Thomas K. Holcomb
Ph.D. Professor, Deaf Studies, Ohlone College

Thomas K. Holcomb comes from a multigenerational deaf family. He, his parents, grandparents, and children are all deaf.

Currently, Tom is Professor of Deaf Studies at Ohlone College in Fremont, California, where he teaches courses related to Deaf Culture to both deaf and hearing students. Previously, he taught at San Jose State University and National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Tom is considered a leading authority on Deaf Culture. He was awarded the Teacher of the Year Award by American Sign Language Teacher Association (ASLTA) in 2002. He is well known for the dynamic presentation style he uses to bring together deaf and hearing cultures. Tom has presented in 45 states and several countries, including Japan and Canada. He is also an accomplished storyteller and is the featured performer in the Boys Town Press videotape series, Read With Me: Stories for Your Deaf Child.

His most recent production, a DVD entitled See What I Mean: Differences Between Deaf and Hearing Cultures, has received widespread acclaim for its humorous yet effective portrayal of the deaf experience. In addition, his book, Deaf Culture, Our Way, illustrates the unique experiences of deaf people living in the mainstream. It is now considered a classic in deaf literature.

Tom’s academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Gallaudet University, a master’s degree in Career and Human Resources Development from Rochester Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Rochester.

Plenary Session: The 7 Identities
Thursday 9:00 am- 12:00pm, Lecture Hall
In this session we will explore the 7 identities of deaf people and the implications for interpreters working with them.


Clay Anderson
NIC, Utah Intermediate

Be Cool!
Thursday 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm, Classroom A
How to set yourself apart in and out of assignments.

Clay Anderson lives in Herriman, Utah with his wife Trish and their two, handsome sons. Clay has worked in a variety of settings as an interpreter. Clay currently works full-time for the Utah Interpreter Program and is also a beloved interpreter mentor for the ICAN program. He pretends to be an avid sportsman, but really just wants to keep up with his older brother Levi (older by 10 minutes). If you haven’t met Clay, he is easily identifi able by his bright, pink Crocks.


Levi Anderson

Your Health, Your Career: It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint!
Thursday 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm, Lecture Hall
Daily techniques to improve your health and fi tness.

Levi Anderson lives in Big Springs, Texas with his wife Pethal and their lovely daughter Jidapa. He works for the Southwest Collegiate Institute of the Deaf. He is an avid sportsman and loves to play just about anything (especially when he is supposed to be working!) He participates in the Deaf Disc Golf Tournament every year, and has yet to beat his older brother, Robert. Levi is working on his degree in the fi eld of health and fitness.


Jean Blackburn
RID CI & CT

Team Interpreting: As easy as 1, 2… and Deaf Client Makes 3!
Thursday 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm, Classroom A
This workshop will look at the perspective of both hearing and Deaf as it relates to decisions and responsibility in interpreting situations. Many times interpreters rush into an assignment (both one time and ongoing) and set up the room, choose the language mode and place the individual near people the interpreter feels comfortable around.

During the presentation, time will be spent looking at the impact of this behavior. Time will also be spent to discuss and recognize the importance of feedback and opinions of the Deaf participant.

This is a vital and forgotten component in the interpreting setting. Participants will learn to recognize and set goals as it pertains to their personal and professional situation.

Jean Blackburn was born and raised in Southern California. That is the reason she loves the mountains, the beach and Disneyland. She began her Sign Language career in Riverside California with classes at RCC (Riverside Community College). Moving to Las Vegas she raised her family and continued learning Sign Language and associating with the Deaf community. She began taking ASL classes at the college. She spent her time volunteering with several community, youth organizations, including deaf camp. In 1998, she began working as a freelance interpreter for a referral agency. Her favorite jobs were those involving entertainers, especially when her team tripped Rick Springfi eld! She currently lives in American Fork Utah with her 2 kids, 3 cats and 3 turtles. Jean works as the Coordinator of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services at BYU (Brigham Young University) in Provo, Utah. She is currently serving as the Committee chairperson of the Postsecondary ADHOC committee for the UIP Certifi cation board. Jean is the grandma of one cute little boy named Nicholas, born April 2007. She volunteers weekly at church as an Interpreter in a Special needs youth group. She enjoys reading, photography and scrap booking.


