Oct 20, 2023 Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) Advisory Board

[1. Call to order, roll call, and introductions]

[00:00:05]

.

>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THE BOARD MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY, AS WELL AS ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS JOINED US THIS MORNING FOR OUR MEETING.

I WILL LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE TO TURN ON YOUR CAMERAS AND UNMUTE WHEN YOU WILL BE SPEAKING.

REMEMBER THAT THERE IS A SLIGHT DELAY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO TURN THOSE ON RIGHT BEFORE YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.

THAT WAY, WE DO NOT MISS ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVE SAID.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY BE CALLING INTO THE MEETING, REMEMBER AGAIN THAT THERE MIGHT BE A SLIGHT DELAY.

JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONNECTED AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU MAKE.

AGAIN, GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE BOARD FOR EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING.

MY NAME IS MARTIN VASQUEZ. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS JOINING US TODAY, BOTH OVER THE INTERNET AND LIVE AS WELL. FIRST MISS KRISTINA ARELLANO.

>> HELLO, GOOD MORNING. THIS IS CHRISTINA JOINING FROM CORPUS CHRISTI TEXAS, THANK YO .

>> THANK YOU. ALSO MR. JOSE-OVI VELASQUEZ.

>> HELLO, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

I AM JOSE-OVI VELASQUEZ AND I AM IN TEXAS.

>> WELCOME AND GOOD MORNING. AND WE HAVE MISSED ALAINA WEBB.

>> GOOD MORNING, THIS IS ALAINA WEBB.

I AM HERE PRESENT IN THE BOARD MEETING.

>> THANK YOU. WE TURN OUR ATTENTION OVER TO

YOU AT THIS TIME. >> THANK YOU CHAIR VASQUEZ.

GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS KAYLA - - WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE COORDINATION OFFICE.

THIS MEETING IS BEING CONDUCTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.TODAY'S MEETING IS BEING WEBCAST LIVE AND IS BEING RECORDED AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD. PLEASE DO NOT USE JARGON AND ACRONYMS. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSED. FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE VIEWING THE WEBCAST AND TO COMPLY WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, WE ASK THAT EACH VIRTUAL ATTENDEE TURN ON THEIR VIDEO CAMERA AND STATE THEIR NAME EACH TIME. PRIOR TO BEGINNING THEIR COMMENTS, WE ASK THAT YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE OF YOUR DEVICE OF THE COMMENTS CAN BE HEARD.

ONCE YOU ARE DONE SPEAKING, WE ASK THAT YOU TURN OFF YOUR CAMERA AND UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE AND ONLY UNMUTE WHEN YOU NEED TO SPEAK. WE WELCOME CENTERS USE HEADSETS WHEN POSSIBLE TO PREVENT FEEDBACK AND MINIMIZE OTHER NOISE. WE ALSO ASK THAT MEMBERS, STAFF AND CENTERS FOR DISSIPATING VIRTUALLY, PLEASE PUT YOUR CELL PHONE ON MUTE OR VIBRATE. PLEASE TURN OFF THE VIDEO AND MICROPHONE OPTIONS FROM YOUR VIEWING DEVICE.

FOR MEMBERS, STAFF AND PRESENTERS PARTICIPATING IN PERSON, WE ASK THAT YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE OF YOUR DEVICE SO YOUR COMMENTS ARE HEARD.

THESE MICROPHONES ARE DIRECTIONAL, SO SOUND IS ONLY

[00:05:01]

PLEASE PUT YOUR CELL PHONE ON MUTE OR VIBRATE.

IF YOU NEED TO TAKE A CALL, PLEASE STEP OUT OF THE ROOM AND AWAY FROM THE DOORS SO SOUND IS NOT CARRIED BACK INTO THE MEETING. MEMBERS, STAFF AND PRESENTERS WILL CALL THEM, YOU MAY SEE A SLIGHT DELAY IN WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN AS A RESULT OF THE BANDWIDTH OF YOURCOMPUTER .

THERE IS TIME ON THE AGENDA FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ABLE TO SUBMIT WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AS NOTED IN THE POSTED AGENDA.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING IN PERSON MAY ALSO REGISTER TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT BY COMPLETING THE PUBLIC COMMENT REGISTRATION FORM AT THE REGISTRATION TABLE.

FOR EVERYONE PARTICIPATING IN PERSON, RESTROOMS ARE LOCATED OUT OF THE ROOM ENTRANCE. TURN IMMEDIATELY TO THE RIGHT, DOWN THE LOBBY HALLWAY AND WALKED THROUGH THE FIRST HALLWAY. WHEN YOU SEE THE WATER FOUNTAINS, TURN RIGHT AND THE RESTROOMS ARE ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT. NOTE THAT EMERGENCY EXITS ARE LOCATED AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM WHERE WE CAME IN AND THE SIDE DOORS AS YOU FACE THE SCREEN. WALK TOWARDS THE LOBBY AREA AND SECURITY PERSONNEL WILL DIRECT YOU TO THE MAIN EXITS.

IF THERE IS AN ALARM, WE WILL EVACUATE THE BUILDING AND RETURNED ONLY AT THE DIRECTION OF SECURITY PERSONNEL.IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA TOPICS PRESENTED TODAY, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL MESSAGE TO BOARD LIAISON JAMIE JONES AT THE EMAIL ADDRESS PROVIDED IN THE CHAT SECTION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POSTED PUBLIC AGENDA.

AT THIS TIME, I WILL LIKE TO CALL ROLE.

MEMBERS, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE TURN ON YOUR CAMERA AND MICROPHONE AND RESPOND WITH YOUR PRESENCE.

QUORUM. >> THANK YOU.

[2. Consideration of January 27, 2023 and June 20, 2023, draft meeting minutes]

WE HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THOSE AS A WHOLE.

>> YES CHAIR MARTIN, THIS IS KAYLA WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COORDINATION OFFICE. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND MEMBERS THAT MS. JONES DID SEND THE MEETING MINUTES TO THE MEMBERS YESTERDAY I BELIEVE. WE WILL NOW TO TAKE A MOMENT IF MEMBERS CAN PULL UP THE DOCUMENTS AND TAKE A LOOK TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY EDITS OR CHANGES.

THEN I WILL CONDUCT A VOTE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP.

I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND MEMBERS THAT THERE ARE TWO SETS OF MINUTES. THERE ARE THE JANUARY 27 2023 MINUTES AND THE JUNE 30 2023 MINUTES.

[00:10:16]

>> THIS IS ALAINA WEBB, I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS

PROVIDED. >> THANK YOU MR. WEBB.

MEMBERS, I NEED A SECOND TO THE MOTION, PLEASE.

>> THIS IS MARTIN VASQUEZ, I SECOND THAT MOTION.

>> THANK YOU CHAIR VASQUEZ. MEMBERS, DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MINUTES? SEEING NO HANDS RAISED, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 27 AND JUNE 20TH 2023 MINUTES.

MEMBERS, PLEASE RESPOND YEATMAN NATE OR ABSTAIN.

[3. Report from Deaf and Hard of Hearing]

>> THANK YOU. WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, NUMBER THREE.

YOU WILL HEAR A REPORT BY MR. BRYANT ROBINSON WHO IS JOINING US TODAY. WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE OUR ATTENTION TO MR. BRYANT ROBINSON.

>> HELLO, HELLO. I AM BRYANT ROBINSON, DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES.

I AM THRILLED TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT THE ADVISORY BOARD AS WELL AS THE INTERPRETING COMMUNITY.

I HAVE SOME UPDATES TO SHARE WITH YOU REGARDING DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES. AFTER LAST MEETING, I STATED THAT STAFF HAD THREE VACANCIES THE MANAGER HAS BEEN HIRED, - - BEGAN WITH US ON AUGUST 7 AND HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

ALLEN IS NOW INTERVIEWING FOR TWO VACANCIES IN THE STAFF PROGRAM AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE FILLED SOON.

WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF POSTING VACANCIES, THE VACANCY FOR THE CONTRACT SPECIALIST POSITION.

NOW, I WILL TALK ABOUT EVENTS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING.

IN AUGUST, THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES SPONSORED A DEATH AWARENESS DAY AT THE CALDWELLS TO LOCATED IN TYLER POSTED BY THAT TIME THERE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CENTER AND THAT JUNIOR INTERPRETING PROGRAM.

THE ITP STUDENTS INTERPRETED A VARIETY OF EXHIBITS AND PRESENTERS TO HELP WITH PROVIDING COMMUNICATION ACCESS.

DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES HOSTED THREE EVENTS FOR DEATH AWARENESS MONTH DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.

THE FIRST TWO EVENTS WERE WEBINARS FOCUS ON ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION AS WELL AS EDUCATION AND WITH THE CENTRAL ROLE WAS. THE LAST EVENT WAS AN IN PERSON EVENT WHERE WE CELEBRATED THE HISTORY OF DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES AND A VARIETY OF MILESTONES INCLUDING THE

[00:15:01]

IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT. MOVING ON, DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES TRAINING AND EDUCATION BUT ALSO PLANS TO ATTEND A FEW CONFERENCES COMING UP.

NEXT WEEK, WE WILL BE REPRESENTED AT THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON LAW ENFORCEMENT. THEIR CONDUCT IN CORPUS CHRISTI OUR STAFF WILL BE PRESENTING TO AN AUDIENCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ON BEST PRACTICES IN TERMS OF INTERACTING WITH DRIVERS WHO ARE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING.

WE HEAR AND DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES REALLY VALUE HARD WORK OF OUR PAST AND CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS.

THEIR DEVELOPMENT, AND DRAFTING THE CPC CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT FOR GENERAL INTERPRETING COURT INTERPRETERS IN HEALTHCARE INTERPRETERS. WE ARE THRILLED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT RECEIVED FEEDBACK FROM OUR LEGAL TEAM AND WILL NOW BE GOING TO THE PROCESS OF RECEIVING APPROVALS BEFORE WE POST FOR COMMENTS. PLEASE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT. THOSE ARE ALL OF THE UPDATES THAT I HAVE TO SHARE TODAY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION. WE IN DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES APPRECIATE ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT BEI CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS DO ON A DAILY BASIS TO ENSURE COMMUNICATION ACCESS FOR EVERYONE. I WILL NOW PASS IT OVER TO

CHAIR VASQUEZ. >> I WILL GIVE ALITTLE TIME FOR THE INTERPRETERS TO SWITCH AS WELL .

THANK YOU MR. ROBINSON, WE APPRECIATE THAT FINAL REPORT

[4. BEI manager report]

THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US POSTED.

NEXT, WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON WITH CONTINUING WITH THE BEI, ARE LOOK INTO THE BEI. I WILL LIKE TO ASK MISS ALLISON - - TO PLEASE OFFER HER REPORT FOR THE BOARD.

MY APOLOGIES, MR. VELASQUEZ HAD A COMMENT.

WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE HIM ROOM TO MAKE HIS COMMENT AT THIS

TIME. >> YES, I AM SORRY.IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE THE INTERPRETER RIGHT NOW.

FOR NOW THAT IS BETTER, THANK YOU.

SORRY TO INTERRUPT. >> THANK YOU.

>> HELLO EVERYONE, GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU CHAIR VASQUEZ. I AM THE BOARD FOR EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS PROGRAM MANAGE .

IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TODAY.

I MUST EXCUSE MYSELF IN ADVANCE, I AM STILL RECOVERING FROM A RECENT BOUT OF SICKNESS, SO PLEASE PARDON ANY COUGHING THAT MAY STICK HIS HEAD IN MY PRESENTATION.

