Jill C. Bray
Senior Staff Assistant
During childhood, Jill lived in four states before the age of ten (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, and New York). Moving from town to town/ school to school gave her ample exposure to people different then herself. One would expect a child of that age to have a hard time adjusting to each move and making new friends, but not Jill Bray! Her skill to communicate with people and her ability to feel comfortable around those who have not had the same life experiences as she is something Jill is proud of and a trait she continues to develop each day. Even Jill's degree from Oswego State University supports her interest in the field of communication. In the year 2000, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications, with a concentration in Public Relations.
In October of 2004, Jill faced unemployment. Fortunately, a call came from a temporary employment agency offering her a position at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). However, the 'catch' was the position was open in the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), in the American Sign Language and Interpreting Education Department (ASLIE). Imagine her surprise when she found out that she would be working for a college filled with deaf students, faculty, and staff members on RIT's campus! Jill only knew how to fingerspell (self-taught at the age of 11) and her knowledge of Deaf people and Deaf culture was still 'uncharted territory.'
Not fazed by the fact she did not know HOW to
communicate
with colleagues and students at NTID, Jill embraced the opportunity of
employment and decided to learn ASL and Deaf culture. In November of
2004, she
started taking ASL classes and each academic quarter, she continues her
learning about the fascinating, accepting, and welcoming Deaf community
that
she has embraced. Working as a temp in the ASLIE Department opened
doors of
opportunity for Jill, as she was recommended for a permanent, full time
position working with Marilyn Mitchell at the Technical Assistance
Center's
(TAC) "Preparation of Educational Interpreters." Now, her learning,
understanding, and communication skills in ASL and Deaf culture will
continue
to grow each year, as she assists the TAC project team in streamlining
curriculum for educational interpreters and offering practicing
interpreters
professional development opportunities.
This page mainted by Jill Bray
Return to the Home Page for TAC's "Preparation of Educational Interpreters"
Page last updated 11/15/05
