New Mexico Mentoring

New Mexico Mentoring is still accepting applications for the Spring 2012 Mentoring session! The Spring 2012 Session will run from January 7 through May 5, 2012. We must receive completed applications by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, November 8, 2011.

** Participants may earn up to 2.0 RID CEUs!! **
** Rural interpreters are given selection preference! **

For information on becoming a Mentee, click here
For information on becoming a Mentor, click here

Program Description

New Mexico Mentoring is a unique statewide program to support the professional development of New Mexico signed language interpreters. Qualified, trained mentors (both deaf language models and experienced interpreters) guide mentees through an individualized and structured curriculum designed to address specific skills required for effective interpreting. The mentoring cycle is 16 weeks long and is offered two times a year. The program is designed to match the skills of the mentor with the specific needs of the mentee and is distance-based so that interpreters and mentors throughout New Mexico can easily participate.

Questions

Any questions are welcome! Please contact:
Lisa Dignan, M.Ed., CI and CT
Director of Communication Access and Development
State of New Mexico Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons
2500 Louisiana Blvd. NE, Suite 400
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Lisa.Dignan@state.nm.us
800.489.8536 - Toll Free
505.881.8824 - V/TTY
505.881.8831 - Fax
505.435.9210 – VP

Goals

Goals for the New Mexico Mentoring program include the following:
  • Enhance the skills of interpreters in New Mexico
  • Provide mentees with an analysis of their skills and a professional development plan
  • Provide quality mentoring experiences by using trained mentors from the interpreting and Deaf communities
  • Create a welcoming and supportive environment for recent graduates of interpreter training programs
  • Develop connections for interpreters working in isolated settings
  • Provide an opportunity for experienced mentors to share their expertise
  • Provide support for rural interpreters in the state who have limited professional development opportunities in their area
  • Increase the number of certified interpreters in the state

Mentees

The following are the requirements for entry into the program:
  • Be a resident of New Mexico or work in New Mexico
  • Hold a valid New Mexico Interpreter License
  • Hold current membership in NMRID and RID
  • Submit a completed application packet
  • Pay a $40 non-refundable application fee
  • Attend Orientation and a Wrap-up meeting in Albuquerque
  • Rural interpreters are given selection preference
What will New Mexico Mentoring provide for Mentees?
  • Structured 16-week curriculum
  • Curriculum videos, texts, and workbooks
  • One-on-one support from a highly-qualified and trained mentor
  • Web-based discussion forums
  • Orientation and training for the program
  • Distance technology capabilities for rural mentees
  • Certificate of Completion
  • Opportunity to earn up to 2.0 CEUs (additional fee required)

Mentors

The requirements to become a mentor are:
  • Willingness to share your expertise and enthusiasm for ASL and interpreting
  • Interest in supporting a mentee through a structured 16-week curriculum
  • Current membership in RID (with the exception of deaf applicants who are not interpreters)
  • Attend Mentor Training and Orientation and the Wrap-up meeting in Albuquerque
What are the benefits to becoming a mentor?
  • Payment of $1,000
  • Opportunity for professional and personal growth
  • Collaboration with an exciting team of mentors
  • Opportunity to support and foster the professional growth of New Mexico interpreters
  • Working with structured 16-week curriculum
  • Use of curriculum videos, texts, and workbooks
  • Access to program director to provide support
  • Web-based discussion forums
  • Orientation and training for the program
  • Distance technology capabilities for rural mentors
  • Opportunity to earn up to 2.0 CEUs

Curricula

We have seven curricula available now and will continue to add more each year. All curricula follow the same format and include sixteen structured, weekly lessons including exercises to be completed and submitted to the mentor.

ASL to English Interpretation: Self Analysis Skills

This curriculum is designed to assist interpreters in improving their ASL to English interpreting skills. This includes techniques for critically analyzing the success of an interpretation, increasing theoretical understanding of ASL to English interpreting, building prediction skills, expanding meta-linguistic skills to effectively discuss interpreting, and recognizing strengths and remediating weaknesses in interpreting work.

Preparation Skills for Interpreters

This curriculum is designed to help interpreters be prepared for a variety of interpreting assignments in community and educational environments. It covers such topics as Demand-Control Schema, text analysis, business practices, team interpreting, working with a Deaf presenter, and more!

Foundations of Educational Interpreting

This curriculum is designed specifically for educational interpreters who are new to the field or have limited formal interpreting education. Topics range from professional conduct and cognitive development to tutoring and Education Law.

Perspectives on Educational Interpreting

An in depth exploration of educational interpreting, designed for interpreters with some educational experience or formal training. This curriculum will assist educational interpreters in meeting New Mexico Interpreter Licensure requirements. Topics range from basic self-assessment practice to detailed EIPA preparation.

Fingerspelling and Numbering Systems

The focus of this workbook is to enhance the mentee's knowledge and skills with ASL fingerspelling and number systems and to assist in incorporating these features into ASL interpretations. Activities promote critical thinking and self-analysis as related to fingerspelling and numbers.

Mental Health Interpreting – for Certified Interpreters only

Certified interpreters who have mental health interpreting experience and those who are interested in mental health interpreting can benefit from this exciting curriculum. It covers topics including mental health settings, practitioners, consumers, and the work's impact on the interpreter.

Medical Interpreting – for Certified Interpreters only

Certified interpreters wishing to learn more about interpreting in medical settings will benefit from this curriculum that covers vocabulary, best practices, and provides resources to become a competent and confident medical interpreter.

The Process

Individuals who wish to be mentees complete the Application Request Form and send it with the $40 non-refundable application fee. Applicants will receive a full application packet to complete and submit.

Individuals who wish to be mentors complete the Application Request Form and be emailed a full application packet.

All applications are reviewed by the Selection Committee, which will match mentors and mentees and determine which curricula is best suited to benefit the mentee's current skills.

Mentors and mentees who are selected to participate will be contacted by the Director. Curriculum and materials are mailed to participants approximately two weeks prior to Mentor Training and Orientation in Albuquerque. Mentors and mentees meet and discuss the curriculum at the Orientation session, but complete the remainder of the process via distance including email, mail, phone, videophone, and other methods that are effective for each respective team.

Sessions

New Mexico Mentoring runs two sessions per year: Fall (August – December) and Spring (January – May). Mentors and mentees can return and go through the program as many times as they desire, and the program is designed to encourage interpreters to function as both mentors and mentees depending upon the specific curriculum and skill-development needs.

Contact Lisa Dignan to be added to the New Mexico Mentoring email list. Everyone on the list will receive emails when New Mexico Mentoring is recruiting mentors and mentees for the next session.

Lisa Dignan, M.Ed.
CI and CT Director of Communication Access and Development New Mexico Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
2500 Louisiana Blvd. NE, Suite 400
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Lisa.Dignan@state.nm.us
800.489.8536 – Toll Free
505.881.8824 – V/TTY
505.881.8831 – Fax
505.435.9210 – VP