[00:00:01]
>> CHAIR VASQUEZ, YOU MAY CONVENE THE MEETING.
[1. Call to order, roll call, and introductions]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. IT IS NOW 10:01. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO OUR BOARD FOR THE EVALUATION OF INTERPRETERS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING. WE WILL GET STARTED NOW. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EACH OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE WITH US TODAY.
EVERYONE IS HERE TODAY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR OUR DISCUSSION TODAY. WE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU TO TURN ON YOUR CAMERA AND UNMUTE WHEN SPEAKING. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REMIND YOU TO USE YOUR RAISE YOUR HAND FEATURE WHEN YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT IN ORDER TO ASSIST IN COMMUNICATION AS WELL AS THE INTERPRETERS, AS WELL IS WHEN YOU ARE CALLED UPON. PLEASE GIVE US JUST A MOMENT SO THAT THE INTERPRETERS CAN GET READY . WE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU ALSO -- WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU TO PLEASE HOLD ON A MOMENT BEFORE SPEAKING. MY NAME IS MARTIN VASQUEZ. I AM THE CURRENT CHAIR.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU AGAIN. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE SHOW YOURSELF ON SCREEN WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME SO THAT EVERYONE IS FAMILIAR WITH YOUR FACES. FIRST, MS. CHRISTIAN ARE NRO.
>> HELLO, GOOD MORNING, CHAIR VASQUEZ. HAPPY TO BE HERE ON
THIS FRIDAY. >> GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME. IF YOU WOULD LIKE , ALSO, I FORGOT TO SAY THIS, YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND THE COMMUNITY YOU REPRESENT IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO DO THAT. >> SURE. I PRIMARILY WORK IN THE COASTAL BEND AREA INCLUDING CORPUS CHRISTI AND SURROUNDING TOWNS. AND A LOT OF FREELANCE WORK ALL ACROSS THE BOARD, AND
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LEE GODBOLT. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR VASQUEZ. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE HERE TODAY. I AM LOCATED HERE IN AUSTIN. I WORK AT THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF. I AM ADVISOR OF WORK, I DO FREELANCE WORK HERE AND THEY ARE. YEAH. HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY. HAPPY FRIDAY, EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU MISS GODBOLT. WELCOME. NEXT WE HAVE DOCTOR
RICHELLE HARRIS. >> HELLO, EVERYONE. HELLO, CHAIR AND BOARD AND EVERYONE HERE ATTENDING. AS MENTIONED, I AM RICHELLE HARRIS. AND I AM GOING TO BE HERE. I MOSTLY WORK AS A CERTIFIED DEAF INTERPRETER ACROSS I, MYSELF, AM DEAF. AND I -- BEING A CONSUMER PLUS AN INTERPRETER.
SO, HELLO. >> THANK YOU DOCTOR HARRIS AND WELCOME. NEXT WE HAVE MISS ELAINA WHEN.
ALINA WEBB. I'M FROM SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. I PRIMARILY WORK AT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE. WHERE AS WELL AS CONSULTING AND INTERPRETING WORK THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, MS. WEBB. AGAIN, I AM MARTIN VASQUEZ. I AM AN INTERPRETER, VIDEO RELAY SERVICE. I WORK AT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE AS WELL AS FACULTY, AND THEY DO OTHER INTERPRETING -- HAVE OTHER INTERPRETING RESPONSIBILITIES. WE WOULD LIKE TO -- WE THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AGAIN. AND I WOULD LIKE TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO MISS KATE AROUND.
[00:05:07]
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KAYLA CATES BROWN WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN PUBLIC. TODAY' BEING -- PLEASE DO NOT USE -- ACRONYMS -- CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSED. IN ACCORDING WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES POLICY THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, ALSO KNOWN AS A.I.
NOTETAKERS IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED IN THIS MEETING.
PRODUCERS WILL NOT ADMIT AN AUTONOMOUS AGENT INTO THE MEETING. BOT SHOULD GAIN ENTRANCE, IT WILL BE REMOVED BY ONE OF THE -- EACH -- DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE OF YOUR DEVICE SO YOUR VOICE AND COMMENTS ARE HEARD. ONCE YOU ARE DONE SPEAKING, WE ASK THAT YOU TURN YOUR CAMERA OFF AND MUTE YOUR MICROPHONE. AND ONLY UNMUTE WHEN YOU WISH TO SPEAK. WE RECOMMEND MEMBERS AND PRESENTERS IN A VIRTUAL PLATFORM USE HEADSETS IF POSSIBLE. PLEASE USE THE RAISE YOUR HAND FEATURE TO LET THE FACILITATOR AND CHAIR KNOW THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. AFTER YOU ARE CALLED UPON TO SPEAK, PLEASE PAUSE FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL YOU ARE ASKED TO PROCEED. THIS WILL ALLOW TIME FOR US TO SPOTLIGHT THE PRESENTERS. WE ASK THAT MEMBERS, STAFF AND PRESENTERS PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY THESE PUT YOUR CELL PHONE ON MUTE OR VIBRATE. AND IF YOU NEED TO TAKE A CALL, TURN OFF YOUR DEVICE FOR YOUR VIEWING DEVICE. PRESENTERS HERE AND OUTSIDE WE ASK YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE SO YOUR COMMENTS ARE HEARD. THESE MICROPHONES ARE DIRECTIONAL. YOU ARE WELCOME TO MOVE THEM FOR YOUR COMFORT.
PLEASE PUT YOUR CELL PHONE ON MUTE OR VIBRATE. AND IF YOU NEED TO TAKE A CALL, PLEASE STEP OUT OF THE ROOM. MEMBERS, STAFF AND PRESENTERS WHO HAVE CALLED IN MAY SEE A SLIGHT DELAY IN WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN AS A RESULT OF THE BANDWIDTH OF YOUR COMPUTER. THERE IS TIME ON THE AGENDA FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE ABLE TO SUBMIT WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT PRIOR TO THE MEETING AS NOTED ON THE POSTED AGENDA. WE ASK THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE PREREGISTERED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENTS IN PERSON PLEASE CHECK IN AT THE REGISTRATION TABLE.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT WILL REGISTER TO PROVIDE THEIR COMMENTS BY COMPLETING THE PUBLIC COMMENT REGISTRATION FORM. FOR EVERYONE PARTICIPATING IN PERSON , RESTROOMS ARE LOCATED OUT OF THE ENTRANCE WHERE WE CAME IN. TURN IMMEDIATELY DOWN -- TURN IMMEDIATELY TO THE RIGHT DOWN THE LOBBY HALLWAY AND WALK THROUGH THE FIRST HALLWAY. WHEN YOU SEE THE WATER FOUNTAIN, THE RESTROOMS ARE ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT. NOTES THAT EMERGENCY EXITS ARE LOCATED IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM AND SIDE DOORS AS YOU FACE THE SCREEN. WALK TOWARDS THE LOBBY AREA AND THE SECURITY PERSONNEL WILL DIRECT US TO THE MAIN LOBBY EXIT. IF THERE IS AN ALARM, WE WILL EVACUATE THE BUILDING AND RETURN ONLY AT THE DIRECTION OF SECURITY. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA TOPICS TODAY, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL MESSAGE TO THE BOARD LIAISON, JEANNIE JONES, AT THE EMAIL ADDRESS PROVIDED IN THE CHAT SECTION FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE POSTED PUBLIC AGENDA. AT THIS TIME, I WILL CALL MEMBER ROLL CALL.
MEMBERS, WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME PLEASE RESPOND HERE OR PRESENT.
CHRISTINA ARINARO? >> PRESENT.
[00:10:04]
>> DOCTOR RICHELLE HARRIS? >> PRESENT.
>> MARTIN VASQUEZ? >> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR VASQUEZ, YOU HAVE QUORUM. YOU MAY PROCEED.
[2. Consideration of January 24, 2025, draft meeting minutes (Part 1 of 2)]
>> THANK YOU. WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 2
NOW. >> CHAIR VASQUEZ, THIS IS KAYLA CATES BROWN. I WILL HANDLE THIS NEXT ITEM FOR YOU, SIR. THIS IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE JANUARY 24TH 2025 DEI DRAFT MEETING MINUTES. MISS JONES SENT YOU ALL AN EMAIL OF THE DRAFT OF THE MINUTES. YOU WILL TAKE A MOMENT TO REVIEW, THEN I WILL CALL FOR ANY EDITS OR CHANGES TO THE MINUTES. I AM NOW CALLING FOR ANY EDITS OR CHANGES TO THE MINUTES. IF YOU DO HAVE COMMENTS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. SEEING NO HANDS RAISED, WE WILL PROCEED TO THE MEMBER VOTE. MEMBERS, WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE RESPOND TO THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR WITH YEA,
NAY, OR ABSTAIN. >> MISS CHRISTINA ARINARO?
>> YEA. >> DOCTOR RICHELLE HARRIS?
>> YEA. >> CHAIR VASQUEZ, YOUR MOTION PASSES. YOU MAY PROCEED TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL TAKE A MOMENT FOR THE INTERPRETERS TO
[3. Update from Health and Independence]
CHANGE. MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE WE WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MISS ROWE, ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE FOR HER ADDRESS THIS MORNING. MISS ROWE?>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR. AND GOOD MORNING. AND I APOLOGIZE, I AM BATTLING ALLERGIES SO I'M A LITTLE OUT OF IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR PATIENTS. I AM KEISHA ROWE, ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE. I AM HERE TODAY TO PRESENT UPDATES AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. AS YOU KNOW, THE 89TH LEGISLATURE IS UNDERWAY. IN FACT, THE HOUSE DEBATED SENATE BILL ONE WHICH IS THE BUDGET BILL LAST NIGHT UNTIL WAY AFTER 3:00 A.M. FROM HERE AFTER FINAL PASSAGE, THE SENATE AND HOUSE WILL GO TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO RECONCILE THE DIFFERENCES AND AGREE UPON A FINAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
CURRENTLY, DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES DOES NOT HAVE ANY REDUCTIONS IN FUNDING, MEANING, THE PROGRAMS WILL HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AS THEY HAD IN THE LAST -- THE RESOURCE SPECIALIST EXEMPTION ITEM WHICH THE AGENCY SUBMITTED ABOVE THE USUAL FUNDING REQUEST IS STILL PENDING. IT IS LIKELY WE WILL NOT KNOW UNTIL THE END OF SESSION WHETHER THE REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY AND ANOTHER FTE TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR SERVICES AROUND THE STATE IS ADOPTED. HB 645 , THE CO-NAVIGATOR BILL FOR
[00:15:01]
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF/BLIND WAS HEARD IN-HOUSE HUMAN SERVICES AND WAS VOTED OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE ON MARCH 31ST, 2025. IT'S NOW IN THE CALENDARS COMMITTEE WAITING A POSSIBLE SCHEDULE ON THE HOUSE FOR. THE SENATE COMPANION -- SENATE BILL 1653 HAS NOT BEEN HEARD IN SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WHICH IS WHERE THAT BILL WAS REFERRED. AS FAR AS AGENCY UPDATES, AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, BRIAN ROBINSON, THE DIRECTOR, IS NO LONGER WITH THE AGENCY. I HAVE BEEN AND WILL BE WORKING WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO POST THE POSITION. IN THE INTERIM I HAVE BEEN WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE DHHS MANAGERS AND STAFF. AS YOU KNOW, THE MANAGERS ARE ADEPT AND VERY CAPABLE OF ADMINISTERING AND OVERSEEING THEIR PROGRAMS WHICH HAS MADE THE INTERIM TIME WITHOUT A DIRECTOR MORE MANAGEABLE. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME ON THAT UPDATE?>> CHAIR VASQUEZ? THANK YOU. >> MISS WEBB, PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. APPRECIATE THAT.
