Interpreter Registry
Louisiana Commission for the Deaf

Interpreter Mentorship Program

The Importance of Mentoring

A skilled sign language interpreter workforce is critical to ensuring equitable communication access for individuals who are d/Deaf, DeafBlind, or hard-of-hearing and use sign language to communicate. Sign language interpreting is a particularly complex technical skill that requires:

  • High level of language proficiency in American Sign Language and English, or other commonly used methods of communication
  • The ability to capture an individual’s unique phrasing
  • Expression and intonation
  • Professional presence and poise
  • The skills to effectively facilitate communication flow and turn-taking between two languages
  • The ability to understand and relay cultural variations, knowledge, and practice of appropriate standards of conduct

Education alone is not enough to develop this level of expertise. Opportunities for practical application with a mentor is key for skill development, and may also be required for certain levels of professional credentialing.

The National Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf (RID) Mentoring Standard Practice Paper (2007), stated that the experiences gained through mentorship foster a higher level of professionalism for both the mentor and the mentee. The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf and the board of commissioners recognized this critical need in the state and have created the Interpreter Mentorship Program which piloted in 2024. 

Bridging the “Readiness Gap”

Mentoring can benefit all interpreters at any time during their professional development and practice. For young professionals, transitioning from interpreter education programs to working as a practicing sign language interpreter is sometimes difficult. Being supported by a mentor is one way to close the gap and ease the transition between school and “real life.” It can also be used by experienced interpreters who value ongoing growth and life-long learning. Varying successful approaches to mentoring exist, such as through internships, apprenticeships, or one-on-one coaching. Choosing the appropriate pathway to mentoring will be guided by the interpreter’s situation, values, and objectives. Regardless of the chosen approach, a successful mentoring relationship is a mutual commitment to professional growth.

About the Interpreter Mentorship Program

The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf is committed to supporting the development and advancement of sign language interpreters through quality mentoring services and offering professional development opportunities. The Interpreter Mentorship Program consists of three distinct opportunities: Career Exploration Pathway, College Internship Pathway, and 1:1 Coaching Pathway. Each pathway is designed to enhance skills, provide practical experience, and promote professional growth of interpreters at various stages of their careers. The Interpreter Mentorship Program offers:

  • Skill Development: Tailored plans to improve interpreting proficiency to achieve certification.
  • Practical Experience: Opportunities to observe and/or participate in real-world interpreting scenarios.
  • Professional Growth: Mentoring, coaching, and exposure to various interpreting settings.
  • Practical Knowledge Development: Tailored plans to improve interpreting best practices, cultural competency, and ethical decision-making.

 

Each pathway includes structured activities, professional resources, and engagement criteria to ensure meaningful participation and success. The mentoring cycle will vary depending on the pathway chosen and the participant’s goals.

Career Exploration Pathway

The Career Exploration Pathway offers aspiring interpreters, high school students studying sign language, and students enrolled in interpreter education/training programs exposure to various interpreting environments. Participants can observe experienced interpreters in various settings and participate in structured briefings with mentors to reflect on their experiences.

Potential Participants:

  • High school students studying sign language, interested to learn more about the interpreting profession.
  • Higher education students enrolled in an interpreter education/training or deaf studies program interested to learn more about the interpreting profession.
  • Children of individuals who are d/Deaf interested to learn more about the interpreting profession.

Participants Receive:

  • Individual Development Plan: A customized plan tailored to the participant’s professional goals and growth areas.
  • Observational Learning: Shadow professional interpreters in varied settings.
  • Skill Development: Engage in pre- and post-observation briefings to enhance understanding of interpreting practices.
  • Knowledge/Ethical Development: Personalized activities and feedback to achieve specific professional goals.

The College Internship Pathway is designed for students currently enrolled in accredited higher education institutions pursuing an interpreter education/training program. This pathway provides meaningful exposure to various interpreting environments, including state government, helping students earn a formal internship or professional development hours.

Potential Participants:

Students who are enrolled in an interpreter education/training program or similar field that require them to earn professional development activity hours, formal internship hours, or similar related required hours in interpreting.