Flavia Fleischer
Utah Valley University

The Single-Minded Deaf Person
Saturday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, Lecture Hall
In this presentation, the latest theory concerning language and the human mind will be discussed to help shed light on the fi eld of interpreting and the direction it should be headed towards. Over the years, the misconceptions of what language is have led to a variety of problematic situations in interpreted events. Specifi cally, I will explore some communication myths as well as share the latest theory of the relationship between language and the human mind. By doing so, we can then address what has to be done in an interpreted event so that all the people involved can use a “single-mind”.

Flavia S. Fleischer, a California native and a fourth generation Deaf, graduated from Gallaudet University in 1994 with a B.A. in History. She holds two M.A. degrees. Her fi rst M.A. degree is in Interdisciplinary Studies in Deaf Education, Deaf Studies and Linguistics from California State University, Northridge. Her second M.A. degree is in ASL Linguistics from Gallaudet University. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in ASL Linguistics from Gallaudet University.

Prior to coming to Utah Valley University, Flavia was employed as a full-time instructor in the Department of ASL and Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. She has also taught American Sign Language and Deaf Culture at College of the Canyons and at Saddleback Community College, both in southern California.

Flavia’s areas of interests are ASL Linguistics, ASL teaching, and Cultural Studies. More specifi cally, she is interested in the study of language that the Deaf community uses to talk about oppression through the analyses of metaphors, frames, analogies, and other linguistic phenomena. This helps gain insight into the interrelationship between the language and culture of Deaf Americans. Also, Flavia has conducted several oral history interviews with several members of the Deaf community. She produced a videotape about deaf children geared for parents, teachers, and professionals, Mom and Dad, Your Deaf Child is O.K. In addition, Flavia has given numerous workshops and presentations relating to ASL, ASL teaching and Deaf Culture.


Bonnie Goben
Sponsored by Sorenson VRS

Fingerspelling... Back to the Basics
Thursday, 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm, Classroom B/C
Thursday, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Lecture Hall
This workshop will take participants back to the fundamental aspects of fi ngerspelling. Each participant will have time for hands on practice to apply areas discussed during the session.

Bonnie Goben is a graduate of Kansas School for the Deaf and Gallaudet University. She currently works for the Resource Center for Independent Living, Inc., is involved with the Language Mentoring Program with Sorenson, and for the past 12 years worked as an adjunct instructor with both JCCC and MWCC. Bonnie has provided a variety of workshops for interpreters, as well as mentoring and tutoring services. Bonnie continues to strive to improve the lives of Deaf and Hard of He aring as well as support the interpreting fi eld.


Cheryl Moose
RID CI & CT

RID Update
Friday 9:00 pm - 12:00 pm, Lecture Hall
The latest news and goings-on of your professional Association.

RID President, Cheryl Moose, CI and CT, is a free lance interpreter residing in South Elgin, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago. She is the former Director of Interpreter Operations for CSD, where she managed Sprint video relay centers in Chicago and Washington DC as well as being the point of contact for Video Relay Service (VRS) interpreter agency negotiations and contracts.

From 1991 – 2003 Cheryl managed the sign language interpreting program at Lucent Technologies, in Naperville, Illinois, where she and a staff of four interpreters coordinated and provided interpreting services for software and hardware engineers and developers working in the telecommunications research and development fi eld.

She has been involved in RID for 20+ years chairing numerous committees on the state, regional and national level, serving as Illinois RID President, RID Region III Representative and RID Secretary before being elected to her current role as the RID President.

Cheryl has presented numerous workshops on a variety of topics including: “Video Interpreting”, “VRS Training”, “Interpreting in Technical Settings”, “Volunteering; Answering the Call”, “Leadership” and “Affi liate Chapter Strategic Planning”.


Jeff Pollock,
ASL/Interpreter Professor

To be (prepared), or not to be (prepared). That is the question.
Friday 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm, Classroom B/C
Saturday 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm, Classroom A
This interactive workshop focuses on the value of preparation. A brief review of the literature and a facilitated discussion of how preparation, or a lack of preparation, affects an interpreted event will be followed by a truly unforgettable hands-on experience that will forever endear participants to the value of preparation. I really mean hands-on! Come, if you are prepared!