JUST A VERY QUICK QUESTION. THE USE OF THE DIRECTORS POSITION BEING VACATED WAS A SURPRISE TO US. I FEEL LIKE THAT WAS -- I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS AN OVERSIGHT OR A DECISION, BUT IT IS DISCONCERTING, I THINK, FOR US TO SHOW UP THIS MORNING AT NOT HAVE A DIRECTOR . IS A BOARD DIRECTOR, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO KNOW THAT INFORMATION BEFORE COMING IN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FEEDBACK. THE INTENT WAS TO LET THE BOARD KNOW IN THE MEETING. IT IS NOT TYPICALLY AGENCY PRACTICE TO SEND OUT STAFF ACKNOWLEDGMENT LIKE THAT. I APOLOGIZE AND CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL. SO,
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? MISS ROWE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR ADVISING US OF THESE CURRENT UPDATES . AND WE THANK YOU FOR LETTING US KNOW ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE LEGISLATURE AS WELL. WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I
[2. Consideration of January 24, 2025, draft meeting minutes (Part 2 of 2)]
WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR.>> CHAIR VASQUEZ, THIS IS KAYLA BROWN WITH ACCO. IF YOU DON'T MIND, SIR, I DID ADVERSELY SKIP ONE STEP IN OUR AGENDA ITEM, MOTION 4, THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. I DO NEED FOR A MEMBER TO GO ON RECORD AS MAKING A MOTION TO PRESENT -- APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED, THEN I WILL NEED A SECOND. THE VOTE DOES STAND. ANY MEMBER CAN MAKE A MOTION.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT -- TO ADOPT THE
[4. Update from Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services]
MINUTES FROM THE PRIOR MEETING.>> THANK YOU, SIR. CAN I HAVE A SECOND?
>> I AM HAPPY TO SECOND. >> THANK YOU, MISS WEBB. YOU MAY
PROCEED. >> WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOR NOW. NEXT, WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE JEANNIE JONES FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES AND HSC.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JEANNIE JONES. I'M THE BOARD LIAISON AND COORDINATION SPECIALIST WITH DHHS. YOU HAVE SEEN ME FOR A WHILE. SO YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH ME, I AM SURE. I HAVE A COUPLE UPDATES, NOT MUCH. BUT WE ARE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE AS YOU KNOW FROM OUR LAST MEETING CAMP SIGN IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS YEAR. WE DO HAVE DATES JULY 13TH THROUGH THE 18TH. THE LOCATION WILL ALSO BE THE SAME AS LAST YEAR WHICH IS CAMP CAMP IN CENTERPOINT, TEXAS. THIS HAS BEEN A LONG-STANDING TRADITION
[00:20:02]
FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING YOUTH. YOU ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE TRADITION OF CAMP SIGN. ACTIVELY, WE ARE SEEKING PASSIONATE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE FLUENT IN SIGN LANGUAGE.SO, THAT'S WHERE YOU COME INTO PLAY. WE WANT TO ENHANCE THIS YEAR'S CAMP EXPERIENCE AND HAVE AS MUCH ACCESS AS POSSIBLE. WE ARE EXCITED TO SHARE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INTERPRETERS AND INTERPRETERS IN TRAINING. THOSE ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS, BUT THOSE TOWARD THE HIGHER END OF COMMUNICATION ACCESS OR COMMUNICATION SKILLS, RATHER.
THOSE INTERPRETER TRAINING PROGRAMS YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH, YOU HAVE CONTACTS WITH THAT MAY BE REQUIRE SERVICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FROM THEIR STUDENTS, THIS IS A GREAT ONE.
SO, THIS EXPERIENCE OFFERS A VALUABLE WAY FOR STUDENTS TO EARN THOSE ESSENTIAL HOURS WHILE GAINING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE. SO, OUR ASK OF YOU IS THAT YOU PLEASE SHARE THE WORD, SPREAD IT AS FAR AND WIDE AS YOU CAN, PARTICULARLY WE HEAR INTERPRETER TRAINING PROGRAMS OR INTERPRETERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS OPPORTUNITY. THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INTERESTED CAN REACH OUT TO MYSELF OR OUR TRAINING MANAGER MARY CATHERINE HESS. AND IF YOU -- FOR SPELLING, IT'S MARY CATHERINE AND HER LAST NAME IS CAPITAL H CAPITAL E SS . WE HAVE THE DELIVERY MECHANISM. SO THE WORD IS OUT THERE. BUT WE WANT TO BEEF IT UP AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SO, PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD. OTHER THAN CAMP SIGN, WE ALSO HAVE EXCITING INTERPRETER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES ON THE HORIZON. AGAIN, MISS MARY CATHERINE HESS HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO PUT TOGETHER A ROBUST TRAINING PLAN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR. CONTENT IS STILL BEING FINALIZED. BUT WE RECEIVED A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY. -- ABOUT WHAT IS NEEDED. WE ALSO RECEIVED A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS. SO, WE ARE EXPECTING TO BE ABLE TO OFFER A NUMBER OF WEBINARS TO THE INTERPRETER COMMUNITY. THOSE TOPICS INCLUDE MEDICAL INTERPRETING, DEMAND CONTROL SCHEMA , A SERIES TARGETED TO PRE-CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS WHO ARE PREPARING TO TAKE THE BEI BASIC. A SEPARATE SERIES TARGETED TO INTERPRETERS WHO ALREADY HAVE A BASIC CERTIFICATION AND THEY ARE PREPARING TO TAKE THE BEI ADVANCED TEST. AND WE ARE ALSO EXCITED TO OFFER AN OVERVIEW OF THE BEI PROGRAM AND TESTING PROCESS. THE CONTENT HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED IN SOME TIME SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO PROVIDE THAT AGAIN SOMETIME SOON. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY FOR A TEP. THAT IS THE TEST OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY COURSE FOR CERTIFIED DEPTH INTERPRETERS TARGETED TO THAT DEAF INTERPRETER POPULATION. SO, THAT'S AN EXCITING ONE ON THE HORIZON AS WELL. AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR TRAINING OR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO THE MANAGER OF THE TRAINING DEPARTMENT, MARY CATHERINE HESS, OR LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED THE CONTACT INFORMATION. WE WILL BE HAPPY TO SHARE. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR DHHS UPDATES TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, MISS JONES. WE DO APPRECIATE THE UPDATE ON ALL THAT EXCITING INFORMATION. MS. GODBOLT?
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, MISS JONES FOR THAT UPDATE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I WAS PART OF CAMP SIGN FOR 10 YEARS. LOVED MY TIME WITH CAMP. SO, I AM EXCITED TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH SOME FOLKS. IS THERE A GOOD WEBSITE THAT I CAN REFER PEOPLE
TO BEYOND JUST AN EMAIL ADDRESS? >> GREAT QUESTION. YES. I WILL MAKE SURE MY MICROPHONE WORKS. OKAY. I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT SHARING THAT. IF YOU HONESTLY GOOGLE CAMP CAMP.ORG , THE HOME PAGE ON THE TOP RIGHT HAS A SERIES OF ICONS. AND THE YELLOW ONE SAYS CAMP SIGN. AND THE CONTACT INFORMATION IS THERE. OR YOU CAN GO TO THE CAMP SIGN IN BOX OR MYSELF AND I COULD FORWARD YOU TO THOSE DIRECT STAFF MEMBERS AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL
[5. BEI program testing and rating updates]
[00:25:04]
RIGHT. AGAIN, THANK YOU, MISS JONES. WE APPRECIATE THAT UPDATE. NEXT, WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE. WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MISS ALLISON KITTEN PLAN WITH THE DIRECTION OF>> THANK YOU, CHAIR VASQUEZ. AND GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ALLIE. I AM THE BEI PROGRAM MANAGER. I AM HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL JUST A FEW OF THE PROGRAM RELATED UPDATES THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS TIME. IN TERMS OF OUR OPERATIONAL SIDE OF THE PROGRAM, WE HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY ADMINISTERING THE PERFORMANCE TEST AND AS OF LAST MONTH, MARCH, WE HAD A TWO DAY OUT-OF-STATE SPECIAL SESSION WHICH WENT OVER VERY WELL. WE WERE FULLY BOOKED , AND WE ADMINISTERED BOTH THE TEP AND PERFORMANCE EXAM TO THOSE WHO FLEW IN FROM ALL OVER THE U.S.
IN ADDITION TO THAT , FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS FROM JANUARY FIRST OF 2025 TO APRIL FIRST OF 2025, APPROXIMATELY 366 TEST APPLICATIONS WERE PUT INTO THE REGISTRY FOR BOTH THE TEP AND THE PERFORMANCE EXAM. THAT BROUGHT US AN AVERAGE OF 92 APPLICATIONS PER MONTH AND APPROXIMATELY 236 TEP PERFORMANCE TEST APPLICATIONS WERE MARKED COMPLETE . AND THE TEST RESULTS WERE RELEASED AS WELL. -- WITHIN THAT NUMBER.
APPROXIMATELY 119 PERFORMANCE TESTS WERE ADMINISTERED. AND 30 PROFICIENCY EXAMS WERE ADMINISTERED DIRECTLY BY THE BEI STAFF. 28 WERE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE TEST OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, WHILE TWO OF THOSE WERE FOR THE TEST FOR SPANISH PROFICIENCY. AS OF RIGHT NOW WITH OUR SCHEDULING THE COORDINATOR HAS US ALREADY FULLY BOOKED THROUGH AUGUST FOUR PERFORMANCE EXAMS. AND SHE IS NOW WORKING TO FINALIZE THE BOOKINGS FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. IN REGARDS TO OUR BEI DATABASE WITHIN THE PAST MONTHS, INTERPRETERS THEMSELVES HAVE ALREADY UPLOADED 385 ID DOCUMENTS, MEANING IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS DIRECTLY THEMSELVES INTO THE REGISTER WHILE THE BEI STAFF HAVE HAD TO VALIDATE 327 OF THOSE. 2286 DEQ DOCUMENTS WERE UPLOADED AS WELL, AND 1354 WERE VALIDATED AT THIS POINT. AND THEY WERE DONE IN THE ORDER OF EXPIRATION, THE SOONEST. THAT BROUGHT US AN AVERAGE REVIEW OF 339 CEU DOCUMENTS PER MONTHS.
THAT WAS DONE BY THREE STAFINTE ALREADY PROCESSED 242 ONLINE PAYMENTS. -- WHICH WAS AN AVERAGE OF 61 PAYMENTS PER MONTH THAT WE RECEIVED. A TOTAL OF 456 BEI CERTIFICATES WERE ISSUED.
