Any of you who have wandered through this blog since I restarted in January know that I focused several weeks on links to information in Deaf History.
The Deaf value those who came before them. There is a sense of commonality, that they share an experience that we of the individualistic American hearing world do not always understand. If we read up on those who have had an impact on the world at large, who belong to this community that has accepted us, we find common ground and that can only improve our ability to cross cultures.
Do you know of Deaf performers, sports stars, inventors and how they have changed the world?
If you do - send me more links! I would love to have an exhaustive list.
If you do not - what's stopping you? Start here and see who you already know. You may be surprised.
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Thursday
Avoiding Repetitive Motion Injury
While I beat this dead horse, I thought I would bring up one more idea.
Ways to protect your back.
Many years ago, I turned to look at the visual aid in my class and heard a very distinct pop. It was a vertebrae in my back deciding to change position. needless to say, it was painful and still bothers me on occassion to this day.
How can you avoid such an injury? Don't sit with your back to the visual aid.
It seems obvious, until you try to figure out the logistics for yourself. Some situations leave little room for negotiation. I find a chair that swivels can save me a lot of heart ache. Lacking one of those, I position myself as best I can close to a forty five degee angle. I can turn a partial turn toward the client I am interpreting for, and a partial turn toward the visual aid I need to reference. Easier on my back and not that hard for most to read me.
Then there is a nifty toy that was making the rounds of the internet a few years ago: The Interpreter Mirror. It is a double mirror system so the interpeter can see the visual aid in correct symmetry. Not every room has the space for even that much additional equiment, but it sure is worth looking into.
Especially if you want to save your back.
Ways to protect your back.
Many years ago, I turned to look at the visual aid in my class and heard a very distinct pop. It was a vertebrae in my back deciding to change position. needless to say, it was painful and still bothers me on occassion to this day.
How can you avoid such an injury? Don't sit with your back to the visual aid.
It seems obvious, until you try to figure out the logistics for yourself. Some situations leave little room for negotiation. I find a chair that swivels can save me a lot of heart ache. Lacking one of those, I position myself as best I can close to a forty five degee angle. I can turn a partial turn toward the client I am interpreting for, and a partial turn toward the visual aid I need to reference. Easier on my back and not that hard for most to read me.
Then there is a nifty toy that was making the rounds of the internet a few years ago: The Interpreter Mirror. It is a double mirror system so the interpeter can see the visual aid in correct symmetry. Not every room has the space for even that much additional equiment, but it sure is worth looking into.
Especially if you want to save your back.
Tuesday
Avoiding Repetitive Motion Injury
As I mentioned yesterday, theinterpretersfriend.com is down permanently.
I have been able to find a new copy of the overuse syndrome paper written by Gary Sanderson. It is a pdf linked here.
And here is a part of the article, originally published in the 1980's, in case we lose it again. It may be old, but many of the suggestions are still valid.
"...In order for most interpreters to keep their heads above water financially, we have to interpret any and all assignments to pay for normal living expenses such as health insurance and rent. Instead of heeding the warning signs our bodies have been giving us, we have kept on working and working (and still do) "just in case." "Just in case" there is no work next week or "just in case" spring break is coming up. The list of "just in case's" is endless. So interpreters work all day, every day, and "just in case" interprets a few night jobs too...."
Read the article, see if it fits your circumstances. Find ways to rest and ways to warm up and cool down. As Gary said, we must start to think of ourselves as athletes using muscles and tendons in ways uncommon to the non-interpreter (unless they are perhaps word processors and computer-philes)
Here are the exercise suggestions (signer-cises) developed at California State University Northridge as a result of their study.
General tips
Avoid signing when hands are cold.
Exercise and stretch in non-painful ranges (know the difference between "stretch" and "pain").
There should be no pain after stretching or exercising.
Warm-up exercises
Open and close your fists rapidly 5-10 times.
Circle your wrists counter clockwise and clockwise 5-10 times in each direction.
Spread and close your fingers 5-10 times for each hand.
Sign the alphabet at a moderate speed once.
Shake your hands out. This should be done anytime hands feel tight
Stretching exercises
Place hands in prayer position with only your fingertips touching, lift elbows and press your fingers in a backward direction. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 5 times.