I DO HAVE PROGRAM RELATED UPDATES TOSHARE WITH ALL OF YOU . SO AS FOR THE PERFORMANCE TESTS, WITHIN OUR BEI PROGRAM, FROM THE DATE OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 AUGUST 1.23, WE HAD RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 457 PERFORMANCE TESTAPPLICATIONS . THAT IS AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 30 UNITS PER MONTH. APPROXIMATELY 45 APPLICATIONS WERE ACTUALLY MARKED COMPLETED AS WELL.

APPROXIMATELY 533 PERFORMANCE TESTS WERE ADMINISTERED WITHIN

[00:20:08]

INTERPRETERS ARE PROCESSED 1925 ONLINE PAYMENTS, AND THAT BROUGHT US IN AN AVERAGE OF 160 PAYMENTS PER MONTH.

NOW, SPEAKING OF THE BEI OPERATIONS, FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING AND MAY BE NEW TO BEI OR I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND OUR CURRENT PERFORMANCETESTING PRACTICES A LITTLE BIT BETTER , WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT WE HAVE HELD ALL OF OUR PERFORMANCE TESTS AT A DESIGNATED TESTING SITE, A DESIGNATED TESTING CENTER HERE IN AUSTIN TEXAS.

OUR CURRENT FOCUS IS TO CONTINUE THIS PRACTICE MODEL IN ONE PLACE FOR SEVERAL REASONS. ONE, IT MAINTAINS CONSISTENCY WITH THE TESTING EXPERIENCE. SECONDLY, TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY AND SECURITY OF THE TEST AND THE TESTING MATERIALS.

THIRDLY, TO AVOID THE RISK OF A VULNERABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEED TO TAKE DOWN THE TESTING ROOM SET UP.

THE TRANSFER ALL THE MATERIALS AND ALSO NEEDING TO RE-CREATE THE IDEAL TESTING ENVIRONMENT, SO ON AND SO FORTH.

THOSE ARE THE UPDATES I HAVE REGARDING THE OPERATIONS SIDE.

NOW, FOR OUR INTERPRETERS, I AM VERY PLEASED TO SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU THAT WE HAVE RECENTLY HAD AN EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE OVER THE SUMMER THAT IS CALLED THE SUMMER INSTITUTE SESSION.

IT WAS A WEEKLONG INTENSIVE TRAINING FOR PRECERTIFIED INTERPRETERS WHO HAD PASSED THE TEP KNOWN AS THE TEST OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. THAT TOOK PLACE IN TEXAS AND THEY HAD PLANNED TO TAKE THE BEI BASIC TEST.

WE ALSO HOSTED AN ADVANCED SESSION AND THAT WAS FOR THOSE INTERPRETERS ALREADY CERTIFIED AT THE BASIC LEVEL AND ARE LOOKING TO TAKE THE BEI ADVANCED PERFORMANCE TESTS.

LORI METCALF WAS WHO ACTUALLY COORDINATED AND LED THIS PROGRAM. DHHS AND OUR CONTRACT MANAGER LISA HERBERT WAS MADE AS POSSIBLE WITH THE NECESSARY FUNDING SUPPORT. OUR TRAINING AND EDUCATION TEAM SUPPORTED THE COORDINATION OF THE PARTICIPANTS REGISTERED.

SESSIONS FOR THE PRECERTIFIED INTERPRETERS TOOK PLACE FROM JUNE 25 TO JUNE 30. THE ADVANCED SESSION FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY CERTIFIED AT THE BASIC LEVEL TOOK PLACE JULY 23 TO JULY 28. THE INSTRUCTORS THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRECERTIFIED SESSION WERE LORI METCALF, AND SHE IS THE BEI MASTER LEVEL INTERPRETER AND ALSO HAS A MEDICAL INTERPRETERS CERTIFICATION.

JANICE HANSEN, SHE IS THE BEI ADVANCED INTERPRETER AND HAS

[00:25:05]

SHE IS BEI LEVEL IV CERTIFIED INTERPRETER AND ALSO HOLDS COURT INTERPRETERS CERTIFICATION AND MEDICAL INTERPRETING CERTIFICATION. WE ALSO HAD MELODY HALL, A BEI LEVEL III CERTIFIED INTERPRETE .

NOW, FOR THE ADVANCED SESSION, WE HAD THE SAME INSTRUCTORS THAT ACTUALLY JUST MENTIONED, BUT WE ALSO HAD BEATRICE - - WHO WAS SUPPORT FOR THOSE SESSIONS.

SHE IS A BEI MASTER CERTIFIED INTERPRETER.

THOSE SESSIONS CONTAIN PRESENTATIONS ON WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE BEI BASIC PERFORMANCE TESTS.

WE ALSO HAD A PRE-AND POST MARK EVALUATION.

WE HAD A DELIBERATE PRACTICE MODEL THAT WAS PROVIDED, A FINGER SPELLING AND VOCABULARY AND CONCEPTUAL ACCURACY SKILL.

THOSE WERE COVERED AS WELL. ALSO SOME SLIGHT TRANSLATION PRACTICE WAS AVAILABLE. EXPRESSIVE INTERPRETING AND TRENDS LITTERING WERE ALSO COVERED IN THOSE SESSIONS.

ALL OF THE INSTRUCTION WAS DELIVERED THROUGH THE USE OF ZOOM AND BREAKOUT GROUPS THAT TOOK PLACE DURING THOSE SESSIONS AS WELL FOR THE PIER TO PEER PRACTICE.

THE GOAL REACT PLATFORM WAS UTILIZED TO RECORD VIDEO AND ALSO TO RECEIVE FEEDBACK. ONE ON ONE SESSIONS FOR THE PRE-AND POST MARK EVALUATIONS WERE ALSO PROVIDED WHICH IS WONDERFUL.THE GENERAL FEEDBACK WE HAVE RECEIVED AS A PROGRAM AND OUTCOME OF THE SESSIONS IS POSITIVE.

WE DID UNDERSTAND THAT SOME WILL LIKE TO EXPERIENCE THE SESSIONS IN PERSON OF COURSE, WE ARE FREE TOOFFER IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL SESSIONS FOR THE NEXT YEAR .THOSE ARE THE ONLY UPDATE THAT I HAD TO SHARE AT THIS TIME AND AS ALWAYS, WE ON THE THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WE WISH YOU A HAPPY AND HEALTHY REMAINDER OF THE YEAR. THANK YOU.

I WILL HAND IT BACK TO CHAIR VASQUEZ.

>> THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE THAT A VERY THOROUGH EXPLANATION OF THE RATIONALE GIVEN FOR THE ONE SIDE TESTING CENTER. THAT EXPLANATION HELP US TO APPRECIATE WHY THE BEI IS HANDLING THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE HANDLING IT. MOST OF US ONLY THINK OF THE CONVENIENCE FOR OURSELVES AND DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT THE EQUITABLE AND IDEAL SITUATIONS SO EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM THE TESTING EXPERIENCE.I DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT IN PARTICULAR.ALSO, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE BEI INSTITUTE CONTINUES TO MAKE GREAT STRIDES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT PLAN YOU HAVE FOR THE FUTURE AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE HEARING ABOUT ALL THOSE GREAT STORIES YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO TELL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN. WE WOULD LIKE KRISTINA ARELLANO, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT?

>> THIS IS KRISTINA ARELLANO. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR MISS ALLIE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.

MY FIRST QUESTION IS WITH REGARD TO THE TERMINOLOGY USED

[00:30:02]

HAS YOUR OFFICE MADE A DECISION TO LABEL NONCERTIFIED INTERPRETERS AS PRECERTIFIED INTERPRETERS? I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN THE DETERMINATION BY THE HARVARD OFFICE FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES, OR IF THAT IS SOMETHINGTHAT IS STATEWIDE , OR IS THAT ONLY FOR TESTING CANDIDATES WHO HAVE PASSED THE TEP AND NOT YET THE PERFORMANCE? I WOULD LIKE TO GET CLARIFICATION ON THE USE OF PRECERTIFIED INTERPRETERS AS OPPOSED TO NONCERTIFIED INTERPRETERS, THAT IS MY FIRST

QUESTION. >> I UNDERSTAND, THANK YOU CHRISTINA FOR YOUR QUESTION. TO CLARIFY, IT IS JUST A GENERAL TERM THAT WE USE TO REPRESENT THOSE THAT ALREADY PASSED THE TEXAS ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TEST BUT HAVE NOT YET TAKEN THE PERFORMANCE TESTS.

YOU ARE CORRECT, THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NOT TAKEN OR RECEIVED ANY BEI CERTIFICATIONS AS OF YET, BUT HAVE PASSED BACK TEP, DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?

>> YES, AND FOLLOW-UP. DOES YOUR OFFICE ACKNOWLEDGE APPLICANTS OR GRADUATES ITP HERE IN TEXAS AS NONCERTIFIED

OR PRECERTIFIED? >> THERE IS NO FORMAL DISCUSSION BEHIND THIS USE OF THE TERMINOLOGY.

IT'S A GENERAL TERM THAT WAS USED FOR US OF THOSE WHO PERFORM THE TESTING. WE DO HAVE A TERM TO REPRESENT EITHER GROUP AND EITHER WAY. THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK INTO IF YOU FEEL THAT MIGHT BE NECESSARY.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

MY SECOND QUESTION WOULD BE, HAS THE BEI OFFICE, LAST COUNT I BELIEVE FURTHER STATES THAT GENERALLY ACCEPT BEI CERTIFICATION, I BELIEVE OUR LASTCOUNT WAS 20 STATES .

IT DEPENDS ON DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND STATES THAT ARE HIRING INTERPRETERS . I BELIEVE OUR LAST COUNT WAS 20 STATES. ANY UPDATES AND ANY OTHER STATES AGREEING TO ACCEPT BEI CREDENTIALS?

>> I'M HAPPY YOU ASKED BECAUSE I'M ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF SURVEYING DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT HAVE A TYPE OF INFORMATION. THAT NUMBER WAS THAT SAME EXCLAMATION BUT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION UNTIL WE KNOW FOR SURE WHICH STATES HAVE OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED OUR CERTIFICATION. HAPPY TO BRING AN UPDATE FOR THE NEXT MEETING FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR TIME.

>> NO PROBLEM, THANK YOU AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.

FOR REQUESTING THE CLARIFICATION.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND AGAIN, UNDERSTANDING THE BEI RATIONALE. IF I MAY COMMENT HERE, I APPRECIATE THE EXPLANATION THAT ALLIE GAVE ABOUT IT BEING RELATED TO THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS, IF I UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY. AS OPPOSED TO USING THAT AS A GENERAL TERM, I REMEMBER A FEW YEARS AGO EVERYONE WHO IS NOT CERTIFIED WAS SAYING THAT THEY WERE PRECERTIFIED WITH NO QUALIFICATION AS TO WHERE THEY WERE IN THE TESTING PROCESS.

[00:35:05]

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OF ALLIE AT THIS POINT? BEFORE WE MOVE ON? CHRISTINA, DO YOU HAVE A FURTHER COMMENT OR QUESTION?

>> YES, THIS IS KRISTINA ARELLANO.

I DID HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT, JUST THE CONSIDERATION FOR ALLIE IN THE OFFICE AS THEY ARE LOOKING INTO THE NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS UPLOADED TO OUR BEI PORTAL.

I AM SURE THERE ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS, MYSELF INCLUDED LOVE DUAL CERTIFICATION FOR BE .