AND THAT MEANS WE ISSUED AN AVERAGE OF 100 FORT TEEN CERTIFICATES PER MONTHS SINCE JANUARY. THIS REFLECTS THOSE WHO ACTUALLY RECEIVED CERTIFICATIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME AS WELL AS THOSE WHO WERE RENEWING THEIR CERTIFICATIONS BY PAYING THE ANNUAL FEES OR POSSIBLY A FIVE-YEAR RECERTIFICATION FEE AS WELL. AND AS MOST OF YOU ALREADY KNOW, THE STATEWIDE OUTREACH
[00:30:05]
CENTER , THEY ARE GOING TO BE HOSTING -- IT'S ACTUALLY TWO DIFFERENT FOUR-DAY WORKSHOPS. THE SESSIONS WILL BE IN JULY AT THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, AND WE ARE CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM BY OFFERING THE BEI TEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH THE TEP AND PERFORMANCE EXAMS WITH A FOCUS ON THE BASIC AND ADVANCED PERFORMANCE TEST. THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR THOSE REGISTRANTS WHO ARE PARTICIPATING ALL 14 PERFORMANCE EXAMS LOST THE OFFER PERFORMED FOR THESE SESSIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILLED. HOWEVER, WE STILL HAVE A FEW REMAINING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE TEP. AND SO IF ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO IS ALREADY REGISTERED TO ATTEND THESE SESSIONS WOULD LIKE TO APPLY FOR TEP, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO IS STILL OPEN. HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE THIS SPECIAL TEST DURING THIS OPPORTUNITY YOU MUST BE REGISTERED CONDUCTED THERE ON THE CAMPUS AT THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF WHILE THE PERFORMANCE TESTING WILL BE ADMINISTERED HERE AT OUR TESTING CENTER. AND SPEAKING OF SPECIAL TESTING OPPORTUNITIES, OUR NEXT TWO DAY OUT-OF-STATE TESTING SESSION HAS ALREADY BEEN SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST. AND THAT IS DESIGNED FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE OUT OF STATE , AND THEY ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING BOTH THE TEP AND PERFORMANCE EXAM DURING A SINGLE TRIP. ARE SCHEDULED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY IS NOT FULL. WE HAVE FILLED ALL THE REMAINING SPOTS THAT WERE OPEN. SO, IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN THIS TYPE OF OPPORTUNITY IN THE FUTURE PLEASE NOTE THE NEXT ONE HAS ALREADY BEEN SCHEDULED FOR MARCH OF 2026. AND WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING SOME APPLICATIONS FOR THAT SPECIAL EVENT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THE BEI UPDATES TODAY. AND AS ALWAYS, OUR WORK WILL CONTINUE.THE BEI TEAM AND I CHAIR VASQUEZ, I'M READY TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. INC.
YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL THESE UPDATES THAT YOU PROVIDE SO DILIGENTLY.
I WAS WONDERING WHEN DIRT -- WHETHER ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS WITH THE DATA SHE JUST SHARED WITH US? ALL RIGHT.
[6. Discuss interpreter referral agencies using unqualified interpreters]
THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX IS A LIST OF ONGOING DISCUSSIONS AND CONCERNS THAT THE CURRENT BOARD HAS REGARDING A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT WE ARE INVESTIGATING AND ALSO LOOKING INTO FINDING A RESOLUTION. THE FIRST ONE IS RELATED TO REFERRAL AGENCIES USING UNQUALIFIED INTERPRETERS.THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO COME UP QUITE FREQUENTLY BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
AND I AM CURIOUS WHETHER THERE HAS BEEN ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION AMONG THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WAS DEALING WITH THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC. MS. WEBB, OR ANY OF THE OTHER MEMBERS WHO HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE WITH US, WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS ELAINA WEBB. THE SUBCOMMITTEES HAVE NOT MET IN THE LAST -- WELL, SINCE OUR LAST MEETING. AND DUE TO THE RESTRUCTURING AND REVIEW -- NOT SURE WHY IT IS ECHOING. OKAY.
JUST DUE TO RESTRUCTURING AND THE REVIEWS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN DHHS, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS THAT
[00:35:05]
WILL BE SEATED SOON, ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN DEFERRED . IS THAT CORRECT? I WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM GIVING THE RIGHT INFORMATION.IT'S IN THE PROCESS. OKAY. WE WILL BE MEETING AGAIN. WE ARE ON HOLD WITH THE NEW SIDE COMMITTEE MEETINGS UNTIL WE HAVE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE. AND DOCTOR HARRIS HAS JUST MENTIONED THAT THE INTERPRETER HAS FROZEN. I WILL WAIT JUST A SECOND. DOCTOR HARRIS, ARE YOU ABLE TO SEE THE INTERPRETER AGAIN? YES, OKAY, EXCELLENT. SO, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HAVE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS WE HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF INDIVIDUAL OFF-LINE IN SINGLES AND IN PAIRS RESEARCH INTO THIS AND CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE DISABILITY SERVICES WITH GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS COME TO LIGHT THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THIS THAT I THINK IS VERY CONCERNING, NUMBER ONE, AND KIND OF BACKS UP WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SAYING ABOUT THE NEED FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH OUR UNQUALIFIED, UNCERTIFIED INTERPRETERS ESPECIALLY IN THE SCHOOLS IS THAT THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, T EA, IS REQUIRED TO PUBLISH A LANGUAGE ACQUISITION REPORT EVERY YEAR . I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS UNTIL RECENTLY SINCE JANUARY. WE'VE DONE A LOT OF READING AND RESEARCH IN THAT .
SO FAR, TWO REPORTS WERE PUBLISHED, ONE FROM 2022 AND ONE FROM 2023. THE ONE FROM 2024 I UNDERSTAND IS STILL UNDER REVIEW AND WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON. I BELIEVE I SAW THE DUE DATE FOR THAT WAS BY JULY OF THIS YEAR IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. THE CONCERNING THING ABOUT IT WAS IN 2022 THE LANGUAGE ACQUISITION REPORT STATED THAT 68% OR MORE OF DEAF CHILDREN 0 TO 8 YEARS OF AGE WERE EITHER BEHIND -- BELOW OR SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW THAT OF THEIR HEARING PEERS AND SHOWED DEFINITE SIGNS OF LANGUAGE DEPRIVATION. IN 2023 , THAT NUMBER HAD INCREASED TO 72% OF OUR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN AGES 0 TO 8 IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS . THEY ARE NOW BELOW OR FAR BELOW THEIR HEARING PEERS AND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AND SHOWED DEFINITE SIGNS OF LANGUAGE DEPRIVATION. THE REPORTS DO NOT -- THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THE REPORT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE AS FAR AS IT'S RELATED TO THOSE WHO USE INTERPRETERS. ARE THOSE INTERPRETERS CERTIFIED? AT WHAT LEVEL ARE THEY CERTIFIED? HOW LONG? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. THE DISAGGREGATION DOES NOT GO QUITE THAT DEEP. BUT I THINK IT IS SIGNIFICANT TO SEE THAT NEARLY 3/4 OF OUR CHILDREN THAT ARE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING BELOW THE AGE OF 8 DON'T HAVE THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE. AND I THINK THAT I SEE A CORRELATION THERE THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND FURTHER STUDY . I SHARED THIS INFORMATION WITH A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS ON THE BOARD. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT OR NOT. I DO FEEL LIKE THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT THING THAT I DO FEEL LIKE PARENTS OF DEAF CHILDREN FOR SURE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT. IT IS WONDERFUL THAT THE REPORT IS THERE. BUT ONE THING THAT I SAW GLARINGLY MISSING WAS HOW THAT WAS BEING ADDRESSED, HOW THREE QUARTERS OF OUR CHILDREN , OUR DEAF KIDS ARE NOT BEING GIVEN THE LANGUAGE ACCESS THEY NEED. THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED IN THE REPORT. AND I AM KIND OF WARILY ANTICIPATING A 2024 REPORT TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING WITH IT. I AM INTERESTED TO HEAR IF ANYONE ELSE ON THE BOARD HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THAT REPORT OR EITHER OF THOSE REPORTS OR HAS ANY OTHER COMMENT THEY WOULD
[00:40:03]
>> HI, THANKS, ELAINA, FOR SENDING OVER THAT INFORMATION. I JUST HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO READ THROUGH IT. I AM DEFINITELY INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THE 2024 RESULTS YIELD. AND THIS LOOKS IN THE FUTURE TO BE A POSSIBLE GREAT COLLABORATION WITH, YOU KNOW, EDUCATION SERVICE CENTERS, AND OUR ES PD'S, AND THEIR DIRECTORS TO SEE HOW WE CAN ENCOURAGE WORKING PROFESSIONALS, CERTIFIED, NONCERTIFIED, AND INTERPRETING STUDENTS TO BE MORE AWARE OF THIS INFORMATION. AND BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IN GENERAL PEOPLE GET VERY -- PEOPLE HEAR THINGS AND WE KNOW HOW THE TELEPHONE GAME WORKS. BUT I REALLY APPRECIATED HAVING THIS DATA BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT DATA IS WHAT ULTIMATELY WILL ENABLE US TO DRIVE SOME CHANGE. AND SO, I HOPE TO USE THAT ALONG WITH ANY OTHER DATA WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO LOOK AT. I REALLY WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR GOING, FOR DOING GOD, FOR SHARING THAT WITH US. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THIS
INFORMATION. >> YOU ARE MUTED, MARTIN.
>> MS. GODBOLT, PLEASE. >> GOOD MORNING. SORRY, I'M TRYING TO COLLECT MY THOUGHTS. I AM ACTUALLY PART OF THE TEAM THAT DOES OUR MONITORING AT TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF. I DON'T -- I GUESS I'M TRYING TO BE CAREFUL TO NOT SPEAK OUT OF TURN. I CAN SAY THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN NUMBER OF APPROVED ASSESSMENTS THAT CAN BE USED IN ORDER TO COLLECT THIS DATA. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING WE ARE SEEING IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IS THEY ARE GRAPPLING WITH HAVING QUALIFIED STAFF TO EVEN ADMINISTER SOME OF THE ASSESSMENTS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT SPECIFICALLY THE SIGN LANGUAGE ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE APPROVED IN ORDER TO BECOME A CREDENTIAL EVALUATOR, THE STANDARDS ARE INCREDIBLY RIGOROUS, AS THEY SHOULD BE. AND AT THE SAME TIME, I WOULD FEEL CONFIDENT SAYING THEY WIDELY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO MEET THE CREDENTIALING STANDARD TO PROVIDE THE EVALUATIONS. AND SO, I THINK THAT IS POSSIBLY AN AREA FOR GROWTH FOR STAFF STATEWIDE TO GET THOSE CREDENTIALS AS AN EVALUATOR AND TRULY GIVE AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF WHAT OUR STUDENTS -- HOW THEY ARE ABLE TO PERFORM IN TERMS OF LANGUAGE ACQUISITION. SO, JUST I KNOW AT LEAST ON OUR END THIS HAS BEEN GROWING PAINS IN TERMS OF DEVELOPING SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES TO BE ABLE TO MONITOR A LOT OF STUDENTS AND ENSURING ALL OUR FOLKS ARE WELL QUALIFIED TO ADMINISTER THOSE. I KNOW DISTRICTS STATEWIDE ARE STRUGGLING TO FIGURE OUT THEIR OWN SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES. I'M HOPING TO SEE INTERVENTIONS HAPPEN. AND GETTING BETTER SUPPORTS FOR OUR STUDENTS IN
PLACE. >> THANK YOU, MS. GODBOLT. MS.
ARINARO? >> THANK YOU, CHAIR VODKA HAS.
CHAIR VASQUEZ. LEAH HAD ONE FOLLOW-UP. IF THIS IS OUT OF ORDER, THIS MAY BE SOMETHING TO DISCUSS AT A DIFFERENT TIME. YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW, LEE, IF THE STATE OF TEXAS IS ONLY USING RATERS OR EVALUATORS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS? OR ARE THEY USING PEOPLE FROM OTHER PLACES? AND AGAIN, IF THAT IS OUT OF OUR PURVIEW, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I CAN ASK LEE LATER.
>> TO MY KNOWLEDGE IT IS INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF
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WHO ARE THE ONES WHO ARE EVALUATORS. I KNOW AT LEAST ON OUR END THERE ARE NO OUTSIDE EVALUATORS. IT IS ALL INTERNAL.SO I WOULD VENTURE TO GUESS THAT IS THE SAME THING THAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
>> THANK YOU, LEE. >> THANK YOU BOTH. MS. WEBB?