Participants Receive:

  • Individual Development Plan: A customized plan tailored to the participant’s professional goals and growth areas.
  • Terminology Proficiency: Learn and practice sign language production and English proficiency for specific vocabulary in various settings.
  • Hands-On Experience: Participate in team interpreting opportunities and receive regular feedback from mentor interpreters, if appropriate.
  • Skill Development: Engage in pre- and post-observation briefings to enhance understanding of interpreting practices.
  • Knowledge/Ethical Development: Personalized activities and feedback to achieve specific professional goals. Training in ethical decision-making, cultural competency, and best practices.
  • Personalized Mentoring: One-on-one guidance to enhance interpreting skills and work toward certification.

The 1:1 Coaching Pathway provides working sign language interpreters with a personalized mentorship curriculum built to enhance their skills, knowledge, achieve certification, or achieve higher certification levels. Participants are paired with mentors based on an initial assessment, and a tailored professional development plan is created to align with their goals.

Potential Participants:

  • Sign language interpreters working in Louisiana who are not yet certified and seeking to obtain their certification.
  • Sign language interpreters in Louisiana who are actively working, seeking to refine their skills and/or to achieve certification.
  • Certified sign language interpreters in Louisiana seeking exposure to specialized settings and/or pursuing specialized certification.

 

Participants Receive:

  • 1:1 Support: An opportunity to work directly with an experienced mentor. Offers in-person and/or virtual meetings scheduled at the convenience of the participant and the mentor.
  • Individual Development Plan: A customized plan tailored to the participant’s professional goals and growth areas.
  • Skill/Knowledge/Ethical Development: Personalized activities and feedback to achieve specific professional goals.
  • Peer-to-Peer Learning: Collaborative sessions with other participants to share experiences and support.

Getting Started

Are you eager to learn? Team-oriented? Patient? Are you willing to take risks? Have a positive attitude? Are you self-aware and committed to your areas for growth? Participants are selected from an application process and selection will be prioritized based on greatest need.

The ideal qualities of a participant are:

  • Eagerness to learn
  • Patience
  • Willing to take risks
  • Positive attitude
  • Self-awareness
  • Commitment to growth

The benefits of being a participant are:

  • Continuing education units (CEUs) and professional development opportunities are available at no-cost
  • Increase in self-confidence as a sign language interpreter
  • Opportunity to meet and network with peers across the state
  • Opportunity to expand knowledge and skill base within the interpreting profession

Explore Your Pathway in the Sign Language Interpreting Profession!

Are you passionate about sign language interpreting and eager to grow in your career? Whether you’re just starting or looking to enhance your skills, the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf offers tailored mentoring pathways to support your journey.

Are you a student learning sign language?

Consider the Career Exploration Pathway.

  • Purpose: Observation of experienced interpreters in real-word settings, exposure to the interpreting profession, and understanding of the interpreter’s role in various settings
  • Benefits: Real-time observation, job shadowing, pre- and post-briefing, access to resources, networking, gain practical knowledge and understanding of workplace dynamics, ethics and professional conduct
  • Preferred Target Audience: Students enrolled in an accredited high school or higher education institution learning sign language, young adults with family members who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing and are interested in learning more about the interpreting profession

Consider the College Internship Pathway.

  • Purpose: To help students fulfill formal internship requirements to gain practical or professional development hours for their academic program
  • Benefits: Combines real-time observation, hands-on experience with paired mentor, job shadowing, networking, access to professional resources
  • Preferred Target Audience: Students enrolled in an interpreter education program, committed to meeting their academic requirements

Consider the 1:1 Coaching Pathway.

  • Purpose: To provide focused skill enhancement for certification preparation or achieving advanced professional goals through personalized coaching
  • Benefits: Individualized coaching plan, curriculum, job shadowing, peer support, access to resources, networking
  • Preferred Target Audience: Actively working as a sign language interpreter in Louisiana

Consider Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Certification Maintenance Professional Development Opportunities.

  • Purpose: To support lifelong learning and ongoing professional development through continuous education and training
  • Benefits: Free CEUs, networking, collaboration, access to expert presenters
  • Preferred Target Audience: Open to all sign language interpreters seeking ongoing professional growth and development

Apply to a Specialized Coaching Mentorship Project

The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf is currently offering two specialized coaching mentorship projects to support interpreters in Louisiana. These projects utilize a group, or cohort, approach to mentoring that includes both 1:1 coaching and peer-to peer support and networking.

