Michigan Deaf Community

Download the memo: Memo Interpreter Test Now Open

Memo from DODHH Director Sheryl Emery

DATE: 10/23/2009

TO: Interpreters, Partner Agencies, and Members of Deaf Community

FROM: Sheryl D. Emery, M.A.

Director, Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing

SUBJECT: Interpreting Test Now Open

Nearly one year ago on October 30, 2008 our Quality Assurance Test (QA) was suspended. For many years the QA screening tool served our needs but it was not designed to serve as a state mandated test. As incoming Director I made a personal vow to have a new screening and assessment tool in place within a year. With the help of a great many people I have been able to keep this vow.

Effective today, I am announcing that DODHH Interpreter testing is now available and is no longer suspended. The Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing is unveiling for the general public the new Michigan Board for Evaluation of Interpreters Test (MI BEI). Developed by the University of Arizona, in conjunction with the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), the test has been proven valid, reliable and legally defensible. The test is being leased from the Texas DARS – Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. As part of the leasing agreement our state will have reciprocal certification recognition in any state where the BEI is used. Currently that is in Texas and Michigan. We anticipate there will be others.

In the upcoming weeks we will be hosting forums to discuss the BEI and interpreting standards, we encourage all members of the community to attend these free forums as we anticipate there will be great changes coming to Michigan’s Deaf and Interpreting Community. Please see the list of the various forum sites at our website homepage (www.mcdc-dodhh.org) in the Events section.

Henceforth effective with this memo, interpreters that were granted an extension dated January 1, 2010 and/or thereafter are required to now take the BEI before the expiration date listed on their interpreter card.

No additional extensions will be granted for cards expiring on or after January 1, 2010. Application for testing, the BEI Guide Book, dates for the Test of English Proficiency (TEP) and the Performance test will be posted on DODHH webpage (www.mcdc-dodhh.org) by the first week of November.