If you're an interpreter who identifies as any of these, that means you are running a business.
Many interpreters experience gaps in their knowledge of everything that includes.
This course is here to fill them.
Contracts
Taxes, Business Expenses, & LLCs
Retirement
Community Perspectives
Ethics & Accountability
Money Mindset
There is a lot to think about, but you can do it.
We've gathered the experts to show you how.
Other self-paced offerings on interpreter business practices from The Insightful Interpreter:
A step-by-step guide for getting paid what you are worth
Setting Your Rates with Dr Theresa Smith walks you through the rationale and math of calculating a reasonable and sustainable rate.
Register for Setting Your Rates as a stand-alone course here:
Your one-stop-shop for running your business as an interpreter
For all of the content from the Business Fundamentals course PLUS Setting Your Rates, our Business of Interpreting course contains the most content for the best price!
Register here:
Community Perspectives Panel
An honest conversation with Deaf and DeafBlind community members about the impacts of interpreter business practices
Patty Liang
Patty Liang is the Executive Director of Deaf Spotlight, which oversees artistic and cultural programming to support Deaf artists and their work. Throughout her career, Patty has pursued opportunities that encourage the Deaf community to embrace and celebrate the arts. She has a BFA in Ceramics from the University of Washington, and an MA in Nonprofit Management for the Arts from New York University. She believes that everyone has the ability to create and express their story through the arts.
Leah Katz-Hernandez
Currently serving in the Office of the CEO at Microsoft, Leah is a dedicated communications and community engagement professional and disability rights advocate. Prior to Microsoft, Leah was known as the celebrated ROTUS, Receptionist of the United States, for President Obama. The first ever deaf person to hold the position, she was appointed to the West Wing after serving in First Lady Michelle Obama’s communications office and for the Obama campaign during the 2012 election cycle. In 2018, Leah contributed a chapter to the book "WEST WINGERS: Stories From The Dream Chasers, Change Makers, and Hope Creators Inside The Obama White House," edited by Gautam Raghavan and published by Penguin Random House.
Diego Guerra
Diego Guerra (they, them, theirs) is a proud native of the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas and lived in Austin, Texas for ten years. They is a proud Deaf Transmasculine Non-binary Chicanx. Currently, they are living in Saint Paul, Minnesota with their partner and two dogs, Rowan and Caribou.
Diego works at National Deaf Center (NDC) and has a passion for community-based projects and programs. They is a consultant and provides trainings and support on various topics for numerous organizations, institutions, and more. They are a foodie, traveler, video gamer, sneakerhead, and enjoy the outdoors.
Angela Theriault
Angela Theriault is the executive director of the Seattle DeafBlind Service Center. She has also worked as an advocate, a case manager and an educator in the U.S. and in Canada. Angela earned a BA in psychology from Gallaudet University and an MA in adult education from Central Michigan University.
Laura Obara Gramer
Laura is a Deaf community advocate, married to deaf man, raising two deaf boys.
Presenters
Raylene Lotz
CDI
Raylene Lotz has been working as Deaf interpreter since 2013. She interprets in a variety of settings, including anti-violence, medical, mental health, conferences, pro-tactile, and community events. She enjoys freelance interpreting.
Raylene works with Activating Change as the Deaf Interpreter and she also coordinates sign language interpreting services, provides interpreting services herself, and working to promote Deaf language access, equity, and inclusion within the broader victim services field.
Raylene is usually found working with a cup of coffee by her side, spending time with her family & friends, or planning her next backcountry adventure.
Rosemary Bocian
NIC, M.A., EA
Rosemary Bocian, MA, EA, NIC, has been an ASL freelance interpreter since 2012. In 2017 she co-authored the book "The Interpreter's Quick Guide to Self-Employment" which is currently being used by Interpreter Training Programs nationwide and sold on Amazon as well as at select Barnes & Nobles locations.
Following publication, she began teaching workshops across the nation including the 2019 RID National Conference. This inspired her to become an Enrolled Agent and support interpreters directly by providing tax preparation services through her business Quick Guide Tax.
Rosemary received both her Bachelor’s in ASL Interpretation and Master’s in Deaf Studies: Culture from Gallaudet University. As a professional tax preparer (EA), author and seasoned speaker, Rosemary presents the complex world of taxes in plain language so that interpreters can thrive in the profession.
Melissa Mittelstaedt
NIC- Advanced, Accredited Financial Counselor® - Candidate
Melissa Mittelstaedt has been a Sign Language Interpreter for over 14 years and a Financial Coach for two. She particularly loves working with women who are ready to make financial moves.
Melissa believes that when we feel financially secure, we have the opportunity to see beyond scarcity mindset and we can start to shift humanity.
Melissa is an expert in values-based spending, variable income stability, debt elimination, and helping others establish a plan that aligns with their financial goals. She has been featured in online articles with financial education bloggers, US News, and MSN.
Colleen Jones
NIC, M.A.
Colleen Jones (CJ) is the founder of The Insightful Interpreter and will be your guide through this course.
CJ is a nationally certified interpreter, researcher, presenter, and teacher. She holds undergraduate degrees from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and Seattle Central Community College, and a Masters degree from Western Oregon University.Â
CJ lives in Seattle, Washington, and is passionate about travel, gardening, and how we grow as interpreters.Â
Example Curriculum
- Contracts Introduction (1:40)
- Contracts, Terms, & Conditions (2:03)
- Purpose of a Contract (2:23)
- Charges (1:53)
- Overages & Cancellations (2:23)
- Reimbursable Charges (1:24)
- Invoicing & Acknowledgement (1:23)
- Conclusion (1:29)
- Contract Activity (30 minutes)
- Contracts: downloads, resources, & links
- Contracts Discussion
- Retirement Introduction (1:31)
- How Much Do I Need for Retirement? (7:16)
- How Much Do I Need for Retirement: Resources, Notes, & Links
- Retirement Cash Flow (5:42)
- Retirement Cash Flow: Resources, Notes, & Links
- Personal Savings Options (8:51)
- Personal Savings Options: Resources, Notes, & Links
- Next Steps (3:13)
- Next Steps: Resources, Notes, & Links
- Planning for Retirement Discussion
- Money Mindset Introduction (1:17)
- Money Mindset (7:45)
- Activity 1: Forgiveness (5:05)
- Activity 2: Creating Your Money Mantra (1:48)
- Activity 3: Money Dates (3:25)
- Activity 4: Thank Your Money (2:19)
- Activity 5: Emotions & Money Journal (1:12)
- Activity 6: Emotional Freedom Technique (7:24)
- Money Mindset: downloads, resources, and links
Key Details
Videos for this course are presented in American Sign Language. Some videos also include spoken English or English captions. Instructions and activities are provided in written English. For accommodation requests, please email [email protected].
The Insightful Interpreter recognizes that Deaf and BIPOC interpreters have unique skill sets, expertise, and valuable perspectives that benefit the interpreting field. These interpreters also experience bias, oppression, and barriers in our field and our society. In response, we offer discounts on all courses to self-identified members of these groups.
This course is intended for working sign language interpreters.
For more FAQs, including our refund policy, please visit our website
Interpretek is an approved RID Sponsor for Continuing Education Activities. This Professional Studies (PS) program is offered for 0.7 CEUs at the Little/None content knowledge level.