The PreK-12 Project: A Roadmap to Excellence is a project designed for sign language interpreters working in PreK-12 educational settings. In this project, participants will refine their skills to achieve certification for school-based interpreting.

The Pre-Certified Sign Language Interpreter: Bridge to Certification is a project designed for pre-certified sign language interpreters working in general community settings. This project provides guidance and training to help participants achieve state certification for community interpreting.

Click here to learn more about the 1:1 coaching pathway and our current projects.
Apply to a Specialized Coaching Mentorship Project now!

Apply for a College Internship

Are you a college student in an accredited higher education institution pursuing an interpreter education/training program seeking practical experience and mentorship? This internship provides the opportunity to enhance cultural competence and interpreting skills while earning formal hours toward academic credit.

Participants must be:

  • Students who are enrolled in an accredited higher education institution pursuing an Interpreter Education/Training Program or similar field that requires earned professional development activity hours, internship hours or similar related required hours in interpreting.
  • Committed to fulfilling practicum requirements as part of their academic coursework.

This internship offers structured guidance, professional practice, exposure to high-quality interpreting settings, and resources to achieve professional certification.

Click here to learn more about the college internship description.
Apply for a college internship now!

More about the Interpreter Mentorship Program

Participant Expectations

It is imperative for participants to build trust and maintain a positive mentoring rapport through consistent, transparent and honest communication. They must also be willing to discuss and attempt to resolve any conflicts as they arise. However, if challenges are unable to be resolved, new mentoring relationships can be sought if available.

  • Communicate with your mentor about goals, needs, and feelings about your work or experience.
  • Be receptive to honest and direct feedback.
  • Keep an open mind about the process.
  • Be committed and complete any required work outside the mentoring sessions.
  • Be prepared for mentoring sessions and have specific topics identified to discuss and/or have work completed from previous sessions
  • Engage in all activities in a professional manner, using the National Association of Interpreters in Education (NAIE) Code of Ethics.
  • Participate in feedback to the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf about your experience.
  • Keep information shared through the mentoring relationship private to foster a safe learning environment.

Participants are expected to dedicate approximately 10 hours per month to their professional growth depending on desired pathway. This time may include:

  • Mentor sessions: Meeting with a mentor at least twice per month for 60–90 minutes per session.
  • Pre- and post-briefings: Meeting with your mentor before and after an assignment.
  • Independent activities: Completing assignments or tasks between meetings.
  • Community and professional events: Attending approved d/Deaf events or interpreting-related activities.
  • Professional development: Participating in opportunities or earning approved continuing education units through the National Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf or the Board of Evaluation of Interpreters during the mentoring cycle.
  • Peer and staff consultations: Attending monthly peer sessions and individual consultations with program staff.

 

Additional hours may be required based on individual goals, needs, or interests. Professional development opportunities related to the interpreting profession will also be available.

Upon acceptance into the Interpreter Mentorship Program, participants, and mentors will be paired based on an assessment conducted by the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf. Utilizing a formal diagnostic, or an assessment conducted by the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf if no diagnostic is available, the mentor, a Deaf language specialist, and the participant will then collectively work together to formulate a mentoring plan tailored to each participant’s professional needs and goals (note: formal diagnostic is not required for career exploration pathway). Action plans may include independent work from both mentor and participant in between sessions. The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf will provide direct oversight including reviewing the participant’s mentoring plan and required reporting, scheduling participant meetings, and coordinating professional development opportunities. 

Participants in all pathways must meet the engagement criteria. Lack of engagement may result in removal from the program and ineligibility for registration coverage for certifications or exams. The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf ensures fairness and provides opportunities for reassessment when necessary. Participants removed from the program may be considered for participation in future cohorts.

To maintain good standing in the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf Interpreter Mentorship Program, participants in all pathways must meet the following engagement criteria:

Attendance

  • Participants must attend all scheduled mentorship sessions and activities.
  • Any anticipated absences must be communicated in advance, along with a valid reason. Emergency–related absences will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Repeated absences without justification may result in removal from the program.