WHEN I TAKE PORKCHOPS, I GIVE BOTH NUMBERS AT THE WORKSHOP OR CONFERENCE HAS APPLIED AND AGREED TO ACCEPT BOTH OR A CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS. SO I DON'T UPLOAD DOCUMENTS TO THE BEI PORTAL BECAUSE I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT OUR ID COMPILES MY LIST OF CEU AND THE RECERTIFICATION I SEND THE TRANSCRIPT TO BEI. I WANTED TO MAKE NOTE THAT THERE MAY PROBABLY BE MANY MORE DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN UPLOADED TO OUR BEI SITE BUT INTERPRETERS ARE STILL PARTICIPATING IN ENGAGING IN. I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE PERHAPS OTHER INTERPRETERS LIKE MYSELF WILL HOLD MULTIPLE CERTIFICATIONS ARE WORKING IN THE SAME MANNER.

SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AS A LIFELONG LOVER OF LEARNING, IF I WERE TO PUT ALL OF MY DOCUMENTS IN BEI, THAT NUMBER WOULD BE A LOT HIGHER BECAUSE I AM AT WORKSHOPS IS MUCH AS I CAN. JUST A THOUGHT.

THANK YOU. >> THIS IS ALLIE, THANK YOU CHRISTINA FOR SHARING THAT. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

>> WE SEE GET ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE FOR US TO MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR OURSELVES WITH THEUPLOADING OF DOCUMENTS . I WILL NOT BE THE ONE WHO WANTS TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THOSE DOCUMENTS.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO TO THE BEI OFFICE AS WELL TO ALLIE AND THE STAFF IT HELPS IN THAT AREA.

WE WOULD NOT BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY IF NOT FOR YOUR HARD WORK, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON BUT THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER AT THIS TIME WITH THE AGENDA ITEM, WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX, WHICH IS THE DISCUSSION OF THE CRITERIA WHEN DETERMINING BEI, I'M SORRY I JUMPED AHEAD I APOLOGIZE.

[5. Discuss interpreter referral agencies using unqualified interpreters]

THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME FOR US TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR YOUR

[00:40:02]

IT IS NOT BECAUSE IS NOT WITHIN THE BEI ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S PURVIEW BUT SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS NOT BEEN DONE IN THE PAST.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE HAD MENTIONED THAT BUT IT IS SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND. I WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS WHEN WE HAVE A FULLER PARTICIPATION HOPEFULLY ALL OF OUR MEMBERS BECAUSE I DO VALUE THE OPINIONS AND THE IDEAS THAT THE DEAF MEMBERS OF THIS BODY HAVE CAN CONTRIBUTE.

YOU HAVE AN EXPERIENCE THAT THE OTHERS OF US CANNOT RELATE TO.

AT THIS TIME I WILL LIKE TO ASK IF YOU HAD ANY OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT THIS MATTER AND WHAT SUGGESTIONS OR EVEN WHAT SOLUTIONS WE MIGHT TRY TO COME UP WITH THE FLOOR IS OPEN FOR THIS DISCUSSION. ALAINA WEBB, DO YOU HAVE A

COMMENT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE? >> THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE CONSIDERED GREATLY AND BROUGHT UP ATTHE LAST MEETING .

I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE A LOT OF DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS BUT I WILL LOVE FOR US TO CREATE A LIST OF QUESTIONS THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FORWARD TO OUR NEW LEGAL COUNCIL SO WE CAN SEE WHAT IS IN THE REALM OF POSSIBILITIES BECAUSE WE AS AN ADVISORY BOARD SIMPLY ADVISE AND GIVE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO BEI FOR THEM TO ACT.

IF WE ARE GIVING RECOMMENDATIONS OUTSIDE WITH OUR RULES, POLICIES, LAWS ALLOW THAN I FEEL LIKE THAT IS NOT A GREAT USE OF OUR TIME. I WILL LIKE TO START BY ASKING WHAT RULES, POLICIES, REGULATIONS AND LAWS ARE ALLOWED TOWARD AGENCIES RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL INTERPRETERS.

THAT IS MY FIRST QUESTION. MY SECOND QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS, IS THERE ANY LAW, RULE OR POLICY GUIDELINE THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO ADDRESS UNCERTIFIED INTERPRETERS? CURRENTLY WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS WITH BEI BOARDS, WE ARE ONLY TALKING ABOUT THOSE WHO CARRY BEI CERTIFICATION.

IN THE EVENT OF A DISCIPLINARY MEASURE, WE RECOMMEND THE SUSPENSION OR ERADICATION OF SOMEONE CERTIFICATION THAT THEN PUTS THAT PERSON OUTSIDE OF BEI AND OUTSIDE OF OUR CURRENT PURVIEW. WE CAN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING IF IT IS A CATCH-22 OR WE CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT SOMEONE MAY NEED SUSPENSION, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE REPEAT OFFENDERS, IF I CAN USE THAT WORD LIGHTLY. PEOPLE ARE CONSISTENTLY RECEIVING COMPLAINTS, IF YOU RECOMMEND SUSPENSION OR RATIFICATION, THAT PERSON IS EFFECTIVELY FREE FROM BEI'S CONSIDERATION. THOSE ARE THE TWO QUESTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP FOR THOSE OF US BOARD MEMBERS WERE HERE FOR US TODAY TO DISCUSS AND ALSO TO ASK TO HAVE IT ADDED TO THE LIST OF THINGS WE GIVE TO OUR LEGAL COUNCIL AND SEE A LITTLE MORE GUIDANCE ON WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO.

>> THANK YOU. MR. VELAZQUEZ, WOULD YOU LIKE

TO CHIME IN ON THIS? >> YES, THANK YOU.

AS A DEAF MEMBER, I DID MENTIONED IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS WHY IS IT THAT DOWN HERE IN THE SOUTH THEY'RE NOT REQUIRING A CERTIFICATION? I NEVER RECEIVED AN ANSWER AND WOULD LIKE TO GET AN ANSWER ON THIS.

[00:45:01]

THE DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS BOTHERS ME.

WE NEED TO CONSIDER THIS ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

I BECOME FRUSTRATED BECAUSE SO MANY CHILDREN SUFFER WITH HIS UNCERTIFIED INTERPRETERS THIS IS JUST ME SHARING.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.

I DO NOT THINK THERE IS A NEED TO APOLOGIZE, NOT THAT IT WAS WHAT YOU WERE DOING, BUT TO GIVE CONSIDERATION TO WHAT YOU ARE EXPRESSING. THE PURPOSE OF THE ADVISORY BOARD IS STRICTLY AN ADVISORY POSITION.

BUT TO HELP - - MAKE DECISIONS, WE CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP GUIDE WHERE WE ARE GOING WITH THIS.

IF WE ARE NOT SERVING A USEFUL PURPOSE, THEN WHAT ARE WE DOING? I THINK WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME, THE KINDS OF SERVICES AND CERTAINLY THE EXPECTATIONS THAT DEAF PEOPLE WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS CAN EXPECT SHOULD IMPROVE OVER TIME RATHER THAN THE STAGNANT AND MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO. THAT IS CERTAINLY A GOOD THING TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE ARE ACTUAL PEOPLE'S LIVES BEING IMPACTED BY THE FACT THAT UNCERTIFIED, UNQUALIFIED INTERPRETERS ARE BEING SENT ON ASSIGNMENTS THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS ARE GOING TO GREATLY BE IMPACTED BY NOT HAVING SOMEONE WITH SKILL, CERTIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE.

JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE IS ALWAYS ON SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR WE DOES NOT MEAN IT IS ACCEPTABLE OR OKAY.IF WE CONSIDER OURSELVES PROFESSIONALS, WE RECOGNIZE THE RIGHTS OF OTHER PROFESSIONS. GOING FROM DOCTOR TO ADD ONE TIME DID NOT WASH THEIR HANDS IN THE MID 1800S TO FINALLY RECOGNIZING THAT THEY WERE CARRYING BACTERIA ON THEIR HANDS FROM ONE DEAD PATIENT TO ANOTHER AND WERE PASSING DISEASE. EVENTUALLY, WE LEARN, WE GROW, WE IMPROVE, AND MAKE LAWS AND CERTIFICATIONS.

DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT? >> I DO, THANKS.

YOUR COMMENTS MADE ME THINK OF SOMETHING, MARTIN.

WHEN WE HAVE PROVIDED WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE SOUND GUIDANCE IN THE PAST AND BEI HAS ACTED ON THAT, THE ONE THING THAT CAME UP IN MY MIND JUST NOW WAS ABOUT AN HOUR BEI FORUM LAST YEAR INCOLLEGE STATION . WE PROVIDED A FORUM, WE PROVIDED A POWERPOINT AND EXPLAIN FOR EXAMPLE WHAT SITUATIONS REQUIRED COURT CERTIFICATIONS AND WHAT DO NOT REQUIRE COURT CERTIFICATION. THAT POWERPOINT WAS MADE AVAILABLE AND WAS OUT THERE. SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE RECENTLY HOSTED A TS ID STUDENT INTEREST GROUP MINICONFERENCE BECAUSE TS ID MOVED TO A BIANNUAL CONFERENCE MODEL WITH THE STUDENTS WE FELT LIKE STILL NEEDED THAT YEARLY OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK AND TRAIN AND LEARN. THEY HOSTED THEIR FIRST MINICONFERENCE . WE GOT MANY OF THE SAME QUESTIONS FROM THE STUDENTS THAT WE ANSWERED AT TS ID LAST YEAR WHEN MARTIN AND I WERE ON SITE ANSWERING QUESTIONS.

IT SEEMS THAT WHAT IS BEING PRESENTED BY BEI IS SENDING DISSEMINATED THE WAY IT SHOULD BE, BUT WE HAVE AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS INTERPRET INTERPRETERS INDIVIDUALLY WHO CHOOSE TO IGNORE THOSE. WE HAVE SPECIFICALLY SAID YOU

[00:50:02]

IN ONE PARTICULAR INSTANCE, MY AGENCY TOLD ME I DO NOT IN ANY CERTIFICATION AND THEY SENT ME THIS CLOSE TO A PERSON TO INTERPRET INSIDE THE PRESENT WITH NO CERTIFICATION.

THEY ARE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS AND BEING TOLD ONE THING, THEY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE YET TO KNOW HOW TO DISCERN WHAT IS AND ISN'T ACCURATE. THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES BACK TO, DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECOMMEND, DOES BEI HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACT ON AGENCIES WHO CHOOSE TO IGNORE WHAT HAS BEEN SENT AS BEST PRACTICE OR ACTUAL LAW OR POLICY OR GUIDELINES AND CHOOSING TO IGNORE IT? THE QUESTION FROMONE OF THE STUDENTS IS WHY AM I STILL GETTING THIS INFORMATION FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE ? IF ONE PERSON WAS TOLD BY THE AGENCY THAT THEY DON'T NEED A CERTIFICATION FOR THAT, THE AGENCY IS TRYING TO GET THE AGENCY FOR THE ASSIGNMENT AS FOR WHAT IS BEST PRACTICE - - THE HEARING PEOPLE ARE ASSUMING BECAUSE THERE IS SOMEONE THERE SIGNING, TRYING THEM I DON'T NEED CERTIFICATION COULD BE THEY GO OUT UNTIL THE NEXT PERSON NOW, THAT IS NOT TRUE REGARDLESS OF WHAT BEI HAS SAID, THERE IS STILL A BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THAT IN THE COMMUNITY.

