Madeleine Elia's Story
Category:
Study abroad student
Country:
United States
in ASL. We received a tour of the campus and a deep dive into the history and culture of
Gallaudet. We had the opportunity to sit in on classes with interpreting and Deaf linguistics
students. We also had a chance to see the work being done with AI and tracking body
movement to use as an application in the future for interpreting ASL and making access
better for Deaf/hard-of-hearing folks.
When we weren’t at the university, we continued to stay voiceless and practice our sign
language skills as much as possible. We went to ASL Starbucks, the Smithsonian museums,
the Holocaust Museum, and various Washington historical sightseeing locations.
The trip was inspiring as a soon-to-be novice interpreter. It grounded me in my goal of
becoming an ethical and professional interpreter who works from a place of allyship,
reciprocity and respect toward the Deaf community.