The Interpreter's Role and Deaf Students' Autonomy in Mainstream Classrooms

Dr. Lisa Prinzi has worked as an interpreter for more than 20 years with specialized training in educational interpreting and as an interpreter educator for eight years. Lisa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of American Sign Language and Interpreting Education (ASLIE) at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf (RIT/NTID). She teaches core interpreting skills courses in the bachelor’s degree program and courses in the Certificate in Educational Interpreting. Her research focuses on interpreting in educational environments and professional development for educational interpreters.

Daniel Maffia is the interpreting program director, practicum coordinator, and a lecturer with the department of American Sign Language and English Interpreting Department’s Interpreter Education Program at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf teaching at both the Bachelors and Master's degree level. He obtained his bachelor's degree in Interpreting at the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2009. In 2010 he became certified and in 2014 earned his Masters in Interpreting Studies with an emphasis in Teaching Interpreting from Western Oregon University. Daniel served as a staff interpreter in the Department of Access Services at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Daniel continues interpreting as a video and community interpreter. Daniel is the co-author of the Introduction to VRS Curriculum Guide book. He is currently the Vice President of CCIE.. Daniel’s research interests relate to reflective practice, Demand-Control Schema, and self-care in which he presents workshops for interpreters nationally and internationally.