Distinguished Speakers
Thursday, July 13 - 8:30a
An Invitation to New Space: Action and Practice
by Janis Cole
Janis Cole (M.Ed, CDI, ASLTA-P) is a culture, language, literature and literacy educator consultant, ASL/English interpreter, community advocate, facilitator, creative arts consultant, actor, director and producer. She is the president of LesDeux2 Productions. Janis was co-chair with Jimmy Beldon for the first national Deaf Interpreter Conference in 2015.
Janis is a doctoral candidate in Gallaudet University’s Interpretation/Translation Studies (pedagogy/research) and adjunct professor. Prior to that, she was a faculty member with the ASL/Deaf Studies Dept. at Gallaudet University. She taught ASL literature, ASL literacy, and social justice at Boston University’s ASL/Deaf Studies/Deaf Education program.
Janis has been interpreting with RSC in 1977, Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) in 1989 from Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. She also holds a Professional certification from the American Sign Language Teachers Association. For 3 years, she served as a committee member for RID’s Deaf Members in Leadership and member of RID’s Deaf Advisory Council and two-year committee member of RID’s Council of Elders. She is also on the Conference of Interpreter Trainers' (CIT) Board.
Janis Cole
Thursday, July 13 - 7:00p
Title
TBD
Biography
Friday, July 14 - 8:30a
THINK ME NUTHING!: Understanding the Richness of the Black Deaf Community
by Ritchie Bryant
Ritchie Bryant received his B.A. in ASL from Gallaudet University and M.S. in Deaf Education from McDaniel College. A native Texan he has been teaching ASL to the interpreting students for 15 plus years in five different states before moving to DC two years ago. He has been CDI certified since 2007 and been interpreting in the community especially in Deaf-Blind, legal and medical settings. He has served numerous years on the organizations such as Deafhood Foundation, Black Deaf Advocates, and RID Deaf Advisory Council. He has provided a consultant to various organizations and agencies from contributing to the development of the Deaf interpreter test to online ASL mentor program. His interests include developing African-American storytelling within the Deaf community, and video editing on his computer.
Ritchie Bryant
MJ Bienvenu
Friday, July 14 - 7:00p
Empowering Ourselves: Looking Forward
by MJ Bienvenu
MJ Bienvenu, Ph.D., is a professor at Gallaudet with the Department of ASL and Deaf Studies. She has taught ASL classes, interpreting and presently a co-director of MA in Sign Language Education where in her classes, she prepares our ASL teachers in the field of ASL Instruction.
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MJ has a BA in English (1974) and a MA in Linguistics (1983), both from Gallaudet University and a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies, with specialization in Linguistics and Lexicography (2003), from Union Institute and University. MJ served as a Board member with Deaf Women United, National PKZ, and Conference for Interpreter Trainers, and is now a board member of the Deafhood Foundation. MJ was a co-producer of Deaf Culture, Facial Grammar and ASL Numerical System video series and is presently working with 3 colleagues on a monolingual ASL dictionary.
Saturday, July 15 - 7:00p
Title
by Bryen M Yunashko
Biography
Bryen Yunashko
Jimmy Beldon
Saturday, July 15 - 8:15p
Status Quo Bad Reality/Good Reality: Embrace the Changes
by Jimmy Beldon
Jimmy Beldon, CDI, MA, has been a professional involved in the interpreting field on many levels. Jimmy is the co-owner of Keystone Interpreting Solution, an interpreter referral business. Additionally, he taught at the St. Catherine University in the Interpreter Education Program at Minnesota 2006-2016. Jimmy recently wrapped up 2 terms serving on National Conference of Interpreter Trainer (CIT) board as vice president and is currently serving as director of technology. Jimmy was co-chair with Janis Cole for the first national Deaf Interpreter Conference in 2015.