88 Establish a Professional Group for ASL Teachers

Video description: A person is describing the solution titled Establish a Professional Group for ASL Teachers. The transcript is provided below.

Issue: Nationwide ASLTA (American Sign Language Teachers Association) chapters have been disbanded. Minnesota’s ASL teachers have fewer supports and have no central organization for standards and initiatives. This impacts their ability to advance their work for the benefit of their students.

Proposed Solution: Minnesota-based ASL teachers could form a new active organization for ASL teachers. This organization could be a special sub-committee under MADC or a related organization.

Expected outcome: Increased recruitment of ITP students due to stronger coordination and supports for ASL teachers.

Who is impacted: ASL teachers, ASL students, interpreter training programs

Timeline: 6 months

Video description: A person is summarizing the level of support that this solution received.

Summary of Support

Of the 115 responses, nearly all respondents supported supported establishing a professional group for ASL teachers. Interpreter and System stakeholder respondents were slightly more neutral.

Summary of Support Image Description

The stacked bar charts show how respondents rated their level of support and the total number of responses. The percentage for the five support levels is shown from left to right: Strongly Oppose (Dark Red), Oppose (Light Red), Neutral (Yellow), Support (Light Blue), and Strongly Support (Dark Blue).

Respondents may identify with multiple subgroups. The overall level of support is:

Overall
Strongly Oppose: 0%
Oppose: 1%
Neutral: 8%
Support: 37%
Strongly Support: 53%

Click to see the detailed image description for each subgroup.

Interpreter
Strongly Oppose: 0%
Oppose: 0%
Neutral: 12%
Support: 28%
Strongly Support: 59%

DDBHH Consumer
Strongly Oppose: 0%
Oppose: 2%
Neutral: 6%
Support: 44%
Strongly Support: 48%

System Stakeholder
Strongly Oppose: 0%
Oppose: 0%
Neutral: 15%
Support: 46%
Strongly Support: 39%

Overview of Respondents Opting for In-Depth Solution Analysis

After indicating their support level, 2% of the 118 respondents opted in to further assess whether the solution would worsen or improve on five metrics. Of the opt-in reviewers (3 respondents), 100% supported the solution, 0% were neutral on the solution, and 0% opposed the solution.

The remaining 115 respondents did not opt in to further assess the solution. Of these people, 90% support the solution, 8% were neutral on the solution, and 0% opposed the solution.

Reviewer Evaluation of Solution Effectiveness

Solution Effectiveness Image Description

The stacked bar charts show how respondents assessed the effectiveness of this solution based on five metrics. For each metric, the percentage of respondents is shown from left to right: Worsens (Red), Improves (Blue), No Impact (Gray).

DDBHH Quality of Life
Makes It Worse 0%
Makes It Better 100%
No Impact 0%

Interpreter Satisfaction
Makes It Worse 0%
Makes It Better 100%
No Impact 0%

Consumer Choice
Makes It Worse 0%
Makes It Better 100%
No Impact 0%

Interpreting Availability
Makes It Worse 0%
Makes It Better 80%
No Impact 20%

Interpreting Quality
Makes It Worse 0%
Makes It Better 83%
No Impact 16%

Reviewer Feedback and Insights

Interpreter

One comment from Interpreters emphasizes the need to encourage individuals with past experiences, whether positive or negative, to support the establishment of a place for ASL instructors to share and learn from each other, urging a forward-thinking approach.

Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing

No comments were submitted.

System Stakeholder

One comment from a System stakeholder supports the idea, mentions that collaboration would improve ASL education in Minnesota, and notes that the ACTFL organization is working on creating a Special Interest Group for sign language teachers.