>> THANK YOU. LEE, I DID NOTICE THAT, TOO. THERE ARE VERY FEW ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE APPROVED FOR USE. REPORT ACTUALLY HAS QUITE A LOT OF INFORMATION IN IT. AND I WANT TO SAY IN 2023 THERE WERE AROUND 200 STUDENTS OR SO WHO WERE ASSESSED. AND SOME OF THEIR -- IT'S NOT COMPLETE. IT'S A GROWING PROCESS. I LOVE HOW YOU SAID IT'S GROWING PAINS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS BETTER. AND SOME OF THE PARENTS IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY DID NOT CONSENT TO HAVING THEIR CHILDREN ASSESSED. SOME OF THE CHILDREN WERE ASSESSED BY TOOLS THAT WERE NOT APPROVED AND SO COULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE NUMBERS. I THINK , GOING BACK TO WHAT MS. ARINARO SAID, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORT AND POTENTIALLY REQUEST FUNDING IN FUTURE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS TO HELP TRAIN EVALUATORS MORE TO MAYBE IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL TOOLS THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO ASSESS THE STUDENTS. I STILL LIKE TO SEE FURTHER DISAGGREGATION SINCE WE ARE SEEING OVER 150 UNCERTIFIED UNQUALIFIED INTERPRETERS IN THE SCHOOLS AND WE ARE SEEING THREE QUARTERS OF THOSE STUDENTS UNDER THE AGE OF 8 NOT HAVING LANGUAGE SKILLS THEY NEED TO HAVE . I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A FUTURE REPORT TO DISAGGREGATE THE INFORMATION A LITTLE MORE SO WE CAN SEE IF THERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION.
CURRENTLY, IT SEEMS -- I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD SAY IT'S EMPIRICAL. IT SEEMS ANECDOTAL BECAUSE THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THEY ARE. THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS OR THE STRUCTURE YET TO SEE HOW THAT IS DIRECTLY RELATED. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I FEEL LIKE IF THERE IS A WAY WE COULD SUPPORT THAT AND RECOMMEND MAYBE IF DEI CAN WORK WITH TA AND TRIED TO HELP DO SOMETHING IF WE CAN WORK WITH TRAINING AND EDUCATION TO TRY TO HELP INCREASE THE POOL OF EVALUATORS AND THE -- I GUESS, TOOL BELTS FROM AN INTERPRETER INS -- PERSPECTIVE , WE SAY TOOLS IN THE TOOL BELT, HAVE TOOLS AVAILABLE THAT WOULD ACCURATELY DETERMINE IF WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS REALLY WHAT IT IS.
IT SEEMS LIKE A GLARING PROBLEM . REALLY THE REASON I BROUGHT IT UP TODAY IS BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE OF. WE KNOW THE PUBLIC IS THERE. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE REPORT SINCE ITS INCEPTION. I WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. THE MORE I LEARN THE MORE I REALIZE, OKAY, SO THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN SAYING IMPLICITLY, THE THINGS WE HAVE ALL KIND OF KNOWN BUT NOT REALLY TALKED ABOUT, THERE IS ACTUALLY DATA OUT THERE AS MS. ARIANNA SAID. THAT'S WHAT DRIVES CHANGE. THERE IS DATA. I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO KNOW ABOUT IT, BE AWARE OF IT, KNOWING THE 2024 REPORT IS SOON TO BE RELEASED . I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO COMPARE THREE SETS, THREE REPORTS, AND SEEING WHAT TYPES OF CHANGE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT FOR THE REPORT THAT IS GOING TO BE DONE IN 2025, 2026 AND FURTHER. SO, I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THANK YOU, MS. WEBB. AS YOU STATED, THOSE NUMBERS ARE ALARMING FOR THE YEAR 2022 AND YEAR 2023 REPORT . FROM 68 TO 72, AND PERHAPS THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES AFFECTING THAT AS WELL DEADLY BECAUSE AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS A MULTI TIERED ISSUE. HOWEVER, ULTIMATELY, WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THERE IS A LACK OF LANGUAGE EDUCATION THAT WE EXPECT AT THAT AGE SO THAT -- BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THEIR LIVES FROM THAT POINT FORWARD. THEREFORE, WE SHOULD ALL BE INTERESTED IN TRYING TO FIND A WORKABLE SOLUTION SO THAT THIS BECOMES A
[00:50:03]
NUMBER THAT IS LESSENED OVER TIME SIMPLY BECAUSE THOSE NUMBERS ARE UNACCEPTABLE . OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN'T LAY THIS AT THE FEET OF UNCERTIFIED INTERPRETERS, UNQUALIFIED AND UNCERTIFIED SIGNERS. BUT WE ALL NEED TO BEAR THAT RESPONSIBILITY IN A MORE NOBLE FASHION SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO ELIMINATE THAT DISPARITY. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR POINTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ? MS. WEBB, PLEASE.>> I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY DEFER BECAUSE I ALWAYS HAVE COMMENTS.
I WILL SEE DOCTOR HARRIS AND REFER TO DOCTOR HARRIS.
>> HELLO. SO, I AM A LITTLE BIT BEHIND BECAUSE ALSO DURING THE TRANSITION THE INTERPRETER GOING TO ANOTHER ONE, THE FIRST INTERPRETER WENT OFFSCREEN AND THE SPOTLIGHT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY DONE ON THE SECOND INTERPRETER. GETTING MY BEARINGS TOGETHER AND CATCHING UP ON THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WORKING DILIGENTLY BEHIND-THE-SCENES SO WE MAKE SURE THE DEAF COMMUNITY HAS ACCESS TO THE MEETING. SO, BACK TO THE POINT, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR MENTIONING AND DISCUSSING ABOUT THE TDA REPORT. I ALSO READ THROUGH THAT AND WAS QUITE APPALLED. IT'S A SERIOUS CONCERN WE HAVE GOING ON. WE ARE CLOSE TO THE 75% RANGE OF DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS IN THE AREA OF TEXAS BEING BEHIND AND BEING SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW THEIR HEARING PEERS WITH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION, SO THAT'S VERY CONCERNING YOU ARE SAYING THEM AGES 0 TO 8 DIG, THAT MEANS GOING FORWARD WITH THAT, THEIR LIFE, THEIR WORK OPPORTUNITIES, ACADEMIC POSSIBILITIES, READING AND WRITING, THEY WILL BE HEAVILY RELIANT ON STATE RESOURCES, STATE SUPPORT, STATE SUPPORTS FOR THEM JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THE EDUCATION AND THE BACK BONE THERE IN ORDER TO BUILD THE FOUNDATION IN ORDER TO GRADUATE FROM SCHOOL. AND SO, IT IS BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE NOT BEING PAID BY THE STATE SO IF WE ALL GOT TOGETHER AND ALL INVESTED OUR TIME IN THE 0 TO 8 RANGE THEN I THINK WE COULD BECOME STRONGER AS ESTATE. I MEAN, I HAD TEXAS CITIZENS, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE DEAF, HEARING, HARD OF HEARING, DEAF BLIND, I'M GLAD EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT THIS IN THE 2023 REPORT IN THE 2024 REPORT DATA COLLECTION -- HAVING THE DATA IS IMPERATIVE. HAVING DATA IN PLACE, HAVING THE STRENGTH OF THE DATA TO BACK IT UP DOES DEFINITELY PROMOTE CHANGE. SO, I'M NOT SURE IF ANYBODY MENTIONED IT BECAUSE I HAD A NEW ORGANIZATION THAT CAME TO MY ATTENTION I THINK IT IS NATIONAL AGENCY OF INTERPRETERS IN EDUCATION, AND AIE. IT SEEMS THEY ARE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON K-12 INTERPRETERS I'M NOT SURE IF ANYBODY KNEW ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION IT IS BI AWARE OF THEM -- HAS ANYBODY HAD CONTACT WITH HIM -- HAS ANYBODY HAD DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE THEY SEEM PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON INTERPRETERS THROUGH THE K-12
DOMAIN SO I'M JUST CURIOUS! >> MS. WEBB?
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR HARRIS. THAT WAS THE NEXT THING I WAS GOING TO MENTION. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH AND DONNELLY WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERPRETERS IN EDUCATION. THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING A CREDENTIAL NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIAL FOR EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETERS .
THEY ARE IN THE NASCENT STAGES. THEY HAVE JUST LAUNCHED THE JOB TASK ANALYSIS. I FORWARDED IT TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS I COULD . I BELIEVE IT CLOSES APRIL THE 22ND , SO IN A COUPLE WEEKS. I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THAT YET, GO TO GOOGLE.
LOOK AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERPRETERS EDUCATION WEBSITE , AND CLICK ON THE LINK TO THE JOB TASK ANALYSIS. THEY ARE COLLECTING DATA. THEY HAVE WRITTEN A WHITE PAPER THAT IS FASCINATING TO READ. IT HAS SOME WONDERFUL LANGUAGE IN IT THAT I THINK THAT WE COULD USE WITH TE A TO HELP SUPPORT UNDER EMILY HEISS -- HAS SPOKEN WITH US AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES SHE IS FACING IN TRYING TO JUST MANAGE ALL OF THE
[00:55:05]
L EA'S ACROSS THE STATE. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT NAIE MIGHT BE A PARTNER OR POTENTIAL SOLUTION IN THIS. THE WHITE PAPER THAT THEY PUBLISHED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO -- I CAN'T REMEMBER NOW WHEN THE PAPER WAS PUBLISHED. READING THROUGH THAT HAD SOME GREAT LANGUAGE IN IT . IT SPECIFIED THE UNIQUE POSITION OF EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETERS. AND ONE OF THE CLEAR THINGS THAT WE KNEW THAT REALLY HAS NOT BEEN STATED, THE JOB IS VERY DIFFICULT . IT IS -- YOU ARE AN ADULT WORKING UNDER A CONTRACT FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO THERE'S ALREADY ADDITIONAL DUTIES BEYOND THAT WHICH A NORMAL INTERPRETER IN THE COMMUNITY WOULD DO. BUT THE MOST UNIQUE THING ABOUT IT IS YOU SERVE AS A LANGUAGE MODEL FOR MOST OF THE CHILDREN THAT YOU INTERPRET FOR. AND THAT IS ESPECIALLY IN THE 0 TO 8 YEAR RANGE. THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT COMMUNITY INTERPRETERS TYPICALLY DO. THAT'S NOT A JOB RESPONSIBILITY YOU TYPICALLY FACE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THE WHITE PAPER HAD SOME GREAT LANGUAGE IN THERE ABOUT THE UNIQUE ROLES OF EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETERS. THEY HAVE STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS. -- BASED ON EDUCATION , CONSIDERATION FOR COGNITIVE FATIGUE, COGNITIVE LOAD, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT INTERPRETERS IN THE EDUCATIONAL SETTING HAVE SAID FOR YEARS THAT SEEMED TO KIND OF GET OVERLOOKED IN THE SHUFFLE FOR THERE IS NOT ENOUGH OF SO WE MAKE DO WITH WHAT WE HAVE. BEI FOLLOWED A VERY DISTINCT PROCESS WHEN WE CREATED OUR CURRENT TESTING SYSTEM. IT IS VALID. IT IS RELIABLE AND IT IS LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT WAS CREATED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. I HAVE DONE SOME INITIAL RESEARCH WITH NAIE'S PROCESS AND IT SEEMS TO FOLLOW A VERY SIMILAR PATTERN. DEI IS VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT RECOGNIZING THE RECIPROCATION OF ANY CERTIFICATION BECAUSE WE DON'T OWN THE TESTING PROCESS. SO ONE OF THE REASONS I WANTED TO BRING UP NAIE IS BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE VERY BEGINNING STAGES. THEY SEEM TO BE HAVING A VERY RELIABLE TEST DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, AND IT MIGHT BE A GREAT IDEA FOR BEI, TIEE AND NAIE TO GET TOGETHER NOW AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO CREATE A REALISTIC WAY TO CLOSE THE GAP FOR OUR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS. I SEE OTHER HANDS, I THINK? DO I SEE OTHER HANDS? PLEASE READ -- PLEASE READ THE WHITE PAPER THAT IS OUT. PLEASE TAKE THE JOB TEST ANALYSIS SURVEY THAT HAS BEEN SENT OUT. I WILL BE WATCHING THIS CLOSELY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS TO SEE WHERE THIS GOES. I AM HOPING THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BEI WOULD CONSIDER AT LEAST LOOKING INTO AS A WAY -- I THINK THE ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH MY HEAD OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS AS I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS IS WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME THINGS WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE , OR WE ARE GOING TO GET THE SAME RESULTS WE HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN. AND 70 -- NEARLY 75% LIKE DOCTOR HARRIS SAID, NEARLY 75% OF OUR KIDS NOT HAVING THE LANGUAGE ACQUISITION THEY NEED IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE. WE CAN'T DO THAT MOVING FORWARD. SO, I'M HOPING WE CAN LOOK AT THESE OTHER OPTIONS AS A WAY TO TRY TO CLOSE THOSE GAPS.>> THANK YOU, MS. WEBB. THOSE ARE VERY COMPELLING ARGUMENTS.
