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March 2S26 <br />Interpreter and Langu <br />Access Commission <br />s <br />ua rterty <br />Interpreter Appreciation DaY <br />This upcoming May 6 is Interpreter Appreciation <br />Day. Interpreter Appreciation Day is a relatively new <br />hotiday that was founded by Deaf-btind advocate <br />Joshua Jones in 2O13 after seeing firsthand how <br />interpreters were mocked rather than respected <br />white providing criticalaccess during an emergency <br />broadcast. In response, he helped spark a <br />movement to pubticly recognize interpreters for the <br />essentiat work they do. Interpreter Appreciation Day <br />fatts on the first Wednesday of May each year. <br />This day joins InternationatTranslation Day as an opportunity to honor language professionats. In <br />2017, the United Nations declared September 3O as InternationalTranslation Day, atthough the day <br />was celebrated before then. The date was chosen to coincide with the feast of St. Jerome, who is <br />considered the patron saint of translators. These cetebrations reinforce the shared message that <br />language matters. Together, these observances catlattention to the tremendous human effort behind <br />this work. <br />These cetebrations are also an opportunity to rethink how we view tanguage. Muttitingual communities <br />are often framed as sites of "barriers" that interpreters must overcome, but interpretation is about <br />buitding bridges, not fixing probtems. Interpreters expand understanding, deepen connection, and <br />open access not onty to services, but to communities, cultures, and different ways of thinking. <br />It may not be surprising how easy it is to overlook the work of individuats in a profession that has <br />been traditionatty taught to be as invisible as possibte when working. However, it is important to <br />recognize the huge amount of skitt, expertise, and knowtedge that go into being professional <br />interpreter. This May 6, join me in cetebrating the work of these professionals that help make access, <br />equity, and connection possibte every day. <br />Contributed by: James Welts <br />CONTENTS: <br />> ILAC Updates <br />) Interpreter News <br />> Upcoming Events <br />Submit news for upcoming issues to Wanda Barrett (Wanda.Barrett@courts.wa.gov).