 

Completion of Assigned Activities

  • Participants must complete all assigned tasks, and activities within the designated timeframe.
  • Quality and effort in completing assignments will be assessed to ensure active participation.

 

Communication

  • Participants must maintain regular communication with their mentors and the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf program staff.
  • Open and professional dialogue is expected at all times.

 

Engagement in Program Goals

  • Active participation in discussions, reflections, and feedback sessions is mandatory.
  • Participants should demonstrate a commitment to personal and professional growth within the program.

 

Consequences for Lack of Engagement

  • Initial warning: Participants will receive a warning for failure to meet engagement criteria.

  • Support and reassessment: The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf will provide opportunities for participants to address challenges and reassess their engagement.

  • Removal from the program: Continued lack of engagement may result in removal from the mentorship program.

Readiness Check

  • Undergo a readiness check conducted by the mentor. If a participant does not pass the readiness check, the mentor may recommend additional mentoring or training before scheduling the certification/assessment exam.

  • Participants must complete a self-analysis assessment to evaluate their readiness for one of the certification exams, chosen with support from the mentor.

There is no cost to participate in this program as a mentee. However, the mentee will be responsible for any expenses incurred, such as traveling to meet a mentor or traveling to a community event or professional development opportunity.

Participants in the Career Exploration and College Internship pathways may be eligible to apply for financial assistance including tuition reimbursement and coverage for certification or assessment exams fees. Additional details on financial assistance through the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf will be available soon!

Participants in the specialized Cohort Projects will be allowed to take a certification/assessment of their choosing at program completion with good standing.  The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf will cover the cost of one exam per mentee.  Exam opportunities include:

  • The Center for the Assessment of Sign Language Interpreters (CASLI) National Interpreter Certification (NIC) Interview and Performance Exam
  • The Board of Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) Performance Exam
  • The Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) Exam

 

The certification or assessment exam validates the participant’s skills, with the ultimate goal of meeting state minimum requirements. If a participant scores below the state’s proposed standard, it does not compromise the participant’s successful completion of the program. The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf applauds all efforts toward continuous professional growth and will work with participants to identify additional support and resources as needed.

Participants and mentors can earn continuing education units (CEUs) through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Continuing Maintenance Program. They may apply for independent study CEUs by submitting a professional development plan and the required documentation for approval from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Continuing Maintenance Program.

The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf believes effective mentorship is grounded in a shared commitment to one another, transparency, trust, and professional boundaries. Information and observations should not be disclosed outside of the mentor and mentee participant relationship or the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf program, whether one or the other deems the information as private. The exception to this rule is disclosure of possible harm to oneself or another. To ensure confidentiality, all individuals involved in each mentoring pathway, regardless of role, must maintain all information confidential during and after the program.

The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf will ask participants to provide information and feedback about their experience throughout the mentorship cycle. The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf’s data collection method may include questionnaires/surveys, face-to-face interviews, or other inquiries. The information will be used solely to evaluate the effectiveness and improve the mentor program.

Become a Mentor

Louisiana Commission for the Deaf is seeking experienced sign language interpreters to serve as mentors and support the next generation of professionals. We are continuously expanding our network of mentors. If you are a working sign language interpreter passionate about investing in others and are interested in becoming a mentor for the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf, please click here for more information.

Please click here to apply
Please click here for more information
Mentoring Program Expectations

The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf believes the mentor and mentee’s individual investment and partnership experience is vital to a successful mentorship program. All participants must meet the minimum requirements and expectations

  • Mentors are expected to dedicate a minimum of 10 hours per participant each month and may support up to three participants per cycle.
  • Mentors will participate in an initial training session before being paired with participants.
  • Mentors must attend monthly peer sessions and individual consultations with program staff.
  • Professional development opportunities related to interpreting and mentoring will also be offered.

Mentors will be paid a monthly stipend and may be eligible for travel reimbursement in accordance with Louisiana State PPM49. Please see the mentor job description  for more details.

Consultant Recognition 

The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf would like to express its gratitude to our consulting partners for their professional guidance and unwavering support of the Louisiana interpreter workforce. 

  • Jen Hayes 
  • Sarah Houge 
  • Donavan Williams

To view additional resources and information, please visit

📖 LCD’s Resource Webpage