MISS ARINARO? >> THANK YOU, CHAIR VASQUEZ. MS. WEBB, I AGREE THOSE ARE COMPELLING ARGUMENTS INDEED .
AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A QUICK NOD TO AND -- PERHAPS GIVE THIS EQUATION HERE, WHATEVER IT TURNS OUT TO BE LATER, I WOULD LOVE FOR US EVEN THOUGH WE ARE COMING FROM THE INTERPRETING ASPECT OF IT, IT IS REALLY SCARY FOR ME TO THINK OF SECOND -- PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHO LEARNED AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AS A SECOND OR THIRD LANGUAGE SERVING AS LANGUAGE MODELS. AND I JUST WANT TO PUT AN EMPHASIS ON THE AMAZING THINGS I HAVE SEEN WITH STUDENTS DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING, DEAF BLIND STUDENTS WHO ARE BENEFITING FROM THE DEAF STAFF INCLUDING, YOU KNOW,
[01:00:06]
INSTRUCTORS, PARAPROFESSIONALS. SO, I AM HOPING WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE ALSO PART OF THE EQUATION BECAUSE THEY ARE SUCH -- WE KNOW, INCREDIBLE LANGUAGE MODELS FOR THOSE STUDENTS. AND ALSO I AM THINKING, JUST WANT TO MAKE NOTE, TOO, THE PARENT INFANT PROGRAM SEEMS ALSO A GOOD PLACE REALLY INFORMATION -- TO THE PARENTS AND JUST KIND OF GIVING A LITTLE BIT OF WHO ELSE I WOULD LOVE TO INCLUDE AND -- WHEN THETIME COMES -- THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU MISS ARINARO. MISS WEBB, DID YOU HAVE FURTHER COMMENT? WEBB, PLEASE?
>> MARTIN AND I ARE PLAYING WITH THE MICROPHONES TODAY. I'M SORRY. IT HAS BEEN A LITTLE CHALLENGE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REMEMBERED FROM THE NAIE REPORT THAT I KIND OF WANTED TO BRING IT TO MS. GODBOLT BECAUSE SHE SAID IT IS A CHALLENGE TO GET EVALUATORS QUALIFIED, IT IS VERY STRINGENT. ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE WHITE PAPER THAT NAIE PUBLISHED -- BLESS YOU BOTH. ALLERGIES ARE A PROBLEM RIGHT NOW. ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE PAPER WAS THAT INTERPRETER EVALUATORS BE CREATED. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE A POSITION WITH TE A, OR IN THE STATE, JUST HAVING THE ADVANCED CREDENTIALS, THE ADVANCED EXPERTISE , TO BE ABLE TO ARTICULATE WHAT IS MISSING, TO BE ABLE TO ARTICULATE WHAT IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO REACH THESE STUDENTS, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS SOMETHING MAYBE WE COULD PARTNER WITH MS. GODBOLT AND THE SOC, I FEEL LIKE CHRISTINA ARINARO'S -- I HAD NOT EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT INFANT -- BUT THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CLOSE THIS GAP. SO, I KNOW JUST THE WORK THAT I HAVE DONE IN THE LAST MONTH, THE TEXAS SOCIETY OF INTERPRETERS FOR THE DEAF, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER HOW MS. KATE DOES NOT WANT TO USE JARGON, BUT TS IDS POLICY AND ADVOCACY COMMITTEE , A WORK GROUP UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, THE BEI BOARD , AND ARE TWO SUBCOMMITTEES THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON ARE ALL KIND OF FOCUSED ON THE SAME THING. AND I THINK THAT SHOWS A COUPLE THINGS, ONE, WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. WE ARE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS. IT IS BEING RECOGNIZED BEYOND JUST THE WEALTH OF OUR MEETING ROOM HERE . ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS COME UP IN EVERY ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN IN HAS BEEN THE DESPERATE NEED FOR US TO GET A DEFINITION FOR WHAT IS A COMMUNICATION ASSISTANT. WHAT IS A COMMUNICATION FACILITATOR? THOSE TERMS ARE OFTEN INTERCHANGED, BUT PART OF THE LE A PROTOCOL HAS BEEN TO USE THOSE IN PLACE OF CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS IN THE SCHOOL. IF WE COULD GET A VERY CLEAR DEFINITION OF COMMUNICATION ASSISTANCE AND HOW THAT IS CLEARLY DIFFERENT FROM A CERTIFIED INTERPRETER, THAT WOULD HELP TREMENDOUSLY. THAT WAS A CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH MISS DONNELLY WITH AN AIE.
SHE, I BELIEVE, IS FROM OHIO. I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY. SHE SAID THEY DON'T HAVE THAT THERE. THAT IS SOMETHING MORE TO TEXAS. I DID TALK WITH SOMEONE IN FLORIDA AND THEY SAID THEY DO HAVE -- THEY DON'T CALL THEM COMMUNICATION ASSISTANCE OR COMMUNICATION FACILITATORS. THEY JUST CALL THEM CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS. THAT I THINK HERE IN TEXAS BECAUSE THAT IS A TERM THAT IS VERY COMMONLY USED IF WE COULD GET A CLEAR DEFINITION OF WHAT IS -- WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A COMMUNICATION ASSISTANT OR COMMUNICATION FACILITATOR DELINEATED FROM WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A CERTIFIED INTERPRETER, THAT WOULD HELP GET US STARTED AND MAYBE GIVE A LITTLE MORE POWER TO WHAT TA CAN DO WITH THAT. THE OTHER THING I TALKED WITH ALL THESE OTHER PLACES ABOUT , THERE NEEDS TO BE LANGUAGE ENFORCEMENT INCLUDED IN THE LAWS. THAT WILL TAKE CODE CHANGES. THAT WILL BE MORE WHAT WE CAN DO HERE. I FEEL LIKE WE ARE IN A GOOD POSITION FOR US TO RECOMMEND THAT THE EXISTING LAWS, EDUCATIONAL 29 304, I THINK -- NEEDS TO HAVE
[01:05:06]
TEETH ADDED TO IT. IT NEEDS TO HAVE SPECIFIC ENFORCEABILITY LANGUAGE INCLUDED IN THAT . SO DOES OUR GOVERNMENT CODE 57 THAT HAS THE COURT INTERPRETER CLAUSE. WE KNOW THOSE LAWS EXIST BUT WE FOUND OUT SPECIFICALLY OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS PARTICULARLY THAT ALL OF THE LAWS EXIST. THERE IS NO ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE THERE'S NO TEETH. IT IS DIFFICULT TO CHASE DOWN THOSE FOLKS. THESE ARE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT I WOULD LIKE OUR BOARD TO EXPLORE MORE AND I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND WE LOOK INTO THESE TASKS OF PARTNERSHIPS TOCLOSE THESE GAPS. >> MS. GODBOLT? I TURNED IT OFF
WHEN I SHOULD HAVE TURNED IT ON. >> JUST TO RESPOND TO MISS WEBB, OBVIOUSLY, I CAN'T COMMIT THE STATEWIDE OUTREACH CENTER TO ANY NEW PROJECTS WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT. HOWEVER, JUST TWO SEPARATE THINGS. ENSURING WE HAVE QUALIFIED EVALUATORS FOR LANGUAGE ACQUISITION MONITORING , IT'S A HUGE UNDERTAKING. AND I THINK THAT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO SORT OUT WHAT THAT EVEN LOOKS LIKE. NOW, IN RESPONSE TO TRAINING FOR EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETERS AND FOLKS HELPING DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING KIDS ACROSS THE STATE, I WANT TO FIRST MENTION THERE WAS A STUDY THAT WAS PUBLISHED NOT LONG AGO IN 2021. IT WAS ACTUALLY STUDYING CORTISOL LEVELS IN INTERPRETERS AND EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETERS WERE ACTUALLY OFF THE CHARTS. AND THOSE HIGHER CORTISOL LEVELS BEFORE LATE INTO CHRONIC STRESS AND CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS. SO THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WHEN HER EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETERS ARE FACING ON A DAILY BASIS IS INCREDIBLE. AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A LACK OF SUPPORT FOR THEM WHETHER IT BE IN THE FORM OF PAY , IN THE FORM OF TRAINING, IN THE FORM OF GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES, THERE IS DEFINITELY A LACK THERE. THAT BEING SAID, I AM HAPPY TO LET YOU KNOW A SMALL VICTORY IS THAT MY TEAM IS ACTUALLY PILOTING A PROGRAM WITH A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN REGION NINE. AND WE WILL BE DOING A SIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY INTERVIEW FOR ALL OF THEIR STAFF WITHIN THE RDS PD AND BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THAT WE ARE PROVIDING TARGETED LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RELATED TO ENHANCING THEIR LANGUAGE SKILLS IN THE CLASSROOM. SO, I AM EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THAT GOES. I SUSPECT IT'S GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL. AND WE ARE GOING TO OPEN UP A CAN OF WORMS FOR OUR TEAM TO BE SUPPORTING ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE. SO, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT COMES OF THAT. WE ARE A SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM AND I RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED MORE FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR
KIDS STATEWIDE. >> THANK YOU, MS. GODBOLT. I WANTED TO JUST CLARIFY, YOU MADE A REFERENCE TO RDS PD, WE KNOW DAY SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR THE DEAF THAT EXISTS THROUGHOUT THE VARIOUS REGIONS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE GET SO CAUGHT UP AND SO PASSIONATE WITH WHAT WE ARE SAYING THAT SOMETIMES WE FORGET.
I AM JUST SUPPORTING YOU FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH WHAT YOU MENTIONED. TANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US. I WANTED TO MAKE A CORRELATION AND I WILL INVITE FURTHER COMMENTS AS WELL. I WANTED TO MAKE A CORRELATION BETWEEN THIS LANGUAGE DEPRIVATION OF CHILDREN FROM ZERO TO 8, THAT IS A CRITICAL TIME IN DEVELOPMENT IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE FOR CHILDREN . THERE IS LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. THE BODY IS DEVELOPING AS WELL.
