Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc (RID) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1964 and incorporated in 1972, that seeks to uphold standards, ethics, and professionalism for American Sign Language interpreters. RID is the only organization in the United States that credentials both d/Deaf and Hearing interpreters to provide services in a wide range of settings, as well as test and certify interpreters for legal work. The RID Board is committed to the "4 R's" which are: Roots, Respect, Relevance and Results. As of 2014 there were over 15,000 members and 58 affiliate chapters.[1]
Since August 2004, RID has been building stronger ties with the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), including a joint Code of Professional Ethics and the merging of their respective certification programs. They jointly developed the National Interpreter Certification test (NIC), which was adopted in 2005.
Code of Professional Conduct
As part of their push to improve the ethical behavior of practitioners in the field, RID revised and updated existing guidelines from the Code of Ethics.[2] In 2005, the Code of Professional Conduct was adopted as the newest set of principles interpreters should adhere to. Certified interpreters have an especially strong duty to follow the principles laid out by RID, for the integrity of the work, the well being of the stakeholders, and to avoid causing harm.
The tenets from the current Code of Professional Conduct are:
- Interpreters adhere to standards of confidential communication.
- Interpreters possess the professional skills and knowledge required for the specific interpreting situation.
- Interpreters conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to the specific interpreting situation.
- Interpreters demonstrate respect for consumers.
- Interpreters demonstrate respect for colleagues, interns, and students of the profession.
- Interpreters maintain ethical business practices.
- Interpreters engage in professional development.
RID Certifications
RID has a national certification system with three key components:[3]
- The National Testing System (NTS)
- The Certification Maintenance Program (CMP) - assures the continual skill development of certified interpreters.
- The Ethical Practices System (EPS) - gives consumers the ability to express concerns or make complaints about the quality of interpreting/transliterating services.
In previous incarnations of the NTS, the following certifications were given to interpreters meeting the testing criteria (All credentials awarded by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf will remain valid as long as the holder of said certification(s) maintains their membership and maintenance program.):
Previously offered certificates:
- CSC - Comprehensive Skills Certificate (1972 - 1988)
- MCSC - Master Comprehensive Skills Certificate (1972-1988)
- RSC - Reverse Skills Certificate - awarded only to Deaf / hard-of-hearing interpreters/transliterators (1972 - 1988)
- OIC:C - Oral Interpreting Certificate, Comprehensive (1979-1985)
- OIC: S/V - Oral Interpreting Certificate, Spoken to Visible (1979-1985)
- OIC: V/S - Oral Interpreting Certificate, Visible to Spoken (1979-1985)
- IC - Interpretation Certificate (1972 - 1988)
- TC - Transliteration Certificate (1972 - 1988)
- IC/TC - Interpretation and Transliteration Certificates (1972 - 1988)
- SC: L - Specialist Certificate: Legal (first certificate version of this certification was offered 1975 - 1978)
- SC: PA - Specialist Certificate: Performing Arts (1971 - 1988)
- OIC: C - Oral Interpreting Certificate (1979 - 1983)
- CI - Certificate of Interpretation (1988, being phased out as of 2005)
- CT - Certificate of Transliteration (1988, being phased out as of 2005)
- NIC Advanced and NIC Master (These levels were offered from 2005-2011)
Currently offered certificates:
- CDI - Certified Deaf Interpreter
- OTC - Oral Transliteration Certificate (To be phased out January 1, 2016)
- SC: L - Specialist Certificate: Legal
- NIC- National Interpreter Certification
As of July 2005, a new certification test, developed with the NAD, was implemented and the CI and CT tests began to be phased out. The new generalist certification for hearing interpreters is the National Interpreter Certification (NIC).
See also
References
- ↑ "RID - 2014 Annual Report". Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
- ↑ "NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct" (PDF). Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. 2005. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ↑ "About RID Overview". Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Retrieved 4 June 2013.