AS FOR THE PREVIOUS MEETING THE MICROPHONE NOT APPLY TO EVERY AGENCY. THERE ARE SOME QUALITY AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE ACCOMPANYING TRAFFIC REMAINS INTERPRETERS WHO DO THEIR LEVEL BEST TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS BEST FOR THE DEAF COMMUNITY AND THAT IS NOT WHAT I'M REFERRING TO. WE ALL KNOW THE TYPE OF AGENCY INTERPRETER THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

WHAT CONCERNS ME IN THIS PARTICULAR COMMENT IS THAT THEY ARE YOUNGER AND INEXPERIENCED INTERPRETERS WERE BEING TOLD THE ONE THING AND THAT MESSAGE IS BEING SPREAD AND IT IS INCORRECT. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU GET BROUGHT UP ON A COMPLAINT, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS A COURT CERTIFIED THING WHERE THERE IS A LOT TO BACK IT UP, IT'S A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR, IF I COME TO PASS, IT IS NOT THE AGENCY THAT WILL TAKE OFF ALL, IT'S THE INTERPRETER THAT WILL TAKE THE FALL.USUALLY THE CERTIFICATION, GO AHEAD AND GO, BUT WHEN IT GOES BAD, IT IS ONLY THE INTERPRETER WHO WILL CATCH THE HEAT AND BECOME CHARGED WITH A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE.

WHAT IS IT THAT WE CAN DO THAT IS A LITTLE STRONGER THAN WHAT HAS BEEN DONE. I WILL LIKE TO MAKE SURE THE BOARD COMPLETELY SERVE AN ACTIVE PURPOSE IN THE LIVES OF INTERPRETERS ESPECIALLY FOCUS ON THE DEAF COMMUNITY.T CAME TO MIND, MAYBE THERE IS A WAY FOR US TO SURVEY AND GET MORE DEAF INPUT ON EXPERIENCES. ONE OF THE THINGS I HEAR IS I GET A LOT OF UNQUALIFIED UNCERTIFIED INTERPRETERS BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF I COMPLAIN, THEY STILL COME. IF I SAY ANYTHING, THEY STILL COME. RATHER THAN ASKING FOR FORMAL COMPLAINTS BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE A TENDENCY TO SHY AWAY FROM THAT SOMETIMES, COULD WE DO A GOOGLE FORM OR GOOGLE SURVEY OR SURVEY MONKEY TO ASK FOR INPUT ON IS THIS A REAL PROBLEM OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE SEEING AND THINKING IS A LARGER PROBLEM. BEFORE WE ACT ON SOMETHING, I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE INPUT FROM OUR DEAF CONSUMERS TO SEE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE AS A REAL PROBLEM AND IF YOU DO, I THINK IT BECOMES OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT.

TO RESEARCH AND FIND ANOTHER WAY OF ADDRESSING THIS.

I KNOW WITH THE CODES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT, WE CREATED SUBCOMMITTEES THAT CAN DO MORE BROTHER TIMES BECAUSE OF WHAT WE CAN MEET. DO WE HAVE SUBCOMMITTEES THAT

[00:55:02]

I DON'T WANT TO INCREASE YOUR WORKLOAD BY AN ORDER FOR US TO CONTINUE TO BE RELEVANT BOARD, THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO ADDRESS. I TALKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT COURT INTERPRETERS BUT RANDY TURNER AND MATTHEW, I CANNOT REMEMBER HIS LAST NAME, DICKINSON, THANK YOU.

THEY CAME AND TALKED TO US AT OUR LAST MEETING AND SAID WE NOW HAVE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS.

THERE IS LEGAL PRECEDENT THAT HAS BEEN SET THAT IS EDUCATION ENTITIES ARE LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE ACCESS TO THEIR STUDENTS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO GET APPROPRIATE EDUCATION. THAT PARTICULAR ONE WAS K-12.

ONCE A LEGAL PRECEDENT IS SET, IT IS ABLE TO BE USED IN MUCH BROADER AREAS. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT COURT CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT INTERPRETERS IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS AND MEDICAL SETTINGS, HEALTHCARE SETTINGS, COURTROOM SETTINGS, ALL SETTINGS.

DEAF PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE ACCESS, I WANT TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT ACTING WITHOUT HAVING APPROPRIATE DEAF INPUT,

IF THAT MAKES SENSE. >> THANK YOU, CERTAINLY THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS DISCUSSIONS WE WANTED TO HAVE.

SOMETHING THAT WAS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY WAS ABOUT THE PUBLIC FUNDING. IF NONCERTIFIED INTERPRETERS ARE BEING SENT TO SOME OF HIS APPOINTMENTS THAT THE PUBLIC FUNDS ARE BEING USED TO PAY FOR THEM, IS THAT CONSIDERED FRAUD? JUST A THOUGHT OR CONSIDERATION.

ALSO, WHENEVER SOMEBODY'S LIFE OR LIBERTY IS AT STAKE, THOSE ARE CERTAINLY IMPORTANT MATTERS.

EVEN THE DAY-TO-DAY EDUCATIONAL AND PROGRAM STATE-FUNDED PROGRAMS REQUIRE THAT A PERSON WHO GOES FOR ANY KIND OF SERVICE HE REQUIRES AN INTERPRETER HAS THE KIND OF INTERPRETER THAT IS BENEFICIAL IN THE SETTING THAT THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN. THIS ISN'T A WASTE OF TIME AND EFFORT, BUT SOMETHING IS BEING ACCOMPLISHED ON THE PART OF THE STATE AGENCY AND - - REQUESTING A SERVICE.

THEY ARE TAXPAYERS AS WELL. KRISTINA, YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP. WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD FURTHER

TO THIS? >> YES, THANK YOU THIS IS KRISTINA ARELLANO, THANK YOU MARTIN.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I MADE NOTES OF WHILE EVERYONE WAS SPEAKING. I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ALAYNA ENDED WITH AND GET INPUT FROM DEAF, HARD OF HEARING, DEAF/BLIND COMMUNITIES.

I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO EMPHASIZE, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME TOOLS ONLINE TO GET FEEDBACK FROM INDIVIDUALS AND I WOULD LOVE TO EMPHASIZE THAT I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO HAVE THAT MADE AVAILABLE IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE TO SHARE THE INFORMATION, NOT JUST ENGLISH.PEOPLE COULD HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO SHARE AND IF THEY OPEN A SURVEY MONKEY OR GOOGLEDOC AND SEE A LOT OF QUESTIONS LISTED IN ENGLISH , WHICH MIGHT NOT BE THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE, IT MIGHT BE TOO THEIR LANGUAGE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BEING ACCESSIBLE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE WHO WOULD SHARE THAT INPUT. WE KNOW THE TYPES OF INTERPRETERS THAT WE ARE TALKINGABOUT .

I UNDERSTAND THAT COMMENT AND I ALSOFEEL THAT WE, AS IN THOSE OF US WHO WERE HERE AND A PART OF THIS GROUP, I AGREE.

WE UNDERSTAND THE TYPES OF INTERPRETERS THAT WE ARE

[01:00:02]

ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE FIELD FOR THOSE LONG AND HAVE EXPERIENCETHINK THE DIFFERENT POINTS OF OUR CAREER, YES, WE KNOW THE TERMS OF INTERPRETERS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT . THE NEWER INTERPRETERS.

PERHAPS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, THE GRADUATES DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PERHAPS.

AGENCIES, MAYBE THE INTERPRETER COORDINATOR DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE TYPES OF INTERPRETERS AND SITUATIONS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. I AM HESITANT TO THINK IF I ASK ONE OF THE MANY AGENCIES I WORKED FOR ABOUT HEY, LET'S TALK ABOUT CLASS A MISDEMEANOR .

THERE WILL BE LIKE WHAT DID THEY MEAN?OW IN THE WORLD ANYWHERE INTERPRETERS BE CHARGED WITH A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR? MOVING BACKWARDS IN MY FIRST ORIGINAL PART IS CAN WE WORK O , AND AGAIN, I HOPE NOT TO ADD MORE AND MORE PLACE THE OFFICER DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING SERVICES AND CAN WE RECOMMEND SOMETHING TO HER LEGAL TEAM ABOUT PERHAPS ASKING, OR I DON'T EVEN KNOW, REQUIRING AGENCIES TO JUST REGISTER WITH THE STATE? I DON'T KNOW THIS ALREADY EXISTS, BUT A REGISTRY OF AGENCIES THAT ARE SENDING INTERPRETERS TO WORK HERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THAT WAY, THEY COULD BE A LITTLE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY THERE IS THAT OPEN LETTERS ON ANOTHER FIELD THAT HOLDS CERTIFICATION OR LICENSURE'S THAT MAYBE OUR LEGAL TEAM CAN LOOK INTO TO SEE IF THAT IS EVEN POSSIBLE. MAYBE WE CAN START FROM THERE AND HAD THAT LIST AND MOVE FROM THERE.

WE HAVE TO START WITH THE BEGINNING OF CREATING A REGISTRY OF AGENCIES THAT ARE PROVIDING INTERPRETING SERVICES. MAYBE EVEN INCLUDING FREELANCE INTERPRETERS, BECAUSE THEY ARE PROVIDING THAT SERVICE AS WELL.

THANK YOU. >> WE WILL GIVE THE INTERPRETERS A MOMENT TO SWITCH.

THANK YOU KRISTINA FOR SHARING THOSE POINTS WITH US.

IT SEEMS AS IF IT IS AN EDUCATIONALPROCESS AS WELL .

SO THAT NEWER INTERPRETERS, LESS SEASONED INTERPRETERS, STUDENT OF OUR PROFESSION AS WELL AS RECENT GRADUATES REALLY UNDERSTAND ETHICALLY, REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND WHAT THAT MEANS IN MAKING DECISIONS.

I THINK SOMETIMES WE ARE ALLOWING OTHERS TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR US, OR WE ARE BEING SWAYED BY THE TOPIC OF INTEREST THAT ANOTHER PERSON HAS.

WE REALLY HAVE TO LEARN TO INTERNALIZE THE CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND REALLY ANALYZE MYSELF WITH THE SITUATION WITH THIS PARTICULAR JOB THAT IS BEING OFFERED.

ONCE WE HAVE - - CODES OF CONDUCT OUT THERE, I AM HOPING THIS WILL ALSO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE PERSONAL DECISIONS . WHAT MAY BE WRONG FOR ONE PERSON MIGHT BE RIGHT FOR ANOTHER PERSON.

THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO ADD TO THIS LIST BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE HOPEFULLY A NUMBER OF WORKABLE SOLUTIONS OR AT LEAST GET RID OF THOSE THAT ARE NOT WORKABLE AND FOCUS ON THOSE THAT MAY HAVE SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE IS THERE ANYTHING FURTHER THAT ANY MEMBER LIKE TO ADD TO THIS, BEFORE MOVING ON

TO THE NEXT? >> THANK YOU, THIS IS ALAINA WEB. IT'S A GREAT POINT, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE ASL OPTIONS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT PLATFORMS ARE

[01:05:03]

WHAT TYPES OF PLATFORMS ARE THERE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR ASL OR OTHER VIDEO INPUT AS WELL? THAT IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS. THE IDEA OF HAVING AGENCIES REGISTER WITH THE STATE IF THEY ARE GOING TO OPERATE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

I KNOW MANY OF THE COMPANIES I WORK FOR IS A FREELANCE INTERPRETER ARE AGENCIES FROM OTHER STATES .

I GET EMAILS ON A DAILY BASIS FROM SPOKEN LANGUAGE COMPANIES WHO FOUND MY NAME ON A REGISTRY SOMEWHERE.