AND IF WE COMPARED THIS TO LACK OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD, WE WOULD SEE A TREMENDOUS ABILITY ON BEHALF OF THE CHILD. AND WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE QUITE APPALLED WITH THE LACK OF RESOURCES BEING PROVIDED. IN THE SAME WAY, THE MIND IS SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY NEEDS NUTRITIOUS FOOD BUT ALSO NEEDS THE KIND OF FOOD THAT GOES
[01:10:05]
INTO THE BRAIN AND HELPS THEM TO DEVELOP THEIR LANGUAGE, THEIR CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER THINGS. AS DOCTOR HARRIS MENTIONED ABOUT HOW THIS IMPACTS CHILDREN IN THE LONG RUN, THAT MEANS IN SCHOOL, A FAILURE TO HAVE LANGUAGE, APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE AND DEVELOP THOSE CRITICAL SKILLS IS GOING TO IMPACT THEM ACADEMICALLY. IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THEM AS THEY START TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL AND GO INTO THE WORKFORCE AND BECOME GAINFULLY EMPLOYED. SO, THIS IS A MATTER THAT IS SIGNIFICANT. AND ALSO, THE FACT THAT THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS NAIE AND TEA, AND BEI AS WELL AS THE TEXAS SOCIETY FOR INTERPRETERS FOR THE DEAF, TSID, PART OF OUR ALPHABET SOUP THAT WE LOVE TO EAT AT OTHER AGENCIES I AM SURE ARE LOOKING INTO THIS BECAUSE IT SEEMS IT IS THE TIME TO DO IT BECAUSE WE ARE ALL RECOGNIZING HOW IMPACTFUL THIS IS NOT ONLY FOR THESE CHILDREN BUT ALSO FOR OUR SOCIETY AND I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE, HOW THIS WILL IMPACT FUTURE CITIZENS AND FUTURE POSSIBILITIES. MISS WEBB, DIDYOU HAVE FURTHER COMMENTS? >> I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THIS IN PARTICULAR. I DO ON OUR NEXT COUPLE AGENDA ITEMS. AGAIN I WANT TO CIRCLE BACK TO SAY I THINK WE ARE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AND I THINK THAT IS BORN FROM THE FACT THAT MULTIPLE ENTITIES ARE ASKING THE SAME QUESTIONS AND IT IS NOT A BLAME GAME. I THINK IT IS A RECOGNITION OF, THERE IS AN ISSUE AND WE HAVE DATA. WE CAN GET DATA TO HELP WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS I GUESS COULD BE TIED INTO THIS, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE HERE IN THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MENTIONED BEFORE HAS BEEN POTENTIALLY INCREASING THE EDUCATION REQUIREMENT FOR THOSE WORKING AS INTERPRETERS. THE NAIE, PLEASE READ THEIR WHITE PAPER. BUT ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS THAT INTERPRETERS AND EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS HAVE BACHELORS DEGREES FOCUSED ON THINGS LIKE CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL THEORY. OTHER THINGS THAT ARE VERY RELEVANT TO WORKING WITH THOSE KIDS IN THOSE VULNERABLE AGE GROUPS -- AND I LOVE THE COMMENT TO -- AGAIN, THESE ARE THINGS I HAD NOT THOUGHT OF. LIVING IN A FOOD DESERT WHERE THERE IS NOWHERE TO GET HEALTHY FOOD WITHIN A MILE OF WHERE THEY LIVE SERIOUSLY IMPACTS ANY CHILD'S ABILITY TO LEARN, GROW AND INK. YOU ADD THAT ON TOP OF THOSE WITH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION DELAYS AND IT JUST COMPOUNDS THE PROBLEM.
SO, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN PART OF THIS DISCUSSION TO SAY WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THE SOLUTIONS, WE NEED TO BE WORKING WITH A TEAM, A LARGER TEAM THAN JUST OUR INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES. I THINK, AGAIN, WE HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WE HAVE BEEN DOING SO WE CAN DO BETTER
FOR OUR KIDS FUTURES. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYONE.
AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE IF I'M SPEAKING OUT OF TURN. THIS IS KEISHA ROWE. I WANTED TO WEIGH IN ON A FEW THINGS RELATED TO WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT THE BLIND CHILDREN'S PROGRAM WHICH IS ALSO IN HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE HAS REALLY ENGAGED IN THIS LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AND SELF-WORTH AS IT RELATES TO CHILDREN WHO ARE BLIND OR DEAF BLIND. I SAW YOU MENTION ECI.
THERE HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS WITH ECI AS WELL. I THINK THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONSIDER ACROSS THE SPECTRUM BECAUSE LINKAGE ACQUISITION FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IS DIFFERENT.
OF COURSE YOU WILL KNOW THAT PART. AND HOW WE WORK WITH THEM WITH THE SHORTAGES WE ARE ALL ENCOUNTERING AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHETHER IT'S VISUAL IMPAIRMENT TEACHERS OR EDUCATION, YOU KNOW, INTERPRETERS, IS SOMETHING WE
[01:15:02]
CAN WORK ON. I ALSO WANT TO REMIND THE BOARD ABOUT THE SUNSET ADVISORY COMMISSION. IT IS GOING TO BE STUDYING THE AGENCY NEXT YEAR. ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES THAT WAS LEFT PENDING WHEN FOR INTERPRETING. SHOULD BE REGULATE? SHOULD WE GO FURTHER BEYOND WHAT WE ARE DOING? SHUT OUR REACH BE LONGER THAN IT IS? AND IT SOUNDS LIKE ALL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE IDEAL FOR AS WE GO THROUGH THE SUNSET WHAT SHOULD BE OUR ROLE, HOW SHOULD WE BE CHANGING OUR CURRENT CODE? AND THOSE ARE THINGS THE SUNSET COMMISSION IS GOING TO BE LOOKING TO US TO GIVE THEM GUIDANCE OR AT LEAST BE INVESTIGATING. SO I THINK MAYBE AS YOU ALL THINK ABOUT IT MAY BE MOVING FORWARD WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ROLE OF THE BEI IS IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE CERTAINLY SUNSET ALWAYS ASKS THE AGENCIES AND THE BOARDS WHAT ARE THE ISSUES ON THE HORIZON, WHAT SHOULD WE BE ADDRESSING AS PART OF THEIR REVIEW? SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THOSE TWO THINGSOUT THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US, MISS ROWE. I THINK THAT REALLY HELPS US TO SEE HOW THIS IS -- WHAT ABOUT NOW? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? A LITTLE LEVITY FOR THE SERIOUSNESS THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING. AGAIN, THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION. IT REALLY HELPS US TO SEE THIS IS A VERY TIMELY MANNER -- MATTER. AND OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES LOOKING OUT AT THIS AND TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT TO DO BUT RATHER SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE STATE AND OTHER AGENCIES ESPECIALLY DEALING WITH EDUCATION AND DEALING WITH CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION. THAT ACTUALLY HELPS US TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR PARTNERSHIPS. THANK YOU. MISS WEBB, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE CERTAINLY HAVE HAD AN
[7. Discuss criteria and methodology when determining BEI certified interpreter disciplinary action]
INTERESTING CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS TOPIC AS WE ALWAYS DO. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE MORE AND MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE. IF THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER, WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. AND OUR CONVERSATION HERE, OUR DISCUSSION IS RELATED TO THE CRITERIA THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT WHEN DETERMINING WHETHER BEI CERTIFIED INTERPRETER -- WHEN THEY ARE FACING DISCIPLINARY ACTION, WHAT ARE STEPS SHOULD BE. HOW WE SHOULD BE APPROACHING THIS. AND AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN TO MISS WEBB BECAUSE SHE WAS ALSO LEADING THAT. SHE WAS INVOLVED IN THAT SUBCOMMITTEE AS WELL AS WELL AS SOME OF OUROTHER MEMBERS. >> THANKS. YES, SO AGAIN, THE SUBCOMMITTEE ITSELF HAS NOT MET SINCE OUR PREVIOUS MEETING. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT AND HAD PUT OUT THERE AGAIN, AND I THINK THIS IS AGAIN ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT MAY BE IN A KIND OF HOLDING PATTERN UNTIL SEPTEMBER, THAT IN LIGHT OF WHAT MISS ROWE MENTIONED AND ALL OF THAT, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT AND LOOK AT IF WE DO NEED TO EXTEND THE SCOPE BEYOND WHAT WE ARE, I THINK THERE ARE MISCONCEPTIONS OUT ACROSS THE STATE ON WHAT BEI -- WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE CAN DO, WHAT ARE SCOPE IS. WE MENTIONED MANY TIMES BEFORE. WE ARE NOT A POLICING AGENCY. WE DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DISCIPLINE THOSE WHO ARE NOT UNDER BEI CERTIFICATION.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO -- IT'S KIND OF A CART BEFORE THE HORSE. WE NEED TO PUT SOME THINGS IN PLACE THAT ALLOW US BEI TO HAVE A GREATER SCOPE THAN WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST IS TARGETED -- WHAT DO WE CALL IT -- IN TERMS OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION, TARGETED EDUCATION ON SPECIFIC VIOLATIONS OF ETHICAL BEHAVIOR, AND THEN POTENTIALLY HAVE THE PERSON WHO IS UNDER INVESTIGATION, UNDER DISCIPLINE, HAVE THEM WRITE A REFLECTIVE PAPER THAT IS REQUIRED AS PART OF THE COMPLETION OF THEIR DISCIPLINARY MEASURES SO THAT IT'S -- HOW DO I -- NOT JUST THAT I COMPLETED
[01:20:03]
THESE HOURS, BUT HOW DO I APPLY THOSE HOURS TO MY BEHAVIOR, WHAT WILL I DO MOVING FORWARD, WHAT DID I LEARN, THINGS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN JUST HISTORICALLY, WE HAVE JUST REQUIRED ADDITIONAL TRAINING, ETHICAL TRAINING, CORE TRAINING, WHATEVER IT IS. BUT IT HAS NOT SEEMED TO MAKE AN IMPACT. THERE ARE CONTINUING DISCUSSIONS ON -- I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE THIS IS THE -- ARE WE -- YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HELP ME WITH THIS.ARE WE TALKING ABOUT BOTH SUBCOMMITTEES RIGHT NOW? THE USE OF INTERPRETER REFERRAL AGENCIES AND INTERPRETERS DISCIPLINARY ACTION? JUST GO AHEAD AND DO BOTH OF THEM? OKAY. THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT I BELIEVE MS. ADDIE IS STILL RESEARCHING THE ANSWERS TO, AND IS STILL GOING TO REVIEW. AND APPROVAL FOR THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT THE QUESTIONS WE PRESENTED TO MS. ADDIE PREVIOUSLY ARE STILL PENDING. IS IT CONSIDERED MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS IF A STATE AGENCY USING AN UNCERTIFIED INTERPRETER USING THE LANGUAGE THAT IS ALREADY IN THE LAWS? IS IT POSSIBLE FOR INTERPRETERS TO BE CLASSIFIED UNDER EXISTING CODES, EXISTING POLICIES? THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT ARE STILL OUT THERE THAT ARE PENDING. JUST -- WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MORE ANSWERS IN SEPTEMBER ONCE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HHS AND DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES BOTH TO COMPLETE THE REVIEW, TO COMPLETE THE LANGUAGE REVIEW SO WE CAN HAVE THOSE. I THINK WE NEED TO BE CONSIDERING PUTTING THAT CART FIRST. WHAT DO WE NEED TO REQUIRE OF INTERPRETERS? ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IS DEA'S'S MODEL IS ALSO CERTIFICATION. BUT IF IT'S MANDATORY CERTIFICATION, ALL TEACHERS MUST BE CERTIFIED. THAT SEEMS TO WORK REALLY, REALLY WELL. AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS BEI COULD LOOK AT, THEY COULD RECOMMEND, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, IS FOR US TO MOVE TO TEA'S MODEL AND HAVE MANDATORY CERTIFICATION FOR INTERPRETERS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT IN AND OF ITSELF WOULD EXPAND BEI'S SCOPE. I WILL HOLD FOR A MINUTE BECAUSE THE INTERPRETERS NEED TO SWITCH.
