*Note - Participants will need to obtain a copy of Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity and have read the book in advance to participate in this session. Please come ready with your questions and discussion points. This Professional Studies program is offered for 0.40 Professional Studies-Power, Privilege, and Oppression (PS-PPO) CEUs at the little/none Content Knowledge Level. RID HQ is an approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. In honor of Autism and Neurodiversity Awareness Month, please join us for a book study about Devon Price’s Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity (2022). Although the book is focused on the autistic experience, it provides valuable insight about the neurodivergent experience and how we can promote an accepting and inclusive neurodiverse community. During this interactive discussion, facilitated by Amanda Kennon, participants will take a closer look at neurodivergence, specifically the autistic experience of masking and its profound impact on their lives. Participants will also examine the intersectionality of identities and how public perception, stereotypes, and bias cause additional harm, particularly within marginalized communities. Finally, participants will consider abandoning the medical model of disability in favor of a social model as we move from awareness to acceptance and inclusion. As Price states, “All of us have internalized mental illness stigma and felt the shame of deviating from what’s considered “normal.” Almost every person with a mental illness or disability has been crushed under the weight of neurotypical expectations, and has repeatedly tried and failed to earn acceptance by playing the rules of a game that was designed to harm us. And so, for nearly every neurodiverse person, the journey toward self-acceptance involves learning to unmask.

This Professional Studies program is offered for 0.2 PS CEUs at the little/none Content Knowledge Level. RID HQ is an approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. The presentation focuses on several main threads that especially impact deaf children and adults including early brain development, the current landscape of health outcomes, research with cochlear implants and sign language, and the implications of mainstream and deaf school education placements.

*Note - this session will not be recorded for asynchronous viewing. Please register only if you plan to attend live on Thursday, May 8, 2025, 6:00pm-9:00pm ET. * This Professional Studies program is offered for 0.3 PS CEUs at the little/none Content Knowledge Level. RID HQ is an approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. There has been little research done in phonetic reduction in American Sign Language particularly the area of movement deletion and hold reduction. Because ASL is richly complex, this specific skill is difficult to master for most educational sign language interpreters. The most basic signs that involve movement deletion and hold reduction are visible in vocabulary that are used in native signers, starting at four years old. The research design includes qualitative and quantitative data, showing how this specific skill varies between signers who received direct instruction in American Sign Language and those who used an educational interpreter during K-12. The participants in this study included a total of 13 individuals, seven who were mainstreamed in a public-school setting and six who attended a school for the deaf from K-12. The findings notably suggest that a skill in phonological processing, specifically the movement deletion and hold reduction, is significantly higher in those who received direct instruction in comparison to those who received interpreted instruction.

"Due to the nature of the content and active participation required, these sessions will not be recorded for asynchronous learning. For those who attend the live sessions, please use a laptop or desktop computer with a camera - other smart, handheld devices are not sufficient." This three-webinar series focuses on equipping interpreters with the skills and strategies necessary to navigate complex, emotionally charged environments in educational settings. The series emphasizes the importance of understanding mental health, trauma, and stress as key factors that affect both interpreters and students, offering practical tools for professional development, personal well-being, and ethical decision-making.

This series of three webinars is designed to address critical issues within the world of sign language interpretation in educational settings, particularly from a socio-cultural perspective. The series aims to challenge assumptions, uncover hidden biases, and offer actionable strategies for creating more inclusive and supportive environments for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in educational settings.

*Note - this session will not be recorded for asynchronous viewing. Please register only if you plan to attend live on Thursday, May 29, 2025, 6:00pm-9:30pm ET. * This Professional Studies program is offered for 0.35 PS CEUs at the little/none Content Knowledge Level. RID HQ is an approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. This workshop is designed to support interpreters by using a trauma-informed approach to help recognize the impact of interpreting in stressful or traumatic situations. We’ll dive into some key psychological frameworks that shed light on physical, cognitive, and emotions stressors interpreters might face, and together we’ll explore ways to assess your own levels of burnout and compassion fatigue. You’ll also walk away with practical tools to boost your overall personal and professional wellness. Plus, in this special edition, we’ll create space to discuss the unique experiences of being an educational interpreter, providing space for discussion and peer support.

*Note - this session will not be recorded for asynchronous viewing. Please register only if you plan to attend live on Thursday, May 15, 2025, 6:00pm-9:30pm ET. * This Professional Studies program is offered for 0.35 PS CEUs at the little/none Content Knowledge Level. RID HQ is an approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. Developing a trauma-informed approach enables interpreters to provide more compassionate and effective support within the learning environment. In this workshop, we'll discuss how to frame our interpreting work in educational settings with a trauma-informed lens. Using the theories of the Hierarchy of Needs and the Trauma-Recovery Model, we will identify signs of stress and trauma and how they might show up in our work. We'll identify tools to incorporate into our personal and professional practice that allow us to navigate stress with empathy during the interpreting process.

*Note - this session will not be recorded for asynchronous viewing. Please register only if you plan to attend live on Thursday, May 1, 2025, 6:00pm-9:30pm ET. * This Professional Studies program is offered for 0.35 PS CEUs at the little/none Content Knowledge Level. RID HQ is an approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. Mental health is known as a specialized topic within the field of interpreting, but how do we know if we are competent to interpret mental health topics that appear in educational settings? In this workshop, we will identify and discuss elements of mental health that may arise in K-12 and postsecondary settings and identify our readiness and competence to interpret psychological concepts. Participants will have opportunities to practice various scenarios that might appear in educational environments and will review ethical considerations related to interpreter competence.

This Professional Studies-Power, Privilege, & Oppression program is offered for 0.2 PS-PPO CEUs at the little/none Content Knowledge Level. RID HQ is an approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. Join us for a powerful and thought-provoking webinar where Tempest Cooper, ACSW, shares her personal journey as a Black, Deaf woman growing up and living in the U.S. Through heartfelt stories and lived experiences, we will explore the intersection of race, identity, and resilience, as well as delve into the broader context of Black history in America. This session offers a unique perspective on the challenges and triumphs of navigating multiple identities in a society shaped by systemic barriers. Participants will gain deeper insights into the Black Deaf experience, learn about the power of community and advocacy, and leave with a greater understanding of how to foster inclusivity and empowerment.

This Professional Studies program is offered for 0.3 PS CEUs at the little/none Content Knowledge Level. RID HQ is an approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. With a lens of addressing allyship as it pertains to the Deaf community, the presenter will take a deep dive into the underlying principles and ideologies of allyship, including in-depth discussions on supportive and performative allyship. Understanding the allyship framework will allow us to better explore context-specific applications of the framework, as well as identify necessary steps and behaviors individuals should take to cultivate and drive meaningful change.