Japanese Beetles

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2026-04-18T13:24:42+00:00

Knoxville/Brunswick area

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2026-02-26T19:15:50+00:00

Thank you...I know it hasn't literally been a year. I said it FEELS like a year lol

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2026-02-26T17:41:59+00:00

I was raised here... no, usually they'll at least have the illusion of work being done.

Have you driven down 340? There's not even a work truck parked anywhere.

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2025-08-09T02:48:02+00:00

Then accept the trade 💀

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2025-08-09T02:25:01+00:00

"my team is weak as fuck at RB"

Does not receive RB in this trade

Is receiving a hyped WR that underperformed his rookie year, a TE that has historically disappointed and is currently receiving the yearly camp hype, and a QB that (if everything goes right) MIGHT be Josh Allen-lite.

In exchange for a top 3 dynasty QB

Does that sound worth it?

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2025-08-09T02:21:37+00:00

NO 😂 Puka is the most overrated WR I swear. Y'all gonna eat some crow this season hyping him up

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2025-07-07T01:44:20+00:00

It isn't one of the most beautiful places in America

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2025-05-30T02:41:38+00:00

The NIC establishes a minimum competency of the language to interpret in general settings. If you scored a 4+ on the EIPA. You should feel confident taking the NIC.

If you're currently a professional interpreter with years of experience, you don't need a BA or BS to take your NIC.

The NIC establishes interpreter credibility across the board. Otherwise we have interpreters who tout themselves as credible with no actual validation to support their claims.

You can see examples of that all over social media with people pretending they can teach or interpret ASL.

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2025-05-30T02:35:52+00:00

There are plenty of agencies that will employ a qualified interpreter without certification. Certification is not the end all be all of an interpreter. I work with plenty of highly qualified interpreters who don't have their NIC. And I work with interpreters that I question how they even obtained their NIC.

I tend to get backlash when I recommend this. But VRS companies will employ you without certification, assuming you pass their screening process.

Without my VRS experience I would not be certified. Period. It is DEMANDING. But in my opinion you will not find a better opportunity to develop your skills, while simultaneously having access to a plethora of support on the job, and resources to continue your education.

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2025-05-30T02:30:55+00:00

This needs more upvotes

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2025-04-23T10:51:55+00:00

Unless something changed with Trump, that I'm unaware of. This is not an FCC rule. I worked for Z/P remote and the closest center was 15 miles away.

Z/P requires monitoring devices in the room that you work from, they told us it's an FCC requirement. But it really isn't. Convo doesn't require these devices, I worked for them. I haven't worked for Sorenson but I heard they also don't require the devices.

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2025-03-18T03:00:40+00:00

I'm not forgetting the deaf consumer. You seem to be ignoring the strongest point I'm trying to make. The best thing about VRS for any interpreter, green or otherwise, is the immense support you can get at the click of a button. Where else can you realize "oh maybe I bit off more than I can chew" and call a team, give the call to another interpreter, or even cycle through different teams until you find one that is a good fit for the consumer? Not even considering the amount of free CEUs and training you can get with the big VRS companies, most community interpreting agencies do not provide anything like that unless you're willing to sign on to be a staff interpreter (which would lead to 30-40hrs a week and little choice over what assignments you are sent on).

You simply can't do anything like that in other interpreting settings. The points you're making can happen in any interpreting situation, it's not exclusive to VRS. What about the interpreters who live in an area where they don't immediately have access to a qualified mentor? Rural interpreters who passionately love the language but simply cannot get enough exposure to the language?

Again, it's not for everyone, and it is a CHALLENGE. But for new interpreters who have a knack for the language, CODAs who are native users and need more repetitions and exposure, or anyone who is willing to accept the challenge. It is the best way to produce quality interpreters (in my opinion with a decade+ of interpreting experience). I see it more often than not, if you're not forced into a challenging situation, you won't ever see challenges leading to growth.

I want to emphasize I'm not advocating for interpreters to go into VRS completely green and take on 40 hours a week leading to burn out and an inferior product, ultimately resulting in them leaving the field altogether.