THOSE ARE THE FIRST TWO THINGS. THE LAST COMMENT I WANTED TO MAKE WAS I AGREE WITH YOUR STATEMENT, WE UNDERSTAND WHO THOSE INTERPRETERS ARE. I WILL LIKE FOR US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND HOW DO WE DEFINE THAT.

HOW DO WE PUT INTO WORDS WHAT WE KNOW SO THAT IS A PART OF THE EDUCATION PROCESS THAT MARTIN WAS TALKING ABOUT? SO WE HAVE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE THAT IS NOT INSULTING, IT IS NOT OVERLY BROAD, BUT IT IS NOT TOO RESTRICTIVE AS WELL.

WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE DEFINE WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AS FAR AS THOSE INTERPRETERS AND THOSE AGENCIES. I THINK THOSE WERE THE ONLY POINT I WANTED TO MAKE IN RESPONSE TO THAT.

I BELIEVE WITH WHAT KRISTINA SAID, HOW DO WE GO ABOUT GOING

THERE? >> I THINK THAT CERTAINLY GIVES US A LOT TO TALK ABOUT AND A LOT TO DISCUSS IN THE FUTURE.

ALSO, TWO OF OUR MEMBERS, THREE OF OUR MEMBERS ARE NOT HERE.

THERE MAY BE SOME ADDITIONAL IDEAS AND I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION SO WE CAN AT LEAST ADDRESS WHAT IS ON OUR LIST AND HOPEFULLY MOVE ON FROM THAT POINT TO OUR LEGAL COUNCIL.

IF THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS AGENDA ITEM, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, NUMBER SIX.

[6. Discuss criteria and methodology when determining BEI certified interpreter disciplinary action ]

SOMETIMES, THEY ARE THE SAME COMPLAINTS, NOT EVEN DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS. SO, HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS? WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST IS CONSIDERED HOW TO DISCIPLINE THIS PERSON. IT COULD MEAN ADDITIONAL ETHICS FOR A TIME PERIOD, MAYBE A NUMBER WE HAVE LIKE AN ADDITIONAL 50 HOURS OF ETHICS CEU, SUSPENDING THEIR CERTIFICATION FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, ESPECIALLY UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO GET THOSE CEU. BUT IF THEY FALL INTO THE SAME HABIT AGAIN OR NEVER CHANGE THEIR HABIT AND THIS COMES UP AGAIN IN A COUPLE OF YEARS OR FIVE YEARS, DO WE KEEP ADDING TIME AND MORE AND MORE ETHICS CEU?

[01:10:03]

IT HAS A PURPOSE OF HELPING THE PERSON RECOGNIZE WHAT THEY ARE DOING WRONG AND CORRECT IT. I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THIS DISCUSSION UP TO THE BOARD AT THIS TIME.

ALAINA WEBB, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT?>> I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP ALL OF THE TIME, I WILL LOVE TO HEAR FROM CHRIS KRISTINA AND OVI AS WELL. WHEN COMPLAINTS COME IN AND YOU SEE THE SAME NAME OR NAMES COMING UP MULTIPLE TIMES LIKE YOU SAID FOR THE SAME VIOLATIO , IT WOULD APPEAR THAT EDUCATION AND ADDITIONAL TIME LIKE YOU SUGGESTED IS NOT WORKING. THIS GOES BACK TO MY PREVIOUS QUESTION ON WHAT DO WE ASK OUR LEGAL TEAM? IF WE RECOMMEND SUSPENSION OR ERADICATION OF THE CERTIFICATION FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THE INTERPRETER CONTINUES TO WORK OR INTERPRET WITHOUT CERTIFICATION, THEN WHAT? WHAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY AND - - THAT IS WORKABLE, HOW DO WE CHANGE THE RULE OR POLICY TO ALLOW THAT TYPE OF BEHAVIOR BE ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED. I FEEL LIKE IF WE SUSPENDED SOMEONE AND GIVE THEM 50 HOURS THEY ALREADY VIOLATED THIS POLICY THREE OR FOUR TIMES, THE EDUCATION ISN'T WORKING.

IS IT WORTH REQUIRING ADDITIONAL HOURS OR TRAINING TIME? THAT IS MY QUESTION FOR RIGHT NOW. I WILL LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE

OTHER MEMBERS. >> ANOTHER THING TO CONSIDER IS THAT WE ALL BELONG TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. MAYBE LOOKING AT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO WHEN DEALING WITH WRONGDOING OR SOME KIND OF INFRACTION TO THE POLICY.

IT SEEMS POINTLESS TO CONTINUOUSLY PUNISH SOMEONE, THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT WORD, BUT TO GO ABOUT THIS DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS OF THIS PROCESS WHEN NOTHING IS CHANGING.

BUT HAS BEEN STATED PREVIOUSLY, IF THEY NO LONGER HOLD THAT CERTIFICATION, CAN THEY CONTINUE THEIR WRONGDOING AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN AFFILIATED WITH THE BEI AND INTERPRETER REGISTRY . THIS IS THE PROBLEM THAT WE ARE FACING, HOW DO WE CORRECT THIS OR ADDRESS THIS? HOW DO WE MAKEINROADS INTO THIS ?IT DOES COME UP FROM TIME TO TIME. I AM EAGER TO HEAR WHAT OVI AND CHRISTINA HAD TO SAY ON THIS, I KNOW MY OWN IDEAS BUT I WOULD WELCOME WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO SAY CONCERNING THIS BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

IF EITHER OF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITHUS, WE WELCOME THEM . KRISTINA?

>> KRISTINA ARELLANO HERE. GO AHEAD AND SWITCH INTERPRETERS. SO MUCH WORK CAN BE DONE FOR AN

[01:15:10]

I THINK THAT IS THE CRUX OF THIS ISSUE.IT SEEMS ONE IMPORTANT THING. IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS NOT GOING TO BE RECEPTIVE TO THE NEW INFORMATION OR THE UPDATED INFORMATION, THE NEW LEARNINGS, THEN RIGHT, WHAT IS THE POINT OF ASSIGNING ADDITIONAL ETHICS REQUIREMENTS IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO? IT IS FRUSTRATING, YES.

I AM WONDERING ABOUT, I DO HAVE A QUESTION HERE.

ARE THE ADDITIONAL ETHICS REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS, ARE THEY CURRENTLY JUST OPEN FOR THEM? THEY COMPLETE ANY APPROVED ETHICS COURSES THAT THEY CAN SIGN UP FOR OR IS THERE ANYTHING THAT IS CURRENTLY REQUIRED AS A PART OF THOSE HOURS, OR CAN THEY JUST PICK? IS IT ALL THEIR CHOOSING AND THEIR CHOICE?

CAN I ASK THAT, FIRST? >> SURE.

THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION, LEE GODBOLD CAN SPEAK TO THIS ALAINA WEBB CAN SPEAK TO THIS MORE THAN I CAN.

>> KRISTINA, IN THE PAST WHEN WE HAVE RECOMMENDED THIS, EVEN AS WE HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT SOMEHOW THE CERTIFICATION SUSPENDED SUCH THAT THEY CAN - - IN MY RECOLLECTION, WE HAVE NEVER GIVEN SPECIFIC TRAINING. AS ALWAYS JUST IN ETHICS TRAINING OR CORPORATE TRAINING. IT BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT.

CAN WE SPECIFY WHAT TYPE OF ETHICAL CONSIDERATION.

MAYBE IT'S NOT - - DIFFERENT TYPE OF ETHICS, AND ETHICS COURSE AT A COLLEGE OR ETHICS TRAINING PROVIDED IN OTHER PROFESSIONS. IT BRINGS UP A REALLY GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE I DO NOT THINK WE HAVE EVER SPECIFIED.

IN MY RECOLLECTION, WE HAVE NEVER GIVEN SPECIFIC GUIDANCE.

IT'S BEEN VERY GENERAL YOUR CERTIFICATION IS SUSPENDED UNTIL YOU COMPLETE AND FAX NUMBERS OF HOURS AND PRESENT THOSE IN THE CERTIFICATION CAN BE REINSTATED.

>> THIS IS KRISTINA, THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

MY MIND IS THINKING SOMETHING LIKE REACHING OUT TO COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER PLACES WHERE THERE ARE DEAF PROFESSIONALS WERE LIVING AT THE DISCUSSION TO WHAT TEXTBOOKS ARE THEY USING? WHAT OTHER BOOKS ARE THERE USING IN THEIR COURSES? AND TO SEE, OBVIOUSLY WE ARE NOT TRYING TO BUILD SOMETHING FROM SCRATCH.

LET'S USE OTHER RESOURCES. IF WE CAN DO THAT AND REACH OUT AND ESPECIALLY IF THE PERSON WHO IS GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM OR GOING THROUGH THIS DISCIPLINARY ACTION, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE EGREGIOUS VIOLATIONS THAT SPECIFICALLY ARE HARMFUL TO THE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING AND DEAF BLIND COMMUNITIES, WHY NOT HAVE THEM CLOSER TO THAT COMMUNITY AS AN INSTRUCTOR OR A GUIDE TO HELP MAKE IT MORE TANGIBLE FOR THEM? THIS IS A PERSON OR A PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WOW, I REALLY HAVE BEEN IMPACTING. IT IS A GENERAL COURSE, MAYBE

[01:20:01]

I REALIZE THIS IS MORE WORK AND I MYSELF, I WILL SAY IT NOW, I WOULD BE WILLING TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE TO LOOK FOR THESE TYPES OF RESOURCES THAT WE CAN WORK TO PRESENT TO THE UNDERLYING DISCIPLINARY ACTION IN ORDER TO CREATE MORE EFFECTIVE CHANGE. OVI, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? YOU ARE A CONSUMER OF INTERPRETING SERVICES AND I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS HERE. THANK YOU TO THE BOARD.

>> THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTION.

NEXT, OVI, PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH WHAT IS JUST AND

SAID. >> FOR OVER 30 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN A CONSUMER OF INTERPRETING SERVICES AND A LOT OF DIMENSIONS. MY THOUGHTS, IS NOT REALLY A QUESTION, BUT THE INTERPRETERS - - CONSUMERS THAT UTILIZE THEM THAT I AM AROUND SOMETIMES DO NOT LIKE THE INTERPRETERS EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG AND SOMETIMES WE TALK ABOUT ETHICS IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS FAR AS THE CBC IS CONCERNED THAT TWO DISCIPLINARY ACTIONIS TAKEN TO RESOLVE IT . IF WE ARE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, IT IS SORT OF A SITUATION WHERE MOM SAYS NO BUT GO ASK YOUR DAD AND DAD SAYS WERE GOOD. THERE IS SOME SURFACE TENSION BETWEEN THE TWO OF THOSE. WE NEED TO APPEAR MORE WITH THE CPC SAYS AND EXPECTATIONS ARE. I'M HAPPY THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE FROM KRISTINA AND ALAINA WEBB. I'M TRYING TO THINK AND FIGURE OUT WHY ETHICS WORKSHOPS, THAT WOULD BE LEANING OVER MY QUESTION IS. THANK YOU.

>> IT WOULD HELP IF I TURN MY CAMERA ON.

THANK YOU OVI FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ON SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT. IT CERTAINLY GIVES US SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. ARE THE KINDS OF ETHICS WORKSHOPS THAT ARE OUT THERE NOT NECESSARILY FULFILLING THE PURPOSE? IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF TIMES WE ARE REHASHING THE CPC, THE ALREADY, CPC AND GOING OVER IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN GOING TO REACH TENANT.