GOOD? OKAY. IF WE FOLLOW TEA'S MODEL , THEY HAVE MORE, THEY HAVE GREATER SCOPE. TO MONITOR, TO CORRECT, TO PROVIDE TRAINING, TO PROVIDE CORRECTION TO THEIR TEACHERS BECAUSE THEY REQUIRE -- IT IS MANDATORY CERTIFICATION FOR TEACHERS. THEIR STRUCTURE, WE WOULD NEED TO EXPLORE MORE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FOLLOWING A STRUCTURE THAT WAS CURRENTLY APPROVED, CURRENTLY BEING FOLLOWED. I UNDERSTAND IN A SENSE THAT WAS MENTIONED, TEA, THERE IS A QUESTION ON HOW TEA WILL BE APPROACHED IN THE FUTURE. I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S A DISCUSSION FOR ANOTHER DAY. BUT WHOEVER WINDS UP GOVERNING TEACHERS, THE IDEA OF MANDATORY CERTIFICATION SEEMS TO BE A VERY WORKABLE MODEL, AND ONE THAT WE COULD COPY FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD. WE COULD MODEL INTERPRETING AFTER THE TEACHER CERTIFICATION IF THAT IS THE CASE. THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE STRICTER AND MORE GUIDED DISCIPLINARY ACTION , NOT JUST IN TERMS OF PUNISHMENT. I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF PUNISHMENT. ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE BEG THE QUESTION -- BUT CORRECTION, GUIDANCE, TRAINING, THE ABILITY TO LEARN BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES IT'S NOT OUT OF MALICE. IT'S OUT OF LACK OF TRAINING AND LACK OF AWARENESS. AND EXTENDING IT TO MANDATORY CERTIFICATION ALLOWS BEI THEN TO PROVIDE AND REQUIRE THE ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO CLOSE THOSE GAPS, AGAIN. SO I -- THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I FEEL LIKE WAS PART OF OUR DISCUSSION, BOTH OF OUR SUBCOMMITTEES WERE ABLE TO MEET AND TALK ABOUT THIS. THOSE ARE ON HOLD JUST FOR NOW UNTIL WE GET THINGS KIND OF SETTLED DOWN AGAIN. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT. I STILL THINK THEY ARE VERY VALID AND IN TERMS OF WHAT MISS ROWE MENTIONED AND THE OTHER DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD THIS MORNING, THE TEACHING MODEL THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS USES, WHOEVER CONTROLS THAT, WORKS FAIRLY WELL. AND I THINK THAT
[01:25:02]
POTENTIALLY INTERPRETERS COULD FOLLOW THAT SAME MODEL. SO IWILL LEAVE THAT FOR DISCUSSION. >> THANK YOU, MISS WEBB. IT SEEMS THAT ONE OF THE THINGS OR A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY WHEN IT CAME TO THE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS ON THE FOLLOW-THROUGH ON HOW WE HANDLED THAT REHABILITATIVE PROCESS WAS PARTLY , DOES THE CANDIDATE OR DOES THE PERSON WHO HAS VIOLATED THOSE STANDARDS -- DO THEY RECOGNIZE WHAT THE VIOLATION WAS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS -- THAT WAS HARMED IN SOME WAY? AND THE OTHER POINT WAS , WHAT BEHAVIORS W■OULD NEE TO BE ADDRESSED, AND HOW TO HELP THEM RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR POSITIVE CHANGE, AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING IF WE DID AN ESSAY OR REFLECTIVE PAPER AFTER ALL THE TRAINING THEY WENT THROUGH, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE AND HOW WOULD THAT BE PRESENTED? CERTAINLY, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT THE TRAINING HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE AND THAT IT HAS IMPACTED THEM BECAUSE ANYONE CAN TAKE, YOU KNOW, ANSWER ETHICALLY AND NOT NECESSARILY FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT . IF WE MADE THESE A COUPLE OF THE POINTS -- AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE DISCUSSED DEVIOUSLY AS WELL AS TAKING COURSES OR GUIDED WORKSHOPS WITH AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD LEAD THEM TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED IN BEHAVIORAL CHANGE -- ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY COMMENTS THAT ANY OF THE OTHER MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE -- MISS ARINARO?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR VASQUEZ. I WANTED TO PRESENT JUST MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THE USE OF A.I. AND WHEN YOU WERE DESCRIBING ABOUT PROPOSED, YOU KNOW, EITHER WRITING AN ESSAY, WHAT HAVE YOU, OR MAYBE GROUP DISCUSSION OR SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION ON ONE DISCUSSION -- I JUST WANTED TO -- TO HIGHLIGHT THE USE OF A.I.
NOW FOR A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT SOMEBODY COULD SAY, GIVE A.I. SUCH AS CHAT GPT A PROMPT TO JUST GIVE AN ANSWER THAT MAY SATISFY A REQUEST FOR SOMETHING THAT IS TYPED. AND MAY BE -- SO, JUST SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS WE MOVE FORWARD AS THAT MAKES ME FEEL MAYBE A LITTLE MORE BETTER TOWARDS LEANING TOWARDS SOMETHING THAT IS UNFORTUNATELY GOING TO TAKE MORE PERSON POWER AND MORE TIME AND EFFORT AND HOURS FROM US, AND -- BUT, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT FOR OUR CONSIDERATION MOVING FORWARD FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. YEAH. THANK
YOU. >> YOU MAKE A VERY VALID POINT.
AND I THINK IT IS -- I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, A COMMENT THAT WAS MADE WAS PERHAPS IT WOULD BE LIVE AND A RESPONSE THAT WOULD BE VIDEO RECORDED. OBVIOUSLY, IF WE ARE GOING TO ENFORCE THESE KINDS OF THINGS, IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE WORK AHEAD OF TIME, AND WORK DURING THE PROCESS AND AFTER THE PROCESS. SO, WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES. I'M NOT SAYING THAT HAS NOT BEEN -- YOU HAVE NOT SUGGESTED THAT. RATHER THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT MORE FOR US TO DO THIS. BUT WE COULD DO NOTHING, AND THAT WOULD NOT BE HELPFUL AT ALL. AND THAT WOULD NOT HELP THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HARMED IN SOME WAY BECAUSE OF SOMEONE'S LACK OF ETHICAL BEHAVIOR OR RATHER THEIR DECISION-MAKING OR ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING IS NOT FOLLOWED THROUGH. SO, YES. THAT IS A VERY GOOD POINT THAT YOU ARE MAKING. DOCTOR HARRIS, YOU
[01:30:03]
HAD YOUR HAND RAISED AS WELL. WE LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TOSAY. >> HELLO. YES, THANK YOU. SO, I THINK I WANT TO CIRCLE BACK TO ONE TOPIC THAT CAME UP EARLIER AS IT RELATES WITH THE LICENSURE MANDATED CERTIFICATION, WHICH I KNOW THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE AS OF RIGHT THIS MOMENT. BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO HIGHLIGHT THE STATE OR TEA OR NAIE, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE THAT FALLS INTO THAT PURVIEW. BUT HANDING THE MANDATED LICENSURE CERTIFICATION IS GOOD BECAUSE THE STATE OF TEXAS DOES NOT REQUIRE FOR EXAMPLE TATTOO ARTISTS , THEY MUST HAVE LICENSURE WITH THE STATE, BARBERS, PEOPLE WHO WORK WITHIN THE FIELD, THEY HAVE TO HAVE THAT. SO YOU HAVE THAT TRUST, THAT LEVEL OF TRUST, THEY ARE QUALIFIED, TRAINING, BACKGROUND, CERTIFICATION LEVEL OF TRUST FOR SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE INTERPRETERS FOR THE AGE GROUP WE ARE DISCUSSING 0 TO 8? THAT'S HARD FOR ME TO HAVE THAT LEVEL TRUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING HAPPENS, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? THERE'S A LACK OF POLICIES, CONSEQUENCES AND OVERSIGHT SO THAT IS DEFINITELY CONCERNING SO I FEEL THAT IF WE HAVE -- WE HAVE THIS MANDATE FOR ALL THESE OTHER FIELD WHY DO WE NOT HAVE THIS FOR INTERPRETERS I THINK THAT IN TURN WOULD HELP WITH THE CONSEQUENT -- CONSEQUENCE PORTION OF IT BECAUSE AGAIN THIS IS GOING BACK TO, YOU KNOW, WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS MENTIONED FOR CHILDREN AGES 0 TO 8 THAT'S WHERE THE CONCERN IS SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
>> THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THAT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS REGARDING WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING RELATED TO THE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS FOR INTERPRETERS WHO HAVE VIOLATED THE ETHICAL STANDARDS? WE ALSO HAVE THE CONVERSATION, THE DISCUSSION RELATED TO STATE AGENCIES OR RATHER NOT STATE AGENCIES, EXCUSE ME, INTERPRETING AGENCIES THAT ARE WORKING WITHIN THE STATE AND WHETHER IF A HIGHER CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS OR UNQUALIFIED INTERPRETERS, UNQUALIFIED SIGNERS, AND WE HAVE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, THAT IN ORDER TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE STATE , YOU TYPICALLY HAVE TO -- THERE IS THIS PROCESS, THIS VETTING PROCESS WHERE THE AGENCY IS VETTED, THE STATE AGENCY, THAN ANYONE, ANY VENDORS THAT WORK ALONGSIDE THEM AND ANY VENDORS THAT THOSE VENDORS WORK WITH, EVERYONE IS VETTED TO ENSURE THAT THE STATES REQUIREMENTS ARE BEING MET. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO ME SUCH A FAR -- SUCH A STRETCH TO CONSIDER THE INTERPRETERS THAT ARE WORKING AS VENDORS AS WELL AND WHETHER THEY MEET THE CERTIFICATION STANDARD , WHETHER NATIONAL OR STATE, TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH A PARTICULAR AGENCY.
SO, THAT MEANS MONITORING STATE AGENCIES AS WELL AS LOOKING AT WHO THEY ARE IN BUSINESS WITH BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IF STATE FUNDS ARE BEING USED FOR CERTAIN INTERPRETERS -- FOR CERTAIN SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY , THEN IT WOULD SEEM PLAUSIBLE THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT THE INTERPRETERS THAT ARE BEING USED TO INTERPRET THESE PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL. SO, THAT IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. WE HAVE STATED IT BEFORE. BUT I THINK IT IS WORTH OUR CONSIDERATION AND KEEPING IT IN MIND AS WELL. ARE THERE ANY
[8. Future test development needs]
FURTHER COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AT THIS TIME? OKAY.WELL, LOOKS LIKE WE CAN MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 8. WE ARE LOOKING NOW AT TEST DEVELOPMENT IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE THAT THE NEW TEST WHICH IS NO LONGER THE NEW TEST, IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR CLOSE TO 20 YEARS, LANGUAGE CHANGES VERY, VERY QUICKLY AS WE ARE PROBABLY WELL AWARE WHEN WE LISTEN TO YOUNGER PEOPLE TALK AND NOT BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THEM, MEANING INTERPRETERS FOR ENGLISH. IT SEEMS LIKE THE LANGUAGE IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING. AND THE TESTING MATERIALS ALSO NEED TO EVOLVE ALONG WITH -- WITH THAT TO DEMONSTRATE AND REFLECT THE APPROPRIATE OR THE ACTUAL WAY PEOPLE TALK. SO I WOULD LIKE TO
[01:35:04]
TAKE THAT UP TO THE BOARD AND GET YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS. MS.WEBB, PLEASE. >> I WAITED. I REALLY DID. I HOPE THE REST OF YOU GUYS WILL TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW THAT WE CANNOT ANSWER TODAY, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HEAR VERY, VERY FREQUENTLY IS THAT IT COSTS TOO MUCH TO TAKE BEI. AND THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS , I DID SOME EXPLORING TO SEE HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO TAKE OTHER TESTS. SO THE E IPA IS $450.00 PER SECTION. YOU HAVE GOT TO TAKE A WRITTEN TEST. YOU HAVE GOT TO TAKE A PERFORMANCE TEST, PERFORMANCE TEST ARE VERY SPECIFIC BASED ON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BASED ON, I BELIEVE, IT IS MIDDLE SCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. THE SYSTEM THAT YOU USE, SO EACH SECTION THAT YOU TAKE IS $450.00. WHEN YOU TAKE OUR ID, IT IS $735 MINIMUM IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE RAD. FOR BEI, I WANT TO SAY -- JANIE, YOU HAVE TO CORRECT ME, I THINK IT'S $145.00 -- IS IT $145.00 TO TAKE THE PERFORMANCE TEST? IS IT $145.00 TO TAKE THE PERFORMANCE TEST! BASIC, LET'S SAY BASIC.
