SignTalk® Launches New Webinar for Sign Language Interpreters

NEW YORK, May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --  SignTalk® LLC, The Resource for Sign Language Interpreters, is proud to offer a groundbreaking series of test-prep webinars designed to prepare sign language interpreters (SLI) and students for the National Interpreter Certification (NIC).  The highly successful NIC–Written Exam Prep Course to take place on May 12, 19, & 26 was originally developed by SignTalk® in 2007, and is offered in NYC each Fall and Spring semester.  

SignTalk®, a leading provider of SLI services, has an extensive roster with the vast majority holding national certification.  NIC evaluates knowledge and communication skills, and also proper understanding, sensitivity, and judgment on issues of ethics, culture and professionalism.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that Deaf and hard of hearing individuals must be accommodated by providing qualified SLI to ensure their ability to communicate in a variety of settings.

This unique webinar combines the best features of live seminars — interactive discussion via text chat, as well as participation in a conference call — and online learning. The webinar is recorded live and can be viewed at anytime 24/7.  

Language and sign interpreters know that interpreting is far more complex than simply replacing a word in one language with its equivalent in another, in this case American Sign Language (ASL). "Communicating via sign language has an added intricacy in that interpreters must communicate not only the message, but also the speaker's nuance and tone," said Dr. Joseph Geliebter, founder and CEO of SignTalk^®, LLC.  

According to a recent NY Times article (http://nyti.ms/jitItk) "Colleges See 16% Increase in Study of Sign Language," enrollment in ASL has soared in the past few years to the fourth most-popular language studied.  Although 90,000 students study sign language, due to the rigorous requirements in obtaining certification and maintaining annual CEU's, only the top tier make it to the professional interpreter level; thus there is a national shortage of qualified professionals.  SignTalk® offers CEU's through the Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf for this webinar.

The new online interactive webinar co-sponsored with Deaf-Blind Training, Interpreting & Professional Development will be facilitated by DB-TIP's Director, Susanne Morgan Morrow, MA, CI, CT.  In co-sponsoring this webinar, SignTalk® is hoping to encourage more interpreters to enhance their skills and attain national certification. The NIC webinar offering is the first in an upcoming series of webinars made available to the national interpreting community!  

SignTalk^® provides experienced skilled interpreters to facilitate communication between hearing and Deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing individuals in — education, health care, legal, business and government environments — helping organizations meet ADA requirements.

SignTalk^® is a participating company of Comprehensive Network^®, Inc – a provider of health, educational & bilingual consulting professional and a Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) CMP/ACET Approved Sponsor of Continuing Education for sign language interpreters.

Visit www.signtalk.org for information on the webinar and a description of the full range of services SignTalk offers its clients.

SOURCE SignTalk(R) LLC