Theresa Barker-Simms
Theresa Barker-Simms was raised in a large Deaf Family and is fourth generation Deaf. She currently lives with her husband who identifies as Non-Status Metis and their daughter, along with 2 dogs in Ontario, Canada.
Theresa started interpreting at a young age for her parents, friends and family. She became involved with Deaf-Blind interpreting as a teenager, and that started the interpreting spark. Becoming a Deaf Interpreter was not something that Theresa thought she could do, as it was not a well-known profession in Canada. Only later in life was she able to meet others who were doing Deaf Interpreting and that inspired her to further her education and take workshops to work towards her goal of becoming an interpreter full-time.
Theresa has lived in various places- in two completely opposite sides of the globe, from Africa to the Northwest Territories in Northern Canada. She is also currently the president for Canadian Association of Sign Language Interpreters (CASLI) formerly AVLIC.
Theresa has taken various trainings in the US, as well as multiple workshops under the IMI seminars. To date, Theresa is currently the only Deaf Interpreter in Canada who has taken the Mental Interpreting Health Training workshop. She is one of 3 other Deaf Interpreters in Ontario that work full-time as a freelance interpreter. She often works in court, legal, mental health, medical, media interpreting and various other settings.
Theresa started taking seminars from BMC in 2018 and that was when the light bulb went off and IMI just made sense! Theresa is always eager to take further workshops under BMC as well as others, most recently, Our Vygotskyan Journey. Theresa has also recently joined the facilitating team here at BMC. She enjoys talking, reading, walks, camping/hikes and being outdoors with her family.
 |
Nathan Fowler
Nathan Fowler has been a certified interpreter since 2009. He enjoys exploring the art and science of interpreting, particularly when doing so with others. In his own experience, he has been asked good questions that have changed his thinking and led to new discoveries. He now believes the best way to learn is from the inside out. He seeks opportunities to participate in and to create environments where interpreters from all walks of life can explore the work that we do and learn alongside one another. He believes that in order for interpreters to thrive, we must cultivate community.
Nathan first learned American Sign Language as a young teenager. He later graduated from Northeastern University in 2007, having double-majored in linguistics and in ASL/English interpreting. He began studying the Integrated Model of Interpreting (IMI) in 2009. Since 2010, he has been an active member of the Etna Project, a dialogic, retreat-style professional development series based on the IMI and facilitated by Betty Colonomos. It is the IMI, explored in dialogic environments, that has provided him a framework for reflecting upon and understanding his work, and given him tools for discussing the work with others. He enjoys mentoring and being mentored. In his non-working hours, he has served on many committees. In his free time, he enjoys coffee, cooking, making time with friends and family, line dancing, taking care of plants, thinking about yoga, and finding opportunities to swim in the water and lay in the sun.
|
Lianne Moccia (B.A., M.Ed. CI/CT, TC)
Lianne Moccia (B.A., M.Ed. CI/CT, TC)
Lianne Moccia from northern NH has been a certified interpreter in private community practice for over 40 years. By a stroke of good fortune she was introduced to Betty Colonomos (and MJ Bienvenu and The Bicultural Center) at the beginning of her interpreting journey. She began workshops and courses at TBC and then worked with colleagues to bring Betty and the IMI to Vermont and New England. Lianne has many times cycled through all levels of Foundations, understanding something different each time. She has been assisting at Foundations and other BMC workshops for over 20 years and was the coordinator of The Etna Project NH from its inception until it ended.. With Betty, Lianne co-authored “Process Mediation as Mentoring” which was published by RID.
|
Kelly Decker
Kelly Decker
Kelly Decker, Certified Interpreter, New York. Kelly has a passion for creating dialogic learning environments valuing reflection and exploration, leading those (and herself) to more questions than answers. Since 2005, Kelly has been involved in the professional field of interpreting as an Integrated Model of Interpreting (IMI) practitioner. She has and continues to serve the profession and the community in various ways through ambitious leadership. Her service and interpreting-based projects focus primarily on ethics, social justice, and Deaf-parented interpreters.
As a mentor, Kelly honors each individual as they are, understanding that each interpreter comes to this work via unique pathways and circumstances. Kelly believes the more we unpack the why in one's interpreting process and decision-making, the further one can grow.
|
Kathy Goodson
Kathy Goodson she, her
I'm Kathy Goodson, she,her. I currently reside in Pomona, CA. I have been working as an American Sign Language/Spoken English interpreter since 1996 in a variety of settings. I believe that mentoring provides a window into another person's brain. It allows the opportunity to learn how other people think and why they think that way. I enjoy the self-discovery when a crafted, thoughtful question encourages deeper reflection and growth.
|
Anne Acampora Braun, MA, CI, CT
Anne Braun, MA, CI, CT
Anne Braun has been working as an interpreter in the DC and Maryland area since 1997. Over the years, she has interpreted in a wide range of settings, including government, community, Video Relay Service, and mental health. She values the variety in the work and the opportunity to continue learning from each experience.
Anne earned her bachelor’s degree in Special Education from Southern Connecticut State University and her master’s degree in Deaf Education from Gallaudet University. Before becoming an interpreter, she taught Deaf children for nine years. She later served as an adjunct professor in the Interpreter Training Program at the Community College of Baltimore County, where she taught for ten years.
Anne has extensive training and experience with the Integrated Model of Interpreting (IMI) and has been involved with the Etna Project since 2009. The Etna Project is a community of ASL practitioners who come together several times each year to reflect on their work, learn from one another, and continue developing their skills. These experiences have deepened Anne’s understanding of the interpreting process and shaped the way she approaches mentoring.
For the past twelve years, Anne has mentored both seasoned interpreters and those who are newer to the profession. She provides mentoring in both ASL-to-English and English-to-ASL interpreting and uses a Vygotskian framework in her work with mentees. At the heart of her approach is the belief that mentoring should meet people where they are. Through reflective conversation, thoughtful questions, and individualized support, she helps mentees recognize their strengths, explore challenges, and discover their own path forward.
Anne believes that no two mentoring relationships should look exactly the same because no two people are the same. She takes time to understand each mentee’s goals, learning style, and experiences and creating space for thoughtful reflection and conversation.
Outside of work, Anne enjoys cooking and spending time with her family. She especially loves watching her daughter ride her horse. On the weekends, she can often be found curled up with a good book or working on a knitting project.
|