IS IT REALLY TEACHING ANYTHING? SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT ABOUT WAS, I THOUGHT THIS BEFORE KRISTINA MENTIONED IT, BUT HAVING A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT CAN LOOK INTO THIS AND IN PARTICULAR, COMPILING A LIST OF WHAT WE CAN FIND THAT IS OUT THERE AS KRISTINA MENTIONED, ARE THERE ANY UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE PROFESSORS, INSTRUCTORS THAT ARE DEAF THAT ARE ALREADY ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES? IT SEEMS LIKE SOME OF THE INFORMATION ON THE STREET LEVERAGE ADDRESSES SOME OF THESETHINGS AS WELL . MAYBE COMPILING A LIST OF RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US AND HAVING A LIST THAT IS READY THAT WE CAN SAVE THIS LIST OR SOME OF THE THINGS ON THIS LIST NEED TO BE NUMBER NEED TO CONSOLIDATE AND CONSIDER THESE. SO WE BEGIN TO REALLY MAKE INROADS INTO THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR AND TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS IT THAT IS GOING O .

IF SOME OF THESE PEOPLE, I AM ASSUMING PETER TAXES, DO THEY TAKE THE SAME WHITE VIEW AND PERCEPTION OF PAIN THE TAXES AS

[01:25:05]

IS IT THAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR DUTIES OF THE INTERPRETERS ARE, IS IT THAT THE ETHICS PART OF IT IS REALLY NOT CLEAR TO THEM? IS IT THAT THEY'RE NOT PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN FOLLOWING AN ETHICAL COURSE? WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?I DON'T KNOW IF WE EVER ARE GOING TO FIND THE ANSWER. IF WE CHANGE OUR STRATEGY WITH AN ENDPOINT AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE ARE GOING AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET THERE, THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN PROVIDING USEFUL GUIDANCE TO PEOPLE THAT WILL ACCEPT THE DIRECTION THAT THEY ARE BEING GIVEN AS KRISTINA MENTIONED EARLIER.

OVI, YOU HAD A COMMENT? >> JUST A VERY QUICK, SHORT ADDITION. IT IS NOT RELATED TO HELP WITH THIS BUT PERHAPS WITH THE INTERPRETER CONVERSATION, MANY WORKSHOPS, ALL THEY CAN DO IS TO SIT THERE, THEY LISTEN, THEY WRITE SOMETHING DOWN AND IT IS LIKE A PIPE DREAM.

I HAVE NOT SEEN THE WORKSHOP ENOUGH, I WOULD LIKE TO GO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME BUT IF THERE IS EVEN SOME SORT OF NEW SOMETHING TO HAVE THESE PRESENTATIONS, FIVE MINUTES INTO A WORKSHOP YOU CAN TELL THAT I'VE ALREADY NOTICED, THIS IS SOMETHING

WE'VE DONE BEFORE. >> THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR

VIEWPOINT ON THAT, KRISTINA? >> THANK YOU, THIS IS KRISTINA.

ANOTHER BRIEF COMMENT ABOUT SEARCHING FOR HIS CONDUCT LOOKING FOR USEFUL GUIDANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE SEARCHING ALL ACROSS AND THAT WE GET A DIVERSE, FROM PEOPLE WITH DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, NOT JUST THE STANDARD THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN OUR PROFESSION UP TO THIS POINT. THINGS ARE CHANGING, THEY ARE, AND THAT IS WONDERFUL. I WILL LOVE TO SEE US CONTINUE TO BECOME MORE AND MORE DIVERSE AND MAKE SURE WE ARE INCLUDING THE INFORMATION FROM VARIOUS PEOPLE AND DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, KRISTINA. YES, DIVERSITY PLAYS A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN THIS. I THINK ETHICS, THE TOPIC OF ETHICS HAS GONE THROUGH TREMENDOUS CHANGE.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED AND THAT IS SOMETHING I THINK WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING AS WELL IF WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE TIMES AND MOVE FORWARD AND BE PROGRESSIVE IN THE WAY WE ARE ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM. ALAINA WEBB, ANYTHING ELSE YOU

WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? >> YES, THANK YOU.

SOMETHING THAT OVI SAID STRUCK ME, WHY ARE WE ASKING THEM TO DO ETHICS OVER AND OVER? IT WAS NOT JUST THE ATTENDANTS IN THE WORKSHOP THAT YOU GOT THE CEU FOR, IT INCLUDED FOR A LACK OF A BETTER WORD, HOMEWOR .

THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING ELSE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONSIDER A COMBINATION WE RECOMMEND A PARTICULAR TYPE OF ETHICS OR A PARTICULAR TYPE OF TRAINING LIKE KRISTINA MENTIONED AND COMBINE THAT SOMETHING THAT HELPS THE INTERPRETER WHO IS FACING DISCIPLINARY ACTION REALLY RELATE WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED TO THE BEHAVIOR THAT IS BECAUSE THE DISCIPLINARY

[01:30:05]

I THINK THE MISSING PART IS HOW DO WE GET THEM TO RELATE THE TRAINING THAT WE HAVE RECOMMENDED TO THE BEHAVIOR THAT THEY HAVE DONE THAT BECAUSE THE NEED FOR THE DISCIPLINARY ACTION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE, BUT MAYBE SOME TYPE OF HOMEWORK, HOMEWORK IS PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT WORD OR TERMINOLOGY BUT IT IS THE CLOSEST THING I CAN THINK OF RIGHT NOW.SOMETHING THAT THE INTERPRETER WITHIN THE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE TRAINING AND COMPLETED ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY THAT FORCED THEM TO DEMONSTRATE HOW THEY HAVE RELATED WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED TO WHAT THEY DID AND HAVE THAT BE SUBMITTED IN ADDITION TO THE HOURS REQUIRED.

SOME COMBINATION OF THAT, MAYBE SOMETHING WE CAN CONSIDER TO HELP RELATE THE TWO THINGS TOGETHER, THE TRAINING WITH THE BEHAVIOR THAT WAS OFFENSIVE OR VIOLATING ETHICS.

>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.

KRISTINA? >> THINK YOU CAN ACTUALLY PLAN TO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD SEE MY REACTIONS THAT I WAS APPLAUDING YOUR COMMENTS AS YOU ARE MAKING THEM.

I'M REMINDED OF SOMETHING THAT I WILL USE WITH STUDENTS PREVIOUSLY AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL WHEN I WAS AN INSTRUCTOR FOR SOMETHING WITH A BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION PLAN, SOMETHING HAPPENS, HERE'S THE WORK THAT YOU DID, HOW IT DIDN'T APPLY TO WHAT WENT WRONG?AND THEN, THAT PERHAPS, ONCE THE STATE, IF WE CAN ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO YOU, WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO? WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO IN THE FUTURE IN ORDER TO FIX THIS TYPE OF THING TOO SOMETHING THAT COST THE INDIVIDUAL DOCUMENT, IF I'M IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS NEXT TIME, I WILL CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING THINGS AND I PLAN TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES. HAVE THEM HOLD THEMSELVES ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE A PLAN FO THEMSELVES .

I'M GETTING SOME WAY HERE, I PROMISE.

IF THERE IS A POTENTIAL NEXT VIOLATION, IT IS NOT A VIOLATION OF THE CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT, IT IS A VIOLATION OF YOUR PREVIOUS, PERSONAL STATEMENT THAT YOU HAVE SAID I WILL TRY MY BEST TO NOT DO THIS.

MAYBE IT HAS MORE TEETH TO IT. YES THIS BUT ALSO THIS.

MAYBE IT CAN BE TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY AND IS NOT JUST A BREACH OF THE CPC AGAIN. I AM JUST THINKING OUT LOUD HERE. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

>> THANK YOU KRISTINA FOR THOSE THOUGHTS.

AS YOU WERE SAYING THAT, ALAINA WEBB AND I WERE WHISPERING TO OURSELVES PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.

THERE IS THE ISSUE OF PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY WHICH I AM HOPING MOST INTERPRETERS REALLY UNDERSTAND BY THIS WHOLE IDEA OF ETHICS. IT MADE ME THINK OF THE MANY ITERATIONS OF THE NIC NATURAL INTERPRETER CERTIFICATION EXAM WHERE YOU WOULD TAKE THE INTERVIEW PART AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO RELATE ON AN ETHICAL SCENARIO THAT WAS GIVEN AND YOU WOULD ANSWER BASED ON WHAT WORKSHOPS YOU HAVE ATTENDED, WHAT THE COURT OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT STATES , HOW YOU, A CLASS THAT YOU TOOK, ANYTHING RELATED TO THIS TOPIC THAT WE COULD JUSTIFY OUR ACTIONS, PRO OR CON.

[01:35:08]

I WAS THINKING PERHAPS IF THERE WERE A WAY THAT INTERPRETERS OUT IN TEXAS, OUR OWN PRACTITIONERS WHO HAVE A REALLY GOOD GRASP OF THIS CONCEPT OF ETHICS AND HOW TO PRESENT ETHICS IN AN INNOVATIVE WAY I CAN REALLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON PEOPLE, THAT REALLY MAKES PEOPLE THINK.

MAYBE IF THEY REQUESTED FROM THIS OFFICE HOW TO PROVIDE ALL WORKSHOP? MAYBE WE CAN GET WORKSHOPS AND WEBINARS THAT HAVE BEEN PREAPPROVED OF THIS DILEMMA WE ARE FACING AS AN ORGANIZATION. ARE THERE ANY CLOSING THOUGHTS ON THIS MATTER BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE?

>> ONE CLOSING COMMENTS. I THINK ALL OF THESE ARE FANTASTIC. I CAN SEE CHRISTINA'S WHEELS ARE TURNING AND I LOVE THAT OVI HAS IS REALLY POIGNANT EXAMPLES THAT HE IS GIVING ANY QUESTIONS HE ISASKING .

THE ONE THING I WILL LIKE FOR US TO KEEP IN MIND IS HOW THIS WORK WE ARE RECOMMENDING AND SEE THE NEED FOR, I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT NEGATIVELY IMPACT BEI.

THEY HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME AND STAFF AND A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE ON THE FROM THE STATE LEVEL DOWN.

I WANT US TO FIND THE BALANCE IN THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING. I AM WILLING TO TAKE ON, I WANT TO HELP AND DO SOMETHING THAT TAKES CARE OF THIS FOR THOSE NOT CREATE ADDITIONAL STRESS AND WORK FOR OUR BEI FOLKS.

THEY ARE ALREADY WORKING SO HARD.

I KNOW THAT IS OBVIOUS BUT I JUST FELT THE NEED THAT I

NEEDED TO SAY THAT TOO. >> THANK YOU.

YES, I HAD THOUGHT OF THAT AS WELL AND I AM RETICENT TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD OR ADDITIONAL WORKLOADS TO A SYSTEM THAT IS ALREADY BUSY AND DOING SO MUCH FOR US.

I TOO AM WILLING TO DO WHATEVER I CAN TO HELP WITH THIS PROCESS. IF NOT JUST ABOUT COMING WITH IDEAS AND HOISTING THEM OFF ON THE STAFF, BUT SOMETHING WE CAN COLLABORATE IN MAKING SUGGESTIONS THAT DON'T REQUIRE MORE WORK FROM THEM. THE REASON I SUGGESTED THE LAST ONE WAS THEY ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO APPROVE IT.

IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT WITH THE COMMENTS, IF WE REQUESTED COMMENTS FROM CONSUMERS OF INTERPRETER SERVICES AND WE HAVE VIDEOS, SOMEONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO REVIEW THOSE VIDEOS.

IT'S A GREAT IDEA THOUGH EITHER PAY MONEY, PAID TIME OR BOTH.

