Educational Interpreter Knowledge Assessment (EIKA)

Developed by NY State Grant, "Preparation of Educational Interpreters"
Center Director, Marilyn Mitchell, MS, CSC and Coordinators Sam Infantino, Karen Lefebvre, Beth Prevor, Sallie Bruno, Cathy Markland, Ray Parks, and Jo Ann Kranis

What is the EIKA?

The Educational Interpreter Knowledge Assessment (EIKA) is the grant's knowledge diagnostic tool used for interpreters working with children and young adults in the Pre-K-12th grade settings. The information on the EIKA incorporates and represents what an interpreter is expected to know to function as a viable and knowledgeable member of the team working with D/deaf, hard-of-hearing, and Deaf-Blind children and young adults in New York State (NYS).

The EIKA tool will be offered to all working interpreters in the state during the academic years, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 in a variety of locations. Most questions on the assessment will require short answers demonstrating the interpreter's knowledge of a wide variety of topics. Trained raters/evaluators will score the assessments.

Following the assessment, each interpreter will receive a formal Prescriptive Plan which contains information as to areas needing to be developed and corresponding training offerings to compensate for what is not known. Completing the Prescriptive Plan will prepare the interpreter for the written knowledge test leading to Permanent Certification.

The EIKA tool will assess knowledge of:

• Interpreter technical training

1. Sign communication systems
2. Models of interpreting
3. ASL/semantics/grammar
4. Communication assessment
5. Basic special education
6. Sign-to-voice/transliterating/interpreting
7. Models of processing
8. Self-assessment

• Interpreter professional training

1. Professionalism in interpreting
2. RMI
3. History of interpreting
4. Deaf Culture/heritage
5. Ethical considerations (Code of Ethics)
6. Training students to use interpreting services

• Regulations

1. ADA
2. State laws/state education department regulations/federal laws
3. IEP, implementations/testing modifications

• School

1. Advocacy
2. Adapting physical environment for optimal inclusion
3. In-service content/process (staff and students)
4. Mandated reporting
5. School policies/procedures
6. Extra curricular activities
7. Special testing/counseling

• Support services

1. Additional support services
2. Functioning as team member
3. IDEA implementation (including IEP, multiple roles)
4. Relationships with team members
5. Roles of team members
6. Teaching sign language

• Audiology/physiology

1. Etiology of hearing loss
2. Educational amplification

• Closed captioning/open captioning

• Psychology

1. Educational/social impact of hearing loss
2. Advocacy
3. Child adolescent development
4. Psychology of education
5. Practice of education

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"A brief introduction to the National Association of the Deaf interpreter assessment and certification program", (March, 1998). NAD, Silver Spring, MD.

Arkansas Educational Interpreting Handbook, (1995, second edition). Committee on Standards for Educational Interpreters, Arkansas Department of Education, Special Education Personnel Development Council.

Brewer, L. C., Nelson-Nasca, M. & Mitchell, M. K., (1998). "Preparation of Educational Interpreters", NY State Grant, State Education Department, Office of VESID.

Brodie, P. J., Parmir, J. Ross, L. L., (1999), "Meeting needs of licensed educational interpreters", Ohio Department of Education & the Ohio School for the Deaf.

"Certification/permit requirements for sign language interpreters working in any capacity", (1999). Working document.

"Code of Ethics Guidelines for Educational Interpreters" working document. Florida RID.

"Competencies for an Educational/Vocational Interpreter", working document, NYSED-VESID.

Educational Interpreting for Deaf Students, (1989). (E. R. Stuckless, J. C. Avery, & T. A. Hurwitz, Eds.)
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"Interpreter handbook: Ethics", (March, 1999). Seattle Community College.

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Kischer-Browe, K., "The multifaceted role of the interpreter/aide in the public school setting", (April, 1999) Views, RID, Inc., Silver Springs, Md.

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New York State Guidelines for Educational Interpreting, (1989). The University of the State of New York, State Education Department, Office of Special Education Services.

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"Written test for educational sign language interpreters", (1999). Kansas State Board of Education.