145? OKAY. SO, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO HAVE ANSWERS TO IS HOW MUCH DOES IT COST THE STATE OF TEXAS TO ADMINISTER RATE -- DO THE INTERRATER RELIABILITY, DUE PROCESS, AND RETURN PROCESS RESULTS TO THE CANDIDATE -- HOW MUCH DOES ALL OF THAT COST? I WOULD -- I WOULD -- WAGER A HIGH AMOUNT BUT IT COSTS MORE THAN $145.00 PROTEST TO DO THAT. BUT IF WE COULD GET THE INFORMATION FROM THE STATE, THAT WOULD BE VERY, VERY HELPFUL FOR US, AND THE TEST DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS NEXT PHASE. AS MARTIN SAID, WE HAVE TALKED TO LAST SEVERAL BOARD MEETINGS, THE CURRENT TEST WAS LAUNCHED IN 2007. IT HAD BEEN IN PROCESS FOR ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS PRIOR TO THAT IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THE RFP, IN ORDER TO DO THE JOB TEST ANALYSIS, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT MADE THIS A VALID, RELIABLE AND LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE TEST TOOK SOME TIME. CURRENTLY, ARTEST IS PUSHING 18 YEARS OF AGE. THEY, ORIGINAL LEVEL I THROUGH FIVE STOOD FOR 25 YEARS. WE KNOW NOW WE KNOW MORE ABOUT TESTING. WE KNOW MORE ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS. WHAT IT STOOD FOR 25 YEARS. THIS ONE IS VALID. IT IS PUSHING 20 AS MARTIN SAID. WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST TO DO ANOTHER -- TO CREATE ANOTHER TEST -- I THINK IN THE PAST WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT MAYBE THE SPECIALTY TESTS HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE ROAD TIME BECAUSE THEY WERE CREATED LATER. BUT THE BASIC EVENTS TO MASTER , THEY ARE SHOWING A LOT OF WEAR. THE LANGUAGE CHANGED CONSIDERABLY PRIOR TO 2007 WHEN THOSE WERE CREATED . HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST BEFORE WE GO TO THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND START ASKING FOR MONEY FOR A NEW TEST? WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH DOES THE TEST COST? HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ADMINISTER, HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PROCESS? CAN WE MAKE THIS SUSTAINABLE BASED ON HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO TAKE OTHER TESTS? WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS? I THINK THAT I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND, AND AGAIN, OPEN TO OTHER COMMENTS, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO INCLUDE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE ON A LIFECYCLE FOR TEST IS MOVING FORWARD WHEN WE REQUEST MONEY TO UPDATE NEW TESTING MATERIALS, WHATEVER, I THINK IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE IT CLEAR FOR LEGISLATION THAT THIS HAS A LIFECYCLE TO IT. MAYBE IN X NUMBER OF YEARS WE WILL DO IT AGAIN BECAUSE LANGUAGE CHANGES. THAT SEEMS OBVIOUS TO THOSE OF US WHO ARE IN THE FIELD. IF YOU ARE INVOLVED WITH LANGUAGES AT
[01:40:12]
ALL, IF YOU HAVE KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 15 YOU KNOW LANGUAGE CHANGES ALL THE TIME. AS MARTIN SAID HALF THE TIME I FEEL LIKE I NEED AN INTERPRETER TO TALK TO MY GRANDKIDS. BUT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH IN MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT MS. GOBBLED AND MS. ARIANNA AND DOCTOR HARRIS MADE ABOUT HOW WE SERVE CHILDREN AND THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE IN EDUCATION, ARTEST MATERIALS NEED TO REFLECT THAT LANGUAGE AND WE NEED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A ONE TIME CHANGE. LANGUAGE CONTINUES TO CHANGE. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO NEED FUNDS TO KEEP UP WITH THAT. THEY ARE PROBABLY WITHOUT US JUST ASSUMING PROBABLY I DON'T KNOW 10 YEARS , THERE IS PROBABLY RESEARCH OUT THERE. AND IF IT ISN'T WE NEED TO FIND SOME OR CREATE SOME TO SHOW DATA ON HOW OFTEN SHOULD A LANGUAGE TEST BE UPDATED? BUT ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST INFORMATION ON IS HOW MUCH DOES IT COST THE STATE OF TEXAS PER TEST? AND THAT WOULD BE FOR THE BASIC, FOR THE ADVANCED, AND FOR THE MASTER, AND FOR THOSE SPECIAL TESTS, WE KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS FOR US TO TAKE IT. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST THE STATE TO PROCESS IT AND GET IT BACK?>> THANK YOU. THOSE ARE CERTAINLY SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DISCUSS. -- AS WE MOVE FORWARD. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE QUESTION, COMMENT, SOMETHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? -- REGARDING THIS CONVERSATION? MS. ARINARO?
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS WEBB, FOR BRINGING THAT UP. AND I HAVE MADE NOTE HERE OF SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS , AND I HOPE TO REACH BACK OUT TO YOU WITH SOME RESEARCH THAT I CAN COMPILE ABOUT HOW LONG SHOULD ANY LANGUAGE CERTIFICATION OR LANGUAGE LICENSURE TEST BE RENEWED AND TO LOOK INTO THOSE OTHER FIELDS. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
>> THANK YOU MS. ARINARO. I'M WONDERING WHETHER THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MAY BE OUR SUBCOMMITTEE CAN -- WE CAN CREATE A SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THIS AND START DISCUSSING THIS, START RESEARCHING WITHIN A SUBCOMMITTEE, WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE FINDING OUT THERE. I THINK THIS IS A VALID POINT FOR US TO DISCUSS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AT OUR NEXT MEETING OR FUTURE MEETINGS -- MS. ARINARO?
>> OKAY. THANK YOU, CHAIR VASQUEZ. IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO DO SO, I WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT COMMITTEE. AND I'M GOING TO STEP OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE HERE AND SAY THAT I WOULD EVEN BE WILLING TO CHAIR THE COMMITTEE. AND I KNOW MISS WEBB WOULD PROBABLY BE, HOPEFULLY, A LITTLE BIT LIKE, OKAY, I WON'T -- THIS MEETING, THIS SUBCOMMITTEE. IF THAT IS SOMETHING THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING I'M INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING. AND RESEARCHING, AND
WORKING ON. >> THANK YOU. WE DO APPRECIATE
THAT. >> I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING ALSO TO GET THE DEAF PERSPECTIVE ON THIS . HOWEVER, IT IS NOT UP TO ME TO DECIDE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE -- WHO ELSE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN BEING INVOLVED IN THIS PARTICULAR
SUBCOMMITTEE? DOCTOR HARRIS? >> I AM THE ONLY DEAF BOARD
[01:45:09]
MEMBER. SO YES, OF COURSE, I WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED. I WOULD LIKE TO RESEARCH THIS MORE AND I DID ALREADY LOOK UP SOME THINGS. THERE ARE SEVERAL UPDATES ON TESTING AND STUFF, BUT YES. ASL CHANGES SO RAPIDLY ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S WORLD.YOU KNOW? THERE ARE SO MANY SPECIALTY FIELDS IN ASL , AND IT HAS EXPANDED GREATLY, A LOT OF NEW SIGNS, A LOT OF NEW WORDS.
AND WHAT IS THE FUTURE GOING TO BE LIKE ? TESTING FOR INTERPRETERS, YOU KNOW? WE KNOW WE NEED TO IMPROVE THINGS FOR TODAY'S MODERN WORLD. SO, DEFINITELY COUNT ME IN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DOCTOR HARRIS. I APOLOGIZE IF THAT SEEMED LIKE I WAS APPLYING UNDUE PRESSURE. HOWEVER, YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS INVALUABLE TO THIS COMMITTEE.
>> NO, NO, NO. NOT AT ALL. IT IS GREAT. INC. YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THE TWO OF YOU, GIVE MISS WEBB A BREAK, BEING INVOLVED WITH IT, I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON THIS COMMITTEE, THIS SUBCOMMITTEE WITH YOU AND TRY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN COME UP WITH AND MAYBE HAVE SOMETHING READY TO PRESENT EITHER IN SEPTEMBER OR THE MEETING AFTER WHEN WE ARE READY TO DISCUSS THAT. GREAT. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE CONCERNING THIS TOPIC WE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS?
[9. Public comment]
IT APPEARS THAT WE DO NOT. THEREFORE, WE CAN MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER NINE. OKAY, MISS KATE BROWN, WE DEFER TOYOU. >> YES, CHAIR VASQUEZ. THIS IS KAYLA CATES BROWN WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION OFFICE. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER NINE IS PUBLIC COMMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THE RECORD THAT WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS MEETING, AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE REGISTERED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT EITHER IN THE ORAL PLATFORM OR HERE TODAY IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ROOM.
PROCEED. >> VERY WELL THEN. WE WOULD LIKE
[10. Future meetings and planning]
TO MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 10 AT THIS TIME. AS FAR AS ANNOUNCEMENTS, WE DO HAVE THE NEXT DATE AVAILABLE FOR OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING WHICH WILL BE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 12TH OF THIS YEAR AT 10:00 A.M. . ALSO, WHAT FUTURE TOPICS WOULD WE LIKE TO DISCUSS AT OUR NEXT MEETING? WE HAVE SOME ONGOING THINGS OR THINGS THAT CONTINUALLY RESURFACE . ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL OR NEW TOPICS THAT WE HAVE YET TO DISCUSS BE A NEW TOPIC FOR THE NEXT MEETING? MISS WEBB?>> NOT NEW TOPICS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE BEEN CLEAR, AGAIN, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE CODES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND HAVING THOSE PUBLISHED. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE SENT TO MISS ADDIE TO HAVE ANSWERED BY OUR LEGAL TEAM, TRYING TO HAVE THEM CURRENT AGAIN. YOU MAY HAVE TO HELP ME WITH THIS, THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE HAD, I JUST WANT THEM IN THE RECORD AGAIN. THE COST OF THE TEST CURRENTLY AS IT STANDS -- AM I MISSING SOMETHING THAT I HAD OUTSTANDING? GIVE ME JUST ONE SECOND -- IF SOMEONE ELSE REMEMBERS, JUST JUMP IN. THE
[01:50:12]
BYLAWS, THANK YOU, AND THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS. I THINK THOSE WERE THE OUTSTANDING THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN JUST WAITING ON.>> THANK YOU, MISS WEBB. ALSO, IF AT ANY TIME YOU THINK OF AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT, AN ADDITIONAL TOPIC WE CAN DISCUSS, I BELIEVE YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH OUT TO MS. JONES AND MENTION THAT TO HER SO THAT IT CAN BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR FUTURE COMMENTS. IF THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR THEIR ATTENDANCE TODAY. IT IS ALWAYS REFRESHING TO GET YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR VIEWS ON OUR CONVERSATIONS, ON OUR DISCUSSIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK HHSC, THIS KITTEN PLAN AND MISS ROW FOR THEIR ATTENDANCE TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE INTERPRETERS AS WELL. AND FOUR -- I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE FUTURE COMMENTS ON OUR BOARD MEETINGS. WE ALWAYS WELCOME HEARING FROM YOU FROM THE PUBLIC AS WELL. IF THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER, WE WILL CONCLUDE. IT IS
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.