This Professional Studies program is offered for 0.2 PS-Legal CEUs at the little/none Content Knowledge Level. RID HQ is an approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. 

This presentation explores the systemic barriers faced by Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) individuals, highlighting legal, communicative, and institutional challenges. We will examine the impact of the issues, drawing on real-life accounts. We will also delve into the multifaceted roles of interpreters who often serve beyond their role, navigating complex legal and rehabilitative systems as educators, advocates, and mental health supporters. Finally, we examine advocacy strategies to foster critical reflection on the necessity of equitable access and systemic reform.

*Note - this session will not be recorded for asynchronous viewing. Please register only if you plan to attend live on Thursday, September 18, 2025, 6:00pm-9:30pm ET. *

This Professional Studies program is offered for 0.35 PS CEUs at the little/none Content Knowledge Level. RID HQ is an approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities.

This workshop is designed to support interpreters in navigating the challenges of interpreting in stressful or traumatic educational settings. Building on mental health foundations and psychological concepts relevant to schools, we’ll examine how trauma and stress impact both students and interpreters. Together, we’ll explore key frameworks that highlight physical, cognitive, and emotional stressors, while also assessing levels of burnout and compassion fatigue. Through discussion and peer support, participants will walk away with practical tools to strengthen their professional competence and enhance overall wellness—both personally and within the interpreting process.

*Note - Due to the nature of the content and active participation required, these sessions will not be recorded for asynchronous learning. For those who attend the live sessions, please use a laptop or desktop computer with a camera - other smart, handheld devices are not sufficient and refunds will not be issued if this is an oversight on the part of the participant. *

This three-webinar series focuses on equipping interpreters with the skills and strategies necessary to navigate complex, emotionally charged environments in educational settings. The series emphasizes the importance of understanding mental health, trauma, and stress as key factors that affect both interpreters and students, offering practical tools for professional development, personal well-being, and ethical decision-making.

All sessions in this series will be recorded for asynchronous viewing for those unable to attend any of the live sessions that occur on the third Tuesday of each month beginning August 2025 through July 2026, 7-9pm ET. Access to these recorded sessions will expire December 31, 2026.

This legal education series will delve into legal barriers Americans with disabilities face by our justice system and take sign language interpreters on a journey of breaking barriers, bridging gaps, and illuminating justice.

*Within 2 weeks of registering, registrants of this webinar series will receive email instructions for how to access a viewing of the film, Being Michelle, if interested. Viewing the film is not a prerequisite for attending the sessions, but is strongly encouraged, as it provides context and perspectives that are equally beneficial and enhance the overall experience.

*Note - this session will not be recorded for asynchronous viewing. Please register only if you plan to attend live on Thursday, September 4, 2025, 6:00pm-9:30pm ET. *

This Professional Studies program is offered for 0.35 PS CEUs at the little/none Content Knowledge Level. RID HQ is an approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities.

Developing a trauma-informed approach enables interpreters to provide more compassionate and effective support within educational environments. This workshop will integrate key mental health concepts that arise in K–12 and postsecondary settings, inviting participants to reflect on their readiness and competence to interpret psychological content. Using the Hierarchy of Needs and the Trauma-Recovery Model, we will identify how stress and trauma may surface in both consumers and interpreters. Participants will engage in discussion and practice scenarios, while also exploring tools to incorporate empathy and self-awareness into their professional practice.

This Professional Studies program is offered for 0.2 PS CEUs at the little/none Content Knowledge Level. RID HQ is an approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities.

During this roundtable, participants will have the opportunity to learn about the neurodivergent experience, including the stigma and barriers encountered in the interpreting profession. After the panelists share their stories, Amanda and Laura will facilitate the Q&A portion, including questions from the audience. Participants are encouraged to examine their own biases as we discuss the systemic barriers that neurodivergent interpreters experience trying to enter or continue in the interpreting profession. We will also discuss how to incorporate strategies for minimizing barriers and better supporting neurodivergent colleagues.

This Professional Studies program is offered for 0.25 PS CEUs at the little/none Content Knowledge Level. RID HQ is an approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities.

During this interactive workshop, participants will explore neurodivergence in the interpreting, with special attention given to masking and how it can affect neurodivergent individuals. Masking, which is defined as trying to suppress or hide neurodivergent characteristics in order to “pass” as neurotypical, has short- and long-term consequences for neurodivergent consumers and interpreters. It is not always safe for individuals to unmask, particularly for BIPOC and 2SLBQTQIA+ community members, however, as interpreters, we can take actionable steps to understand the neurodivergent experience, examine our own biases, and work towards safer environments for our consumers and colleagues. Through this workshop, Amanda and Laura will share their research about the experiences that neurodivergent interpreters experience while participants engage in small and large group discussions and formulate strategies to better support consumers and colleagues in interpreted interactions.