How Do You Grow A Sign Language Interpreter Peer Network & Direct Clientele?
If you have been working in the field of Sign Language Interpreting for years, or even if you have just graduated from your interpreter education program, you are ready to develop a peer network and grow your direct clientele! Finding independently-minded interpreters eager to form a cooperative network is the easiest step. When the network operates on “Cooperation over Competition”, everyone feels secure sharing resources without risk of an opportunist starting an agency, monopolizing clients, or price gouging. Members should either contribute private practice contacts, or a willingness to adopt the open model. Exchange e-mail addresses, or form a listserv. If you cannot trust everyone at first, or in time remove certain members from your personal list, this is fine! The network regulates itself, and you make referrals from among the changing pool as you see fit. When you receive a request directly from a client but are unable to accept, ask their permission to refer it to your collea
