Is there any funding available to pay for Sign language interpreters for our conference or job training?
Interpreting is an extremely challenging job. It requires thorough training and professional accreditation. If you are interested in becoming an interpreter, the first step is to complete a full program of Sign language training. This can involve as many as seven levels. One course in fingerspelling doesn’t qualify you to become an interpreter, any more than one course in the Cyrillic alphabet would qualify you to become a Russian translator! When you have completed all levels of Sign language training, you may apply for acceptance into professional interpreter training programs. These are usually provided by universities and colleges such as Douglas College in B.C. or George Brown College in Toronto. Just like any other university/college program, these require several years of intensive education and practice. Most professional interpreters in Canada become members of the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada (AVLIC). After a few years of working, further certificatio