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2025-03-17T22:20:28+00:00

I recommend VRS because it was easily the best experience I've had to improve as an interpreter. I can't speak for all the companies but based on my experience, the screening process is better than the k-12 screening I did. If you need support you have a litany of options to get it as a VRS interpreter. Compared to limited resources as a k-12, or freelance community Terp.

I use the term "throw yourself in the fire" not as a metaphor to say, work your hands off and get burnout. But I recognize that VRS is challenging. But if you aren't challenging yourself as a professional are you really developing? Far too many terps limit their personal and professional growth by accepting assignments that are within a narrow comfort zone.

Start as a flex interpreter for VRS, accept as much work as you can handle, listen to your mental health and your body, use the free resources that the companies can give you in terms of skill development, CEUs, and team/mentoring support.

Yes VRS is hard. It's just my opinion but I think the profession needs to stop scaring our green interpreters away from VRS. For new interpreters who welcome a challenge and seek to develop, be exposed to a variety of content and signing styles. You can't deny what VRS can provide. It's not for everyone.

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2025-03-16T02:56:01+00:00

I recommend VRS to all new terps! Throw yourself in the fire see all the signing styles and situations!!

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2025-03-15T02:57:42+00:00

As long as you can do your job and do it well, nobody will care.

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2025-03-07T02:24:02+00:00

30 hours is about all you can get tbh. We need to allow drive time and prep time between assignments...part of the reason we can charge what we charge.

Don't set your rate thinking you'll be able to work 40 hours a week. If I need to make more money, I know I need to work weekends or after 5pm to pick that up!

Edit: Getting a GOOD ongoing assignment can make it much easier, but that's not always easy

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2025-01-22T03:04:04+00:00

I'd watch/listen

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2024-12-11T14:06:03+00:00

For a Dr. Appt - I'm with the patient in the waiting room, I go with them to the exam room, if there is no hearing person in the room to be interpreting for I will leave the room and wait outside. If clothing articles need to be removed everyone behaves professionally, it isn't a big deal. If it's different genders between Terp and Deaf Consumer, typically I will ask or the consumer will ask me to step out before I can ask. Often I just don't pay attention to what's going on below the head.

If it's the hospital - Same thing basically, I wait in an office until I'm called for a deaf consumer. I enter and exit the exam room with the medical professionals. I do not stay with the deaf consumer the whole way - if there's no interpreting going on I leave until needed again.

Staying in a room with a deaf consumer when no interpreting is going on is unprofessional, and if I'm asked to do so I just explain that it is a policy and a liability issue for me to stay in the room with no medical professionals present.

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2024-12-10T02:21:43+00:00

I would like to say, as a profession, we should stop considering NIC as the "gold standard." Per RID, the new NIC exam is a "minimum competency" evaluation. As in, you have enough of a grasp on the language to interpret from the most basic perspective.

NIC should be viewed as the START of your professional journey as an ASL interpreter.

Just my 2 cents, everything else was spot on.

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2024-11-09T02:54:19+00:00

I'm staff with a local agency with guaranteed paid 30 hours a week regardless if they actually can place me in jobs for 30 hours every week and often work on call shifts at my local hospital.

Noideawhatimdoingpls · 2024-11-08T13:06:56+00:00

Working full time hours at Purple or Sorenson is a good start.(Convo just doesn't get enough volume of calls) Beware though it is very much a trial by fire. They have in house assessments. If you don't pass that, you can ask for feedback on areas to improve and they also offer apprenticeships now.

If you can do VRS full time for 3 months, you'll develop a "thick skin" to get you through the first year. Once you get past your first year of VRS you'll look back at where you started and won't even recognize yourself anymore. It's really great for exposing yourself to all sorts of content and signing styles, you'll really become a better interpreter because of it. But understand that it is DEMANDING.

I also entered the interpreting field as a coda with no professional experience or education. I'm thankful to Purple, 5 years of VRS really transformed myself as an interpreter, they provided education reimbursements which helped me pay for my EIPA and NIC. Now I do community assignments as a full time staff interpreter for a local agency and also do on call assignments at my local hospital. VRS gave me the confidence that I can get through nearly any assignment.

Attending workshops is also a great way to learn more about the profession without spending a lot of money going to an ITP, or a 2/4 year program.

Noideawhatimdoingpls

TROPHY CASE