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Programs for Interpreters in Greater MN:

Case Conferencing aka Supervision

Have you ever experienced leaving a job not feeling good about what happened? Do you feel alone, without anyone to talk to about your work? How do you develop your best practices and ethical standards in line with other professional interpreters?

Answer: Case Conferencing, also called Supervision.

What is Supervision (also known as Case Conferencing)?

What is supervision?

It is a way to reflect on our work, sometimes called case conferencing. It is an intentional professional practice between trained supervisors and practitioner. It provides a way to think about our work to promote ethical and competent services to the consumers we serve.

Who participates in supervision?

Practice professions such as medical practitioners, mental health providers, and interpreters have a long history of participating in professional supervision. Supervision has become more popular recently in the ASL interpreting profession.

What does supervision look like?

Supervision in interpreting uses the Demand Control – Schema (DC-S) which was developed by Dean and Pollard. Each session one or two interpreters will share a situation they experienced from work. This is done in a confidential matter, sharing only enough details for the group to understand the scenario. Once the interpreter has shared their case, supervision leaders and peers will ask clarifying questions to help identify the demands of the scenario. Participants help each other identify demands, controls, consequences, and resulting demands. These become tools for the interpreter sharing the case, as well as everyone in the supervision group, so they can apply them to their work.

Does supervision help interpreters?

Yes! Benefits of supervision include:¹

Increased critical thinking skills
Enhanced ethical decision making
A more thorough understanding of confidentiality
Ensuring quality services for consumers
Reduced interpreter burnout
Supporting autonomy, agency, and self-determination for interpreters.

¹ Curtis, J. (2017). Supervision in signed language interpreting: Benefits for the field and practitioners (master’s thesis). Western Oregon University, Monmouth, Oregon.

Registration is now closed.

About our Facilitators

Amy Kroll

Amy is a freelance ASL-English Interpreter in Colorado. Amy was first introduced to Demand-Control Schema (DC‑S) in 2005 while getting an A.A. in Interpreting. The use of DC‑S in Amy’s professional practice has just grown since then. In 2016, Amy first participated in Supervision and this too has grown – leading several Supervision groups and teaching a Supervision based course at the University of Northern Colorado. Amy is pursuing credentialing as a Supervision Leader through Interpreting Institution on Reflection-In-Action and Supervision (IIRAS International).

Adeline Riley

Adeline has worked professionally as an American Sign Language interpreter since 2010. A few years into her career, she was introduced to Supervision by some fellow colleagues and it transformed her whole practice. Ever since then she has been passionate about unpacking ethical decision making for interpreters. Adeline has facilitated Supervision groups with novice and seasoned interpreters in a variety of settings including freelance, healthcare, education, and mental health. She currently works on staff with ASL Interpreting Services and resides in Minneapolis, MN.

All above Greater MN programs are provided by ASLIS and supported by grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Human Services: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division.