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RID Initiatives

As the national association representing the growing field of professional interpreters,  RID’s strategic focus encompasses advocacy, outreach and, other areas of interest that may have an impact on the profession as a whole.

Advocacy

RID is involved in community organizations and federal working groups to ensure the needs of interpreters are addressed on a variety of levels. Our reach also extends to organizations who serve the Deaf and hard of hearing community. Some of the organizations of which RID is a member include the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Alliance (DHHA), the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Alliance – Consumer Action Network (DHHA-CAN), the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Consumer Advisory Committee, the Coalition of Organization for Accessible Technology and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Accessibility Committee.

Please check back frequently to be updated on the actions of these working groups as well as other items of interest and concern to the profession.

Advocacy for STATE LICENSURE

Advocacy for Educational Interpreters

Information for Interpreters Working in Video Relay Service (VRS)

The RID Board of Directors would like to provide the RID membership information about the boycott of St. Jerome Press of Israeli institutes as well as any individual associated with an Israeli institute.

St. Jerome Press publishes a journal titled, Sign Language Translator and Interpreter. The contributing editor of this journal is Mona Baker, who has issued a personal statement regarding her support and endorsement of this boycott.

In response, the RID Board of Directors issued a letter to Ms. Baker. Ms. Baker promptly sent a response letter to Cheryl Moose, RID President. As the final correspondence regarding this matter to St. Jerome Press, the RID Board of Directors issued a final response letter.

We hope this information is helpful in your decision making process to conduct business with St. Jerome Press.

FCC:

Helpful Hits on How to File a Complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC):

If you encounter situations when handling VRS calls that are of concern to you, please feel free to file a comment or complaint with the FCC. Examples that would merit a letter to the Commission are situations where you feel that your ethics as an interpreter are being compromised or in conflict with the FCC regulations, situations where you have experiences harassment and have no other avenue to end the harassment, or other similar situations.

File your complaint with the FCC's Consumer Center by one of the following methods:

E-mailing: fccinfo@fcc.org

Calling: 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) Voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY

Faxing: 1-866-418-0232

Writing: Federal Communications Commission, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau; Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division; 445 12th Street, SW; Washington, DC, 20554

For further information, please see the FCC fact sheets on Video Relay Service and on the Informal Complaint Process. 

 Download RID’s comments to the FCC on speed of answer requirements for VRS

Other Resources:

Visit the National Association of the Deaf’s (NAD) Take Action page for a list of their current advocacy issues