Jeff Pollock moved to Utah in 1994, started teaching ASL at SLCC in 1995, and has been continuously involved with the development of the Utah Interpreter Certifi cation program since 1995. Jeff holds a B.S. in Biology from Madonna University in Michigan, a M.Ed. in Education Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah. Jeff currently works as a full-time ASL/Interpreter instructor for the Davis Applied Technology Center.


Teddi von Pingel
RID CI & CT

All I Need to Know About Team Interpreting I learned from Dancing With the Stars
Friday 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm, Lecture Hall
Saturday 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm, Lecture Hall
Take a trip on the team interpreting dance fl oor as you learn to ‘shake your groove thing’ with your partner! Find out how to score points with your Deaf judges, practice routines, avoid wardrobe malfunctions and make sure you have the right ‘foot wear’ for the job.

Teddi von Pingel, CI/CT has been interpreting for 18+ years. She lives in Lehi, UT with her husband and 3 adorable tyksters (Olivia 9, D’Artagnan 7, and Sophia 3). She likes to read, sew, scrapbook, surf the internet and maintain her blog (check it out at www.tlcandmore.blogspot.com). Her interpreting is sporadic as her hubby Eric is in school full-time pursuing a degree in Pharmacy. She has done all kinds of interpreting and prefers medical and mental health. Her love for dance started at an early age and ended abruptly at the age of 14 when her Dad stopped paying for lessons. “I could have won Dancing with The Stars!” says Teddi. Now, sadly, the world will never now. She will have to be content to watch it each season and root for Bruno to fall off his chair and be clobbered by Len. Stay tuned if you’ve never watched…it could happen!


Jonathan Webb
RID CI & CT, NIC Advanced, Utah Master

Semantic Equivalence
Friday 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm, Classroom A
Second Language Learners report that there is a great challenge is understanding the breadth and depth of a new lexicon. Often asking, “What does that mean...how do you use it?” An equally important question is typically left unasked, “What are the limitations on using that?” This workshop will explore ways that we can sharpen not only the comprehension and use of ASL lexicons, but how semantic equivalence impacts the syntactic, discourse, and pragmatic levels of language. Come ready to not only receive vital linguistic information, but to put it into practice through small-group activities.

Jonathan Webb was born and raised in St. Louis, MO where he began learning to sign at age ten. Interpreting full-time at age 17, Jonathan has been heavily involved in the Deaf Community and interpreter organizations. After moving to Utah in 1999 he set up an interpreting agency with his wife Stephanie, also a nationally certifi ed interpreter, and had the opportunity to look more closely at the organizational structure and logistics behind interpreting. He currently co-owns an alternative spirituality based healing center in SLC, UT. Additionally, Jonathan now serves on the RID Board of Directors as the Region V Representative.


Alan Wilding

Becoming Allies of Your Gay, Lebian, Bisexual, Transgender Clients and Co-Workers
Thursday 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Classroom B/C
Saturday 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm, Classroom B/C
This will be an open-ended discussion on how the GLBT community affects interpreters and on how you can best serve your GLBT clients. We will also discuss expectations that may come up when interpreting for GLBT activities/workshops/events.

Alan Wilding has a BA in English, BA in Education with a minor in Journalism, and a MA in Deaf Education. He has taught ASL and interpreting courses for nearly 13 years and has worked with interpreters specifi cally for about 5 years. Is currently an ASLTA member and planning to start work on CDI certifi cation this summer. Always actively learning he has attended CIT, ASLTA, and Deaf Studies conferences.

Alan is Deaf, gay, and extremely proud to come from a large Deaf family. But he is most proud of his daughter, Peace Moon, who is 1.6 years old.


Entertainment:
Anderson Twins Comedy Show
Clay and Levi Anderson
Clay and Levi were the only twins in their small New Mexico town, and Levi was the only Deaf child. They tried as hard as they could to be saints, but trouble always seemed to fi nd them.

They have put together a show that will have you laughing in the aisles! It show cases their real life events as well as the made up ones (that could have happened), and stuff that is so out there it can’t be true...

...we hope!


If you have any questions regarding the presenters, please contact Jennifer Storrer at jennifer@utrid.org