and make a few signs (excuse me, etc..) to let then know you know some signs. Most deaf people are VERY friendly and LOVE to talk with others. Most are pretty pateint with ASL students too. They know they might be their interpeter of the future. :lol: