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  • Presentation of the first tool designed specifically for evaluating interpreters in victim services, acknowledged at local and national levels.

Tool Overview

  • Purpose: Helps victim service agencies assess interpreter effectiveness in supporting survivors of violence.

  • Contents:
      - Sample application
      - Evaluation team guidelines
      - Assessment tools
      - Forms and scripts

  • Access: Includes two QR codes linking to different resources; beneficial to utilize both links for comprehensive access.

Support for Contracted Interpreters

  • Vicarious Trauma: Recognizes the psychological impact on interpreters working in victim services.

  • Resource Development: Created to support contracted interpreters with:
      - Trainings
      - Tools
      - Resources focused on serving deaf survivors
      - Topics covered include:
        - Domestic violence
        - Unique aspects of violence against deaf individuals
        - Sexual violence
        - Trauma-informed interpreting

  • Interpreter Wellness: Includes information on recognizing and managing vicarious trauma.
      - Opportunity for interpreters to contact support for debriefing after particularly challenging assignments.

Capacity Building to Support Survivors with Disabilities

  • Collaborative Efforts: Highlighted the extensive collaboration over years to enhance support for survivors with disabilities, especially deaf survivors.

  • Data-Driven: Utilized a needs assessment to inform the development of services.

  • Infrastructure Improvement: Focus on foundational policies and training to increase service capacity.

  • Commitment to:
      - Equity
      - Accessibility
      - Empowering survivor choice
      - Advocating for systemic change

  • Continuous Improvement: Acknowledgment that progress is ongoing and requires constant effort.

Questions and Discussion

  • Inquiry into the nature of victim services prompting discussion on systemic issues.

  • Acknowledgment of the complexity surrounding victim accommodation and perception that it is a shared responsibility ('we' rather than 'them').

  • Emphasis on the importance of preparedness and agency in providing support to survivors.

  • Case Study Example:
      - Discussed a survivor with experience in a nursing home who was deaf and had schizophrenia.
      - Facilitated communication strategies, such as visual aids and art projects, that helped the survivor regain a sense of empowerment.

Personal Stories of Advocacy

  • Mikaela’s Experience: Shared a personal narrative highlighting the overlook of vulnerabilities among the elderly and individuals with disabilities, and the need for awareness.

  • Discussion of generational perspectives on victimization, especially in relation to elderly care settings where neglect can occur.

  • Reflections on the need to view victims as multifaceted individuals rather than fitting a singular narrative.

  • Damon’s Input: Emphasized the overlap of vulnerabilities and the necessity for intersectional understanding in victim support.

  • Kayla's Statement: Highlighted the importance of compassionate care in assisted living environments and the need to address lapses in empathy.

Additional Awareness and Learning

  • Recognized the different types of disabilities, underscoring that deafness is often not top of mind in discussions about disability.

  • Encouragement for Community Learning: Suggestion for the class to learn American Sign Language (ASL) together to foster greater communication and understanding.

  • Support for Individual Questions: Open invitation for attendees to reach out via email for further inquiries and clarifications.

Conclusion

  • Gratitude expressed for attendance and participation.

  • Emphasized continuous engagement in these discussions to spur systemic change.

  • Encouraged all participants to pursue their passion for making a difference in the lives of vulnerable populations.