Ethics: Where Do I Stand?
Workshop Description:
Do you ever feel like making an ethical decision is a little bit like walking through a minefield? We often wonder if we have a responsibility to “let go” of our personal beliefs when we work as an interpreter. This workshop will help us identify the criteria that determine whether a genuine conflict exists. Each participant will consider ways to guide their individual decision-making process. It is important to recognize that our personal beliefs and values do make a difference when we encounter ethical dilemmas. Yet, many of us have been left wondering if the decisions we made were right or wrong; good or bad. We will recognize what it means to hold a sacred trust as professionals and how we maintain that trust. Throughout the training we will examine and discuss ethical scenarios, these open discussions will help us determine how to prevent ethical explosions from rocking our world! [For those states/regions that require ethical training this workshop fulfills that requirement]
Workshop Objectives:
As a result of attending this workshop, participants will be able to:
-Compare and identify at least 1-2 differences between right versus right and right versus wrong ethical situations.
-Identify potential ethical conflicts and 1-2 tenets of the CPC that would apply to ethical scenarios.
-Identify one difference between Teleological and Deontological ways of thinking/acting.
-Analyze ethical scenarios for (potential) ethical conflicts, list 1 tenet per conflict.
-Defend ethical decisions using the CPC, knowledge of right/right situations, and explain how you came to your resolution.
Presenter Bio:
Bill F. Ross III, M.S., is currently the CEO and owner of Humphrey & Ross Publishers, LLC. A niche market publishing company based in Ocala, Florida. In addition, he is one of the primary authors of one of the most recognized texts in the field of interpreting; You Want to be an Interpreter? (5th Ed.). Under his leadership, Humphrey & Ross Publishers has recently released Decision, Decision: An Ethical Guide for Sign Language Interpreters (4th Ed.). Bill is a child of Deaf parents, and he has been interpreting for 40+ years and holds national certification from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Previously, he was the Conference Chair of the Hands Up Conference 2024-2026; an international conference that provides opportunities for all sign language communities to grow and develop. Prior to working at Hands Up, Bill was the Curriculum Development Specialist for Deaf Bible Society (DBS); an international organization that provided training/resources for individuals translating Scripture into sign language. He came to DBS from North Central University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he was the Program Director of the Carlstrom Interpreter Training Program. He is passionate about building mentoring relationships, studying American Sign Language, and accompanying interpreters on their interpreting journeys.