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IRIS: Alternative Pathway Program

The journey to national certification presents challenges for several reasons, particularly for interpreters in rural areas. The absence of formalized interpreter education in rural regions and gaps in organizational support are significant issues.

The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) recognizes these challenges and collaborated to provide the Alternative Pathway Program (APP) via the IRIS Project. Together, we addressed this gap and provided a supportive IRIS-based environment that offered an alternative pathway toward national certification.

This program was designed for individuals who: (1) work as interpreters, (2) are not RID certified, and (3) do not have a bachelor’s degree, a requirement by RID to take the CASLI Generalist Performance exam for national certification.

Upon completion of this program, participants were able to: 

1. Identify systematic barriers that rural interpreters face in the RID Alternative Pathway process;
2. Locate documentation of alternative lived experiences that satisfy the RID Alternative Pathway process;
3. Collate documented experiences in the format as required by the RID Alternative Pathway process; 
4. Articulate short and long-term goals for obtaining RID national certification; and
5. Submit a completed application for the RID Alternative Pathway Program.

IRIS: APP Curriculum

  Feel free to review and use this Canvas course and curriculum materials!