Task Force
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Below you will find many resources, downloadables, and contact relevant to being a Task Force Member.
If you have any questions feel free to contact our coordinator at jonathan@aslis.com
Submit an APPLICATION
Contact the program coordinator at jonathan@aslis.com
Attend a KICK-OFF event
Prior to the semester, the task force will set up the logistics for recruiting potential participants.
Use/create promotional materials such as flyers or videos, hosting Greet & Meet gatherings, or e-mail/mail.
Have at least 2 task force meetings during each semester of the program.
Send the program coordinator your’s and others’ feedback about the E2E program. Provide reports and feedback for each program event and meeting hosted by the program.
Use evaluation tools and assessments to evaluate the program, mentors and interpreter participants.
Match individuals who can work with the participants one-on-one in developing specific skills sets and increase their ability to fill freelance requests for interpreting services in Greater Minnesota. This includes interpreters, Deaf Mentors trained through this program, or other appropriate individuals.
① Program/DHHSD description & expectations
② Icebreaker
③ Participants break into two groups: mentees for one presentation and mentors for the other presentation
④ Lunch break
⑤ Groups reunited for an activity
⑥ Participants break into two groups to continue presentations
⑦ Groups reunited for a mentoring activity
⑧ One short presentation
⑨ Q & As about the program and participants’ responsibilities
Presenters: A presenter with mentoring experience teaches mentors (language model workshop) in conjunction with the interpreter workshop led by the other presenter, who concentrates on the “Train the Trainer” kind of presentation for mentees.
9:00 – 9:30 AM: Introductions & discussion about the program’s expectations
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: One presenter discusses roles & responsibilities and the scope of mentoring job with mentors while the other presenter does the same with mentees
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: A joint mixer for an icebreaker activity that prompts “speed dating” type of conversation between mentors and interpreters.
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: One presenter explains to mentors different language models and mentoring methods while the other presenter explains to mentees how to get the best out of each session and how to ask for what you need.
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Lunch Break
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM:Mentors and mentees come together to try out new skills. Topics are offered to both groups to practice talking about stories and such.
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM: One presenter discusses with mentors about what worked and what did not. Next discuss more about language models and mentoring methods. Meanwhile the other presenter discusses with mentees about what worked and what did not and what to do to receive more support.
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM: Mentors and mentees come together for a participatory game with different scenarios of how to mentor/language modeling.
3:15 PM – 3:45 PM: Each group then works with presenters separately on more skill building and brainstorming ideas of what to do for mentoring sessions.
3:45 PM – 4:45 PM: Both groups come together again to role-play some options for mentoring sessions then discuss about topical ideas for mentoring with flexibility for each team of two to work at their own pace.
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM: Wrap-up and Q & As about the program.
① A few minutes of interaction time
② Activity for both mentors & mentees
③ Activity for mentors, while mentees practice voicing for mentors
④ Activity for both mentors & mentees, while mentees practice signing
⑤ Activity for both mentors & mentees
⑥ Q & As on a topic – mentees ask questions and mentors answer about interpreting services, such as what would a consumer expect an interpreter to do in a certain setting
⑦ Group discussion about how everyone has been doing lately with their mentoring sessions
Here is the sample of an ideal mixer meeting for inspiration and consideration:
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM: All program members and guests mingle. Task force members use this opportunity to check on participants about their program experience.
2:15 PM – 2:45 PM: Depiction activity – participants split into a few groups to draw pictures based on the signer’s description then discuss about the activity.
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM: Storytelling activity – participants split into two groups to take turns developing a storyline. After the activity, the chosen signer from each group shares the whole story. (This activity can be twofold: while signers take turns to add a line to the story, mentees take turns to practice voicing for each signer with a Taskforce interpreter).
3:15 PM – 3:45 PM: Memory Sharing Activity – participants split into a few groups to take turns picking a card, reading the question aloud, and each participant sharing their answer to the question (This activity can be twofold: while participants take turns, mentees take turns to practice voicing for each signer with a Taskforce interpreter).
3:45 PM – 4:00 PM: Mentors & mentees share their reflections about their mentoring sessions thus far.
Methods & best practices for conducting an effective mentoring session with mentees.
Discussion about the aspects and the customs of Deaf Culture & how to thrive within the Deaf culture.
Ethics of sign language interpreting & cultural behavior as an interpreter within the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing community.
A panel discussion about Deaf experiences in various interpreting situations & expectations for interpreters in such situations.
In-depth discussion about how a Deaf, DeafBlind, & Hard of Hearing consumer navigates within the interpreted setting and best practices of understanding & meeting their needs.
A close examination of how each feature, such as a depicting verb or grammatical markers, functions and inflects within American Sign Language.
Discussion about the aspects and the customs of Hearing Culture & how to thrive within the Hearing culture.
Discussion about protocol, vocabulary, roles & responsibilities as an interpreter, and a basic look at how mental health affects a person with hearing loss.
In-depth examination of the English words and idioms and how to translate them into appropriate ASL expressions.
Discussion about sign languages around the world and their particular characteristics & in-depth examination of the implications of sign languages & ASL.
Methods & best practices for eliciting the mentor’s ASL and Deaf Culture knowledge within a mentoring session.
A close examination of certified Deaf interpreters’ (CDIs) roles & responsibilities & best practices for working with certified Deaf interpreters and Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing consumers.
Serve as the main liaison between the mentors and interpreter participants and ASLIS staff. Identify and organize a minimum of two hosting events and activities where community members can interact with mentor and interpreter participants. Provide advisory support to the program.
Fill a minimum number of freelance interpreting requests within your defined Greater Minnesota geographic region. Provide mentor assistance as needed.
Have at least 2 task force meetings during each semester of the program.
Send the program coordinator your’s and others’ feedback about the E2E program. Provide reports and feedback for each program event and meeting hosted by the program.
Use evaluation tools and assessments to evaluate the program, mentors and interpreter participants.
Match individuals who can work with the participants one-on-one in developing specific skills sets and increase their ability to fill freelance requests for interpreting services in Greater Minnesota. This includes interpreters, Deaf Mentors trained through this program, or other appropriate individuals.
The coordinator needs all documents and information to write thorough quarterly state reports. In addition to state reports, our program will be audited from time to time. These documents are helpful for audit.
Notify the coordinator of your intention to leave the program. The coordinator will expect you to work with your Task Force colleagues to find someone to take your place.
Please contact the coordinator. The coordinator will work closely with you to resolve an issue.
The coordinator welcomes ideas and different strategies for running the program. Please share your ideas and how to do them with the coordinator. Please do not make changes without the coordinator’s explicit approval.
The Deaf Mentoring Program is funded by the grant from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division under the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Because of this, the coordinator is contractually obligated to report all the activities and to follow the state’s policies. All the information you share with the coordinator will be very helpful for us to fulfill the requirements of the grant.
Answer in progress. Contact your coordinator in the mean time.
Answer in progress. Contact your coordinator in the mean time.
Answer in progress. Contact your coordinator in the mean time.
Answer in progress. Contact your coordinator in the mean time.
Answer in progress. Contact your coordinator in the mean time.
Answer in progress. Contact your coordinator in the mean time.
Answer in progress. Contact your coordinator in the mean time.
Answer in progress. Contact your coordinator in the mean time.
Answer in progress. Contact your coordinator in the mean time.
Answer in progress. Contact your coordinator in the mean time.
Answer in progress. Contact your coordinator in the mean time.
The Deaf Mentoring Program is provided by ASLIS for locations in Greater Minnesota, and is supported by grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Human Services: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division.
Updated: Feb 7 2019