NAD and RID Commit to a Stronger Partnership Announcement and Vlog here
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID)
Commit to a Stronger Partnership
“NAD & RID – Working Together for Everyone”
Washington, DC area, July 11, 2013 — The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID), in recognizing the shared values of both organizations, will renew their commitment to a stronger partnership to meet the needs of the members of both organizations. To achieve this vision, the NAD and RID will sign a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the opening ceremonies at the 2013 RID National Conference in Indianapolis, IN, on Friday, August 9, 2013.
According to NAD President Chris Wagner, “Improving upon our organizations’ partnership is a necessary measure to advance the rights of deaf and hard of hearing people and enhance the sign language interpreting profession.”
Brenda Walker Prudhom, RID President added, “RID seeks ways to have greater involvement at all levels from deaf and hard of hearing people. Our two organizations have had a historic partnership which, among other things, led to a combined certification for interpreters. Forging a commitment to a stronger partnership allowed us to have a heart to heart discussion about the areas in which we need to focus to achieve our shared vision.”
Following is the language of the new, agreed upon commitments in the NAD-RID MOU that will be signed on August 9, 2013:
Memorandum of Understanding between the
National Association of the Deaf and the
Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been drafted to issue a statement that codifies the strong and enduring collaboration between the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) as well as enhance the organization's commitment to work in a close partnership for the future benefit of the Deaf community, the sign language interpreting community, and for all people who use sign language.
The mission of the NAD is to preserve, protect and promote the civil, human and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States of America.
The vision of the NAD is that the language, culture, and heritage of deaf and hard of hearing Americans will be acknowledged and respected in the pursuit of life, liberty, and equality.
The mission of RID is to “promote excellence in the delivery of interpreting services among diverse users of signed and spoken languages through professional development, networking, advocacy and standards.”
The vision of RID is that, “By honoring its past and building a dynamic future, RID envisions a world where:
- Linguistic rights are recognized as human rights;
- The Deaf Community and the Deaf Heart are vital and visible in every aspect of RID, the interpreting profession as a whole and among individual interpreters;
- Interpreted interactions between and among individuals who use signed and spoken languages are as rich as direct communication;
- The interpreting profession is formally recognized and is advanced by robust professional development, standards of conduct, and credentials.”
The NAD and RID affirm the importance of a joint, working relationship and an established transparent communication protocol at all levels of the organization, local, regional, national, and international to stay informed and keep abreast of issues impacting the Deaf and interpreting communities.
NAD and RID, with the support of their respective boards and headquarters staff, shall commit to the following:
- Publicly recognize the importance of and encourage the involvement of Deaf members and Deaf people in RID and sign language interpreters in NAD.
- Actively exchange information that is of common interest and/or might have an effect on both organizations and members.
- Explore the opportunity to provide dual-membership to both organizations.
- Jointly market each other's organization and memberships benefits.
- Jointly oversee the administration of NAD-RID Certification Programs.
- Develop a governance structure for the certification program that ensures autonomy in decision-making over essential certification activities.
- Jointly oversee the administration of the NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct (CPC).
- Provide seats for each other’s organization for representatives on councils, committees, taskforces, and other volunteer groups.
- Provide complimentary organizational membership as well as individual memberships for the presidents, executive directors, and board members in each other's organizations.
- Support and attend each other's respective biennial national conferences by providing complimentary registrations, advertisements, letters, booth spaces, and other benefits.
- Provide complimentary marketing opportunities (i.e. banner ads, magazine ads, etc.) of membership benefits, programs, and services by each organization.
- Provide support in processing CEU paperwork for NAD conferences.
- Provide opportunities for presentations, workshops, and training at each other's national, regional and state conferences.
- Provide opportunities for review and feedback on policy statements on advocacy issues that impact both organizations.
- Maintain open communication through information/resource sharing and collaboration on legislative and policy issues impacting interpreters.
- Align the committee appointment process to the select of each respective board to ascertain continuity of work and transfer of knowledge.
This MOU is effective upon the day and date last signed and executed by the duly authorized representatives of the parties of the MOU.
Effective August 9, 2013.
_____________________________
Christopher D. Wagner
NAD President
______________________________
Brenda Walker Prudhom
RID President
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“While we recognize that the MOU does not cover all issues, we are confident that it establishes a more unified partnership that will help both organizations address the many challenges facing interpreters and deaf and hard of hearing people,” said RID President Prudhom.
NAD President Wagner added, “The NAD and RID will develop separate contractual agreements on some of the more complex issues not described in this MOU such as financial and legal oversight over certification. The MOU represents a step forward in building our partnership together and we are excited about this strengthened partnership.”
The NAD and RID held a previously signed MOU between the organizations. The signing of that MOU was held on August 1, 2009, at the 2009 RID National Conference in Philadelphia, PA. It was signed by then-presidents, Bobbie Beth Scoggins for NAD, and Cheryl Moose for RID. That MOU currently stands until the newly revised MOU is signed on August 9, 2013. To view the content of the 2009 NAD-RID MOU, please visit the RID website at www.rid.org.
SOURCE: http://www.nad.org/news/2013/7/nad-rid-commit-stronger-partnership