THAT IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AS WELL, HOW MUCH TIME ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO INVEST IN ALL OF THIS? NOT THAT IT IS NOT IMPORTANT BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR TO CONSIDER AS WELL. KRISTINA?

[01:40:04]

>> THANK YOU, THIS IS KRISTINA ARELLANO.

YOUR MOST RECENT POINT, YES, THAT WOULD REQUIRE TIME AND I FEEL THAT PERHAPS EVEN AS FAR AS INTERPRETING VIDEOS, THAT CAN BE DISSEMINATED LIKE A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS PERHAPS CAN BE DISSEMINATED TO PEOPLE ON OUR REGISTRY THAT HOLDS MASTER LEVEL CERTIFICATION. I KNOW I WOULD BE WILLING TO VOLUNTEER SOME TIME TO DO THAT FOR THE BEI OFFICE.ALSO WITH ALAINA WEBB'S MOST RECENT, ABOUT NOT ADDING WORK AND TO OVI'S COMMENT ABOUT INTERPRETERS ATTENDING WORKSHOPS, AS FAR AS THE WORKSHOP TAKE IDEA GOES, I'M HESITANT TO SAY LET'S CREATE A WORKSHOP BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN IN MANY WORKSHOPS AND WEBINARS WHERE I CAN CHOOSE TO BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT OR I CAN JUST CHOOSE TO NOT ENGAGE THE ENTIRE TIME. WHAT I'M INTERESTED LOCALLY AND DOING BUT I THOUGHT IF IT COULD BENEFIT A SMALLER GROUP OF INTERPRETERS WORKING TOWARDS THAT FILLET IS NOT AS EASY TO HIDE. IF NOT AS EASY TO SIT BACK AND EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE ENGAGED OR IS EXPECTED TO ENGAGE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IS GOING TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE. THAT IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN A LONG TIME DOING IN MY REGION.

I AM STILL GOING THROUGH THE IMPOSTER SYNDROME OF WHAT MAKES ME QUALIFIED TO LEAD SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I THINK I COULD AND I THINK I COULD FOR THE STATE AS WELL.

THE GUIDE FOR SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION TO REALLY PARSE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHAT OTHER PERSPECTIVES.

I'M PROPOSING PERHAPS A SMALLER GROUP AND IT IS NOT NECESSARILY, NOBODY HAS TO SAY THIS IS BECAUSE OF YOU VIOLATED THIS LATEST. IT COULD BE SOME PEOPLE ARE WORKING TOWARDS THAT SPECIAL NIGHT OF INTERPRETERS ARE JUST JOINING BUT HAVING A MAX NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS SO IT CAN BE ACTUAL REAL IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION.

THAT WAS MY FINAL COMMENT ON THAT, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, IF YOU HAVE A FURTHER COMMENT I WILL CALL ON YOU AGAIN THAT IS NOT AN ISSUE. SOMETHING I WAS THINKING ABOUT WAS WITH OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE VIDEOS, LET'S SAY WE REQUESTED VIDEOS FROM OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND THEY SUBMIT VIDEOS AND SOMEONE HAS TO REVIEW THEM, TALKED ABOUT VOLUNTEERS AT THE MASTER LEVEL, THE BOARD CAN CERTAINLY PARTICIPATE IN THAT AS WELL. I'M THINKING IF WE MADE THIS SITUATION FOR GRANTING CEU FOR THE WORK AND WILL PAY, THIS WOULD BE ETHICAL, AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATION.

I KNOW OUR TIME IS VERY VALUABLE WHETHER IT IS PROFESSIONAL OR FAMILY OR SOME OTHER TIME THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE UP GETTING SOMETHING IN RETURN FOR IT.

GRANTING CEU, THAT IT IS POSSIBLE WOULD MAYBE BE AN INCENTIVE FOR SOME PEOPLE, A WAY TO GET BACK AS WELL.

I WAS THINKING MAYBE WE COULD HAVE SOME KIND OF CURRICULUM.

AGAIN, THIS REQUIRES TIME AND EFFORT IN SOMEONE'S VERY CREATIVE MIND TO PUT TOGETHER SOME KIND OF CURRICULUM, AND

[01:45:03]

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT HAVING SMALL GROUPS OF ETHICS TRAINING THAT IS VERY SPECIFIC AND VERY GUIDED.

IF WE HAVE A TRAIN THE TRAINER WHERE WE DEVELOP SOMETHING AND HAVE A COUPLE OF EXPERTS AND THEY TEACH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AND THEY BECOME TRAINERS, THEY CAN BE USED SO IT IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAME PERSON DOING IT BECAUSE WE DON'T ALL HAVE THAT MANY HOURS ON A DAILY BASIS.

THOSE ARE JUST SOME IDEAS WE CAN CONSIDER, THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY GREAT DISCUSSION. I THINK WE HAVE COME UP WITH SOME REALLY FABULOUS IDEAS THAT WE CAN MAYBE CONSIDER SOME OF THEM MAY NOT BE AS WORKABLE AS OTHERS, THAT MAYBE WE HAVE LATCHED ONTO SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP US MOVE INTO THE FUTURE.

ALAINA WEBB MANY CLOSING COMMENTS ON THIS MATTER?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A CLOSING COMMENT ON THIS MATTER BUT I WAS SITTING HERE THINKIN , I REMEMBER PRE-COVID AND THEN EVERYONE IS SICK OF HEARING THE WORD COVID AND I'M SICK OF SAYING THE WORDCOVID , BUT WHEN WE WERE MEETING IN PERSON, OUR DISCUSSIONS, I THINK WE GOT FURTHER IN THEM BECAUSE WE WERE NOT HAVING TO SWITCH BETWEEN VIDEOS, TURN THE CAMERAS ON AND OFF ALL THAT. WE WERE IN PERSON AND ABLE TO HAVE AN ACTUAL DIALOGUE. IT IS KIND OF RELATED TO THIS, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT WORK AND IT IS VERY RELEVANT TO WHAT WE DO AS A BOARD.

I WILL LOVE FOR US TO START MEETING IN PERSON AGAIN OR IF WE CREATE SUBCOMMITTEES, FOR THOSE SUBCOMMITTEES TO WORK IN PERSON FOR A WORKGROUP FOR THREE OR FOUR HOURS SO IT IS WORTH THE TIME THE DRIVE TO A PARTICULAR PLACE.

TO MEET IN PERSON AND WORK THROUGH THIS STUFF YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS IS VALUABLE, PERTINENT, RELEVANT, ALL OF THOSE WORDS, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE CAN DO SO MUCH MORE WITH THIS AND MOVE FORWARD FASTER IF WE WERE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THIS IN PERSON. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO CONSIDER THAT A RECOMMENDATION OR SOMETHING WE CAN TALK ABOUT A FUTURE BOARD MEETING. I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE GOTTEN A HOLD OF SOMETHING VERY VALUABLE HERE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US MOVE FORWARD FASTER ON IT THAN WHAT WE CAN DO THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN DOING GET. THAT IS MY ONLY COMMENTS.

>> THANK YOU. I WAS WANT TO SAY ALONG WITH THAT THAT THIS IS OUR FIFTH MEETING, THIRD OR FOURTH MEETING HERE WITH SOME OF US BEING PRESENT.

I THINK I AM FINALLY GETTING THE HANG OF NOT BEING IN COVID.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE MOVING. WE ARE FINALLY GETTING SOMEWHERE. ALSO, THIS BOARD HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE TOGETHER FOR A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.IS IT IS A PART OF THAT SAME FEELING, WE ARE FINALLY ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING SO I WILL END WITH THAT.

[7. Board member terms and solicitation cycle]

WE WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MISS JAMIE JONES BEI BOARD LIAISON,

WE ARE ALL YEARS. >> GOOD MORNING.

THIS IS JAMIE JONES. I AM THE BEI BOARD LIAISON AND IT IS MY HONOR TO SERVE HHS AND THIS BOARD.THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO PRESENT TODAY. TODAY'S TOPIC FOR US TO TALK ABOUT IS JUST THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD AND TO BE A CONVENIENCE FOR YOU AS BOARD MEMBERS TO MAKE THIS A STANDING ITEM ON OUR AGENDA FOR NOW ON TO KEEP TRACK OF WHO HAS BEEN APPOINTED AND IS UP FOR RENEWAL IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR TERMS IF YOUR TERMS MAYBE HAVE EXPIRED YOU CAN EMAIL ME AND CONTACT ME ANYTIME, I'M HAPPY TO HELP YOU TO THAT PROCESS. THE ADVISORY BOARD IS COMPOSED

[01:50:09]

THOSE MEMBERS MUST RESIDE IN TEXAS AND MUST BE ABLE TO MEET ONE OF THE THREE CATEGORIES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE BYLAWS. THOSE THREE CATEGORIES ARE CATEGORY A, A MEMBER WHO IS DEAF.

A CONSUMER OF INTERPRETING SERVICES AND ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE FIELD OF INTERPRETING IN LINGUISTICS AND ALSO HAS A UNIQUE UNDERSTANDING FOR THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND DYNAMICS WITHIN TEXAS.

PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE TEXAS DEAF COMMUNITY.

THE SECOND CATEGORY IS CATEGORY B, A MEMBER WHO IS HEARING WHO ALSO HOLDS A VALID BEI ADVANCED OR MASTER CERTIFICATE, AND THE THIRD CATEGORY IS A MEMBER WHO WAS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE PROFESSION OF INTERPRETING FOR AT LEAST THREE OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS. OUR BYLAWS REQUIRE THAT OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD, WE HAVE THE LEAST TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD A SLIDE THAT FIRST GROUP THAT ARE DEATH MEMBERS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE MEMBER FROM GROUP B AND ONE MEMBER FROM GROUP C. THOSE ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP COMPOSITION. AGAIN, ANOTHER REQUIREMENT IS THAT ALL MEMBERS WHO DO SERVE SERVE A TERM OF THREE YEARS.

OF COURSE THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS FOR THOSE EXCEPTIONS ARE IF YOU ARE APPOINTED TO COMPLETE THE REMAINING UNEXPIRED TERM IN A PREVIOUS MEMBER IF THEY HAD TO LEAVE THE BOARD FOR ANY REASON AND WE HAD TO REPLACE THEM AND YOU ARE FILLING IN FOR THAT THAT WILL AFFECT YOUR TIMEFRAME.

IF YOU'RE ASKED TO STAY LONGER SO WE CAN ENSURE THAT EXPIRATIONS DO NOT AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE DO NOT WANT ALL SEVEN MEMBERS TO BE EXPIRING WITHIN THE SAME YEAR FOR ANY REASON. THAT WILL LEAD US IN A QUANDARY WITHOUT A BOARD TO TAKE ANY ACTION.

THAT THERE EXAMPLE WOULD BE IF YOU ARE PENDING APPOINTMENT FOR A REPLACEMENT. IF YOUR TERM AS EXPIRED, THE BYLAWS DO REQUEST AND EXPECT THAT YOU MAINTAIN YOUR POSITION ON THE BOARD UNTIL A REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN APPOINTED.

AS WE ALL KNOW, THAT PROCESS IS A LITTLE TIMELYSOMETIMES .

YOU MADE STRONGER THAN THE THREE YEARS INITIALLY PLANNED.

INITIAL TERMS WERE STAGGERED IN THREE PHASES.

WE HAVE SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS AND IT WAS ESTABLISHED THAT TWO BOARD MEMBERS WHAT EXPIRE IN AUGUST ONE YEAR.

