We chatted with team member Danielle Meder, RID-NIC, Director of Organizational Quality and Partner Support. Danielle’s long history as an ASL interpreter supports her work today as she advocates for equitable health care and the communicative autonomy of all. Danielle was recently recognized by Multilingual magazine in their article “Women Driving in the Language Industry.” Read on to learn more about her work.
Martti:
How did you get into language access?
Danielle Meder:
When I was ten years old a Deaf performance group and their interpreters came to my elementary school. I remember going home and telling my mom that I wanted to be an interpreter. The following week, we had to pick our foreign language for sixth grade and American Sign Language was an option. It felt meant to be. In high school I took classes at the National Technical Institute of the Deaf in Rochester, NY before moving onto Saint Paul College and earning my degree in interpreting.
Martti:
That’s amazing. And now you’ve transitioned to focus more on training and oversight with Martti. Can you tell me more about your professional journey and what you do now?
Danielle Meder:
I’m currently the Director of Organizational Quality and Partner Support at Martti. I have been a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter since 2006 and have worked in remote environments for over 15 years with a speciality in health care environments.
For the last couple of years, I’ve also been a licensed trainer for The Community Interpreter International, which is a curriculum and a training program put together by Cross-Cultural Communications.
Martti:
We recently began including Certified Deaf Interpreters in our interpretation process. Could you tell me a little bit more about that and why that’s so important?
Danielle Meder:
Language access is different for every person and that is no different for a Deaf person. Hearing ASL interpreters may have grown up with Deaf parents or learned ASL from a very young age, but it is not their only or exclusive language. For a Deaf person, signing is their native language and they are a part of the Deaf community. There are linguistic and cultural dynamics that impact how effective communication is delivered and CDIs can navigate and support those dynamics with the ease that comes from being a native signer and member of the Deaf community. That’s why having a team of interpreters, one hearing and one Deaf, can be a valuable language access strategy for Deaf participants. Here at Martti we focus on healthcare. We deal with life-and-death decisions. Providing interpreters ensures that equitable, qualified interpreting language access is provided for those moments and in many cases, a CDI with a hearing ASL interpreter is necessary.
Martti:
As a hearing interpreter, you’ve interacted with the Deaf and hard of hearing community for a long time. How have you seen accessibility change for the Deaf community and what do we still need to do to reach equity?
Danielle Meder:
Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) has become very commonplace over the pandemic, and technology advancements have made VRI one effective means for delivering timely access to health care. Yet, VRI is just one solution and providers and Deaf patients are learning how to navigate when VRI is effective and when an on-site interpreter is necessary. I believe we’re finally getting to a place where we can have a lot more dialogue and education about how to pick the most equitable language access solution while also making sure you’re providing timely care that is sufficient.
Martti:
What kind of education or resources do you bring to your role to help us facilitate that conversation?
Danielle Meder:
Communicative autonomy is at the foundation of everything an interpreter does. As an interpreter, trainer, and advocate I know how to spot language access solutions that aren’t effective because someone’s communicative autonomy is being hindered. That could be because of the interpreter’s skills, the modality of service, or a lack of understanding how to work with interpreters. A lot of the time, folks at the procurement table don’t come from a language access background and they need to be taught and guided to avoid creating language access gaps or inequity. My experience in navigating that gap really helps me set up our team for success.
Martti:
Can you tell me more about communicative autonomy?
Danielle Meder:
I say this a lot: interpreters are not facilitators of communication. We uphold communicative autonomy and communicative autonomy transcends everything. That means everyone can say what they want, when they want, how they want. Just like I am right now, like you are. And just because you don’t speak a common language and you have to bring in an interpreter, you shouldn’t be robbed of your communicative autonomy. And that can only be upheld when you use a qualified and experienced interpreter.
Martti:
That passion for education and expanding the conversation – is that what interested you in transitioning from working as an interpreter to taking a role with more oversight?
Danielle Meder:
It started by being asked to be a part of the quality assurance team at a previous organization and holding interpreters accountable for their performance and supporting their development. I really enjoy walking on both sides. I like walking in lockstep with interpreters and helping them grow. And, I enjoy partnering with hospitals and helping them understand the role of the interpreter, our limitations, and their ethical and legal responsibilities to provide qualified interpreters. I really enjoy both sides of that coin.
Martti:
As an interpreter, you become an advocate for one individual at a time. When you’re working on training, policy, or organizational processes, you become an advocate for the community, right?
Danielle Meder:
Yes. I have a platform, and it comes with a lot of responsibility. I take it very seriously that we have to educate and train our partners and stand up for the communities that will suffer without equitable language access.
Martti:
Part of that platform you’re developing is a new book that you’re writing with some of your colleagues. Can you tell me more about that?
Danielle Meder:
I am currently co-authoring The Remote Interpreter International with two other incredible Martti employees, Tatiana Cestari and Sarah Stockler-Rex, as well as some other co-authors from the industry. Tati and Sarah invited me to join the project a little over two years ago when I was at my previous organization. I’ve worked on chapters on business interpreting, certifications and credentials, and self-evaluation for interpreters. We’re also creating remote interpreting modules for a training platform. The book will be out later this year.
Martti:
You’ve worked at many different organizations. What attracted you to work at Martti specifically?
Danielle Meder:
The last organization I worked for wasn’t focused on healthcare and I really enjoy healthcare because there are laws that hold people accountable for providing language access. That’s a really good tool to drive the conversation and to drive quality. But really, what attracted me to Martti is the people I know here. Their longevity with the organization and the way they talk about the work they do at Martti was all I needed. Our team has interpreters or those with interpreting experience in all levels of leadership. It makes me feel very comfortable to know that the people who are making decisions are making them from experience in the interpreting and the communities we serve.
Martti:
Obviously you’re a very passionate and active person in the community, but if we can shift gears a little bit, what are you doing when you’re not at work?
Danielle Meder:
I have three kids. They are almost nine, almost seven, and just turned five. I’ve been with my husband nearly 19 years, and we’ve lived all over. I’m from New York, he’s from Wisconsin. We met in Minnesota, lived in San Diego, then back to Minnesota, and as of 2021, we’ve been in North Carolina. Always chasing adventure. In my downtime, I love to knit and ride my Peloton.