Put your arm out straight with your palm facing down, bend at wrist and push down on the back of your hand with your opposite hand. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 5 times then change hands.
Put your arm out straight with your palm facing up, push your fingers downward with your opposite hand (wrist should bend backward). Repeat 5 times, holding for 5 seconds. Change hands.
If any of these exercises or activities causes you pain, stop.
Developed by: Janet Yapp, R.P.T. of California State University, Northridge, California
1 December 1984
I have been able to find a new copy of the overuse syndrome paper written by Gary Sanderson. It is a pdf linked here.
And here is a part of the article, originally published in the 1980's, in case we lose it again. It may be old, but many of the suggestions are still valid.
"...In order for most interpreters to keep their heads above water financially, we have to interpret any and all assignments to pay for normal living expenses such as health insurance and rent. Instead of heeding the warning signs our bodies have been giving us, we have kept on working and working (and still do) "just in case." "Just in case" there is no work next week or "just in case" spring break is coming up. The list of "just in case's" is endless. So interpreters work all day, every day, and "just in case" interprets a few night jobs too...."
Read the article, see if it fits your circumstances. Find ways to rest and ways to warm up and cool down. As Gary said, we must start to think of ourselves as athletes using muscles and tendons in ways uncommon to the non-interpreter (unless they are perhaps word processors and computer-philes)
Here are the exercise suggestions (signer-cises) developed at California State University Northridge as a result of their study.
General tips
Avoid signing when hands are cold.
Exercise and stretch in non-painful ranges (know the difference between "stretch" and "pain").
There should be no pain after stretching or exercising.
Warm-up exercises
Open and close your fists rapidly 5-10 times.
Circle your wrists counter clockwise and clockwise 5-10 times in each direction.
Spread and close your fingers 5-10 times for each hand.
Sign the alphabet at a moderate speed once.
Shake your hands out. This should be done anytime hands feel tight
Stretching exercises
Place hands in prayer position with only your fingertips touching, lift elbows and press your fingers in a backward direction. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 5 times.
Put your arm out straight with your palm facing down, bend at wrist and push down on the back of your hand with your opposite hand. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 5 times then change hands.
Put your arm out straight with your palm facing up, push your fingers downward with your opposite hand (wrist should bend backward). Repeat 5 times, holding for 5 seconds. Change hands.
If any of these exercises or activities causes you pain, stop.
Developed by: Janet Yapp, R.P.T. of California State University, Northridge, California
1 December 1984
Monday
The passing of a friend
For years, colleagues and I have enjoyed the use of a wonderful site called 'The Interpreter's Friend.
Today that site is closed.
I knew it was coming. Since I heard of David Bar-Tzur's passing in January of this year, I had mourned the loss of a dear colleague and a true friend to every sign language interpreter in the United States and beyond.
For a few extra months, we had been able to enjoy his hard work, his compilation of articles and videos at theinterpretersfriend.com.
But today as I was doing an unrelated search, the site popped up on google and I clicked it.
Unfortunately, the "401 site gone" message appeared.
I will never have the patience or the skill to maintain a site of such quality and excellence, but I hope to slowly fill part of the gap.
I hope others in the profession will do so as well, keeping David's memory alive.
And there is his channel at You-tube, I have no idea how long it will remain. But for a time, it is a visual memorial to an interpreter and person par excellence.
Rest well, my friend, and know we are the better for your life.
Shalom.
Today that site is closed.
I knew it was coming. Since I heard of David Bar-Tzur's passing in January of this year, I had mourned the loss of a dear colleague and a true friend to every sign language interpreter in the United States and beyond.
For a few extra months, we had been able to enjoy his hard work, his compilation of articles and videos at theinterpretersfriend.com.
But today as I was doing an unrelated search, the site popped up on google and I clicked it.
Unfortunately, the "401 site gone" message appeared.
I will never have the patience or the skill to maintain a site of such quality and excellence, but I hope to slowly fill part of the gap.
I hope others in the profession will do so as well, keeping David's memory alive.
And there is his channel at You-tube, I have no idea how long it will remain. But for a time, it is a visual memorial to an interpreter and person par excellence.
Rest well, my friend, and know we are the better for your life.
Shalom.
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