THE NEXT YEAR, TWO ADDITIONAL BOARD MEMBERS WILL EXPIRE AND IN THE THIRD YEAR OF THAT CYCLE, THE REMAINING THREE BOARD MEMBERS WILL EXPIRE. IDEALLY, WE WOULD ONLY BE GENERATING TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS AT A TIME AND YOU WILL HAVE SOME CONSISTENCY AND CONTINUITY WITHIN THE BOARD.

REGARDLESS OF THE TOURNAMENT, MEMBER OF SERVICE UNTIL HIS OR HER REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN APPOINTED THE THIS IS ABOUT REPRESENTATION AND CONTINUITY FOR THE BOARD.

CURRENTLY AS YOU KNOW WE HAVE ONE VACANCY.

OF THE SIX MEMBERS WHO ARE ON THE BOARD ACTIVELY, THREE, THERE TERMS HAVE ALREADY COME TO EXPIRATION AS OF AUGUST OF THIS YEAR. THE REMAINING THREE WILL EXPIRE AS OF AUGUST OF NEXT YEAR. BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR RECENT PAST, WE ARE NOT IN THAT THREE-PHASE CYCLE OF EXPIRATION DATES FOR TERMS AT THIS POINT.

WE ARE WORKING TO GO BACK TO THAT, THAT IS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. IF YOUR TERM HAS EXPIRED, THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH US. THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO SERVE HHS AND THE COMMUNITY BY REMAINING ACTIVELY INVOLVED.

IF YOUR TERM HAS EXPIRED OR WILL EXPIRE BY AUGUST 2024, WHICH AGAIN INCLUDES ALL SIX OF YOU, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN CONTINUING TO SERVE ON THE BOARD WHICH WE HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER, YOU WILL NEED TO REAPPLY DURING THE NEXT SOLICITATION PROCESS. WE WILL DEFINITELY COMMUNICATE WITH YOU WHEN THAT OPENS UP AND WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO ACCEPT THOSE APPLICATIONS AGAIN. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY APPLIED BECAUSE OF A RECENT OPEN SOLICITATION, AND YOU HAVE THE

[01:55:03]

WITH YOUR HELP THIS NEXT TIME AROUND AMICUS GETTING THE WORD OUT AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, WE ARE HOPEFUL YOU WILL HAVE YOUR APPLICATIONS IN THE POOL AND THOSE OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITIES YOU MAY RECOMMEND OR ARE APPROPRIATEFOR US TO CONSIDER . HOPEFULLY, YOU WILL HAVE A BIGGER POOL TO CONSIDER THIS NEXT TIME AROUND.

WE WILL SEND OUT A PUBLIC NOTICE TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS WERE SIGNED UP JUST LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR AND HOPE THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL BE INTERESTED IN BEING THOSE TRAILBLAZERS AND THE PART OF THIS WONDERFUL BOARD. LET ME SEE IF I'VE MISSED ANYTHING. I THINK THAT'S ALL.THE NOMINATION PROCESS IS COMPLETE, IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE A MOTHER NOMINATION PROCESS TURNS INTO AN AWARD, LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET THE WORDS RIGHT, RECOMMENDATION, TO EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER. THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER WARS AND APPOINTS THE MEMBERS. ONCE THAT HAS BEEN MADE, COMMUNICATION WILL GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND OBVIOUSLY THE BOARD FIRST LET YOU KNOW WHO THOSE NEW MEMBERS ARE.

WE WILL CONTINUE THE CYCLE ANNUALLY, MORE THAN ONCE A YEAR IF WE NEED TO, BUT CONSIDERING THE CURRENT TIMELINE OF THE PROCESS, PROBABLY NOT MORE THAN ONCE A YEAR.

I AM OPEN TO ANY GENERAL QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY OR YOU CAN EMAIL ME LATER BUT I AM PRETTY MUCH DONE FOR NOW.

>> THANK YOU JAMIE PROPERLY UNDERSTANDS INFORMATION, IT HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO US. IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS OF JAMIEAT THIS TIME, WE CAN MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT

. >> THANK YOU TERRY VASQUEZ THIS IS - - WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE OFFICE.

I WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD THAT NO WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD, NO ONE REGISTERED TO PROVIDE ORAL PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE PLATFORM AND WE HAVE NO ONE HERE IN PERSON REQUESTING PUBLIC COMMENT.

YOU MAY PROCEED TO THE NEXT ITEMS ARE.

[9. Future meetings and planning]

>> MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER NINE, PLANNING FOR FUTURE MEETINGS. WE HAVE TALKED A LOT TODAY ABOUT CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ON VARIOUS TOPICS. THE SUBCOMMITTEES FOR EACH OF THE ITEMS THAT WE DISCUSSED IN AGENDA ITEMS FIVE AND SIX.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR ISSUES YOU WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP FOR DISCUSSION AT A LATER TIME? WITH THIS BOARD? MS. JONES?

>> I DO, THANK YOU.HIS IS JAMIE.

I JUST WANTED TO SAVE THE BOARD MEMBERS FROM REPEATING WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED. I DID SEND OUT A SURVEY TO THE BOARD RECENTLY FOR FUTURE DATES, BUT ALSO FOR TOPICS THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE COVERED IN FUTURE MEETINGS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR RESPONDING, I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK.

IT HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE THIS DOCUMENTED AND REITERATED WHAT THOSE VALUABLE TOPICS ARE THAT WE WANT TO COVER UP HER I HAVE THOSE ON RECORD, WE CAN CERTAINLY INCLUDETHOSE . WE HAVE TALKED BEFORE AND WAS MENTIONED FROM MR. OBI, THANK YOU FOR THAT, WE WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION FROM THE TA REPRESENTATIVE TO TALK ABOUT

[02:00:05]

ONE THING THAT IS ON OUR ONGOING LIST THAT WAS NOT ON THE AGENDA TODAY PER SE BUT IS IN MOVEMENT RIGHT NOW IS RCPC.

THE CBC DEVELOPED BY THE BOARD ARE CERTAINLY IN MOTION AND HOPEFULLY, I AM SUPER OPTIMISTIC BUT I WILL CONTINUE SO HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE ACTUALLY POSTED OR ALLOWED TO GATHER SOME FEEDBACK BEFORE NEXT MEETING WHICH WILL HAPPEN IN JANUARY/FEBRUARY OF 2024. MARTIN WILL TALK ABOUT THAT JUST A MINUTE. THOSE ARE THE TOPICS I HAVE ON MY LIST OF ANYBODY HAS ANY OTHERS YOU WOULD LIKE US TO

ADD, PLEASE LET US KNOW NOW. >> KRISTINA?

>> KRISTINA HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SENDING THAT SURVEY, I WAS GOING TO ASK IF I COULD FILL IT OUT AGAIN BECAUSE I THOUGHT OF MORE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO INQUIRE ABOUT, SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY HERE DURING OUR MEETING. THERE ARE MORE IN-HOUSE BEI THINGS. I HAVE BEEN NOTICING ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA FEE THAT THERE IS MORE AWARENESS FOR WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY AND I WANTED TO SEE IS OUR STATE WEBSITE AND INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE PERHAPS USING SCREEN READERS OR THINGS LIKE THAT, COLOR CONTRAST.

HOW ACCESSIBLE IS OUR WEBSITE? THAT IS SOMETHING I WAS WONDERING ABOUT AND ON THE POSSIBILITY IN THE FUTURE OF SOME TYPE OF ENDORSEMENT OR CREDENTIAL FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TRAINED TO WORK WITH DEAF/BLIND INDIVIDUALS WITH OTHER PACKOUT TIMER ENGLISH OR EVEN PROTECT OUR LANGUAGE, SOMETHING I WAS CONSIDERING. THAT'S ALL, THANK YOU VERY

MUCH. >> THANK YOU KRISTINA.

FIRST OF ALL, THE WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY IS A GREAT QUESTION. I DID SEE YOUR COMMENT AND I KNOW YOU PROBABLY HAVE NOT DELVED MUCH INTO OUR WEBSITE LATELY, BUT I DO INVITE OTHERS TO TAKE THE TIME TO DO THAT IF YOU KNOW ANYBODYWHO USES SCREEN READERS AND THEYCOME UP AGAINST SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY , PLEASE LET US KNOW .

WE ARE UNDER THE IMPRESSION FROM OUR HHS WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT TEAM THAT OUR WEBSITES ARE ACCESSIBLE IN THAT REGARD. WE CERTAINLY WANT TO NOTE THAT IS NOT THE CASE. ALSO MY PERSONAL INTEREST IN ACCESSIBILITY ONTHE OTHER SIDE OF THE SPECTRUM , WE DO HAVE A CURRENT INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE THE OR INCREASE THE NUMBER OF VIDEOS WE HAVE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE SO THE CONTENT FOR OUR PRIMARY HOMEPAGE ISN'T JUST ENGLISH.

WE HAVE THREE OF OUR POPULAR PROGRAMS THAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR AND MOST OFTEN VISITED PAGES ARE AVAILABLE IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AS WELL. OUR GOAL IS TO EXPAND THAT EVEN

[02:05:01]

IT IS NOT HAVE TO BE ON THE WRITTEN FORM, IT IS NOT TO BE DONE IN ENGLISH AND OUR CURRENT POLICY DOES GIVE THEM THOSE OPTIONS THAT IS WRITTEN IN ENGLISH GIVE THEM THE OPTIONS OF PROVIDING THE INFORMATION THE FORM OR GIVING US A VIDEO CALL OR RECORDING THEMSELVES ON THE VIDEO AND SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM THROUGH A PRIVATE YOUTUBE CHANNEL, ANY CAPTURE THEY WANTED TO APPEAR ON RECORDING MODE AND SENDING IT TO US EITHER IN A USB FLASH DRIVE OR ANY OTHER WAY.

YOU WILL TAKE IN ANY WAY WE CAN GET IT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND OPEN FOR THEM TO DO SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK.

>> THANK YOU. THAT FEEDBACK ON THOSE REQUESTS ARE CERTAINLY HELPFUL SO WE CAN HAVE POINTS FOR DISCUSSION IN THE FUTURE, THEY ARE IMPORTANT AND WELCOMES.

ALAINA WEBB YOU HAVE A COMMENT? OKAY, THOUGHT YOU HAD A COMMENT. IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER AT THIS TIME, WE CAN MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 10.

I HAVE BEEN CORRECTED. FUTURE DATES FOR MEETINGS IN THE FUTURE, ARE SCHEDULED OR TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2 OF 2024, WE ARE LOOKING AT MAY 31 OF 2024 WHICH IS A FRIDAY. KEEP IN MIND THIS IS THE FRIDAY BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE STAFF FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THEY WERE DUPED ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

WE HAVE ALREADYANNOUNCED THAT DURING THE SECOND FOR OUR NEXT MEETING . AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR A LIVELY DISCUSSION.

YOU ALL MADE SOME VERY GOOD POINTS THAT I THINK CAN GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW WE CAN IMPROVE WHAT WE DO FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE IN TEXAS. NOT ONLY THE INTERPRETING COMMUNITY FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING COMMUNITY THAT ALIGN THE SERVICES INTERPRETERS PROVIDE AND ULTIMATELY REMEMBER THEY ARE THE CONSUMERS OF OUR SERVICES.

IT NEEDS TO BE EQUITABLE AND DONE IN A WAY THAT IS BENEFICIAL FOR THEM ACCOMPLISH WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.

I WILL END WITH THAT AT THIS TIME, IT IS NOW 12:09, WE WILL

ADJOURN THE MEETING FOR TODAY. >> THANK YOU CHAIR MARTIN, I WILL

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.