The University of Iowa American Sign Language Club
Organized and run by students on campus, everyone is welcome to attend: hearing or deaf, student or non-students, beginning or fluent signer. Anyone from the Deaf Community is welcome. For information, email aslclub@uiowa.edu.
ASL Tutoring
Paige Simpkinson
Mondays, 9:30 am to12:00 pm; Tuesdays 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm; Wednesdays, 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Phillips Hall, 120 C
Fall 2023 Conversation Hours
Organized by faculty, register and attend conversations hours offered weekly! Click here to see hours and how-to register!
Student Ambassador Program
State and Local Instructional Programs Organizations and Resources
- Iowa School for the Deaf, Council Bluffs, IA
- Iowa Association of the Deaf (IAD), 2554 Avenue L, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
- Cedar Rapids Association of the Deaf (CRAD) is one of the local associations of the National Association of the Deaf (see below).
For information on membership and gatherings, email timsheets@mac.com - The Office of Deaf Services, formerly the Division of Deaf Services Commission of Iowa (DSCI), is an advocate for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Iowans in many ways, providing information and referrals to both Deaf and hearing individuals, organizations and businesses.
- Kirkwood Community College
Kirkwood Community College offers ASL instruction at both its Iowa City and Cedar Rapids campuses. - Scott Community College
Scott Community College in Bettendorf, Iowa, offers ASL instructions and a two-year American Sign Language/English Interpreter Associate in Applied Science Degree. - Iowa Western Community College
Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa, offers ASL instructions.
National and Worldwide Organizations and Resources
- National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
The NAD is a federation of state associations of the Deaf, which is a vigorous advocate for signed language and the rights of Deaf people. It publishes numerous books; a quarterly monograph, The Deaf American; and a newspaper, The Broadcaster. - World Federation of the Deaf
The WFD works with the United Nations to promote the human, and linguistic, rights of Deaf people all over the world. - American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA)
A professional organization for teachers of ASL within the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). - DawnSignPress
- Diglo (formerly Harris Communications)
- Sign Media, Inc.
Deaf Culture and Deaf/ASL News Resources
Deaf Education Resources
- Gallaudet University
The world's only university for deaf and hard of hearing undergraduate students. Graduate degree programs and continuing education courses are available to deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing students. - National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID)
The National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) is the world's largest technical college for deaf students. It is one of seven colleges of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Rochester, NY. NTID also offers Sign Language Interpreter Training Program. - California State University, Northridge (CSUN)
CSUN has a large Deaf student population. Deaf Studies is also being offered for undergraduate degree.
Other links
- Deaf Websites
- The Deaf Professional Arts Network - DPAN
- Deaf Art - a collection of the work of Deaf visual artists from RIT/NTID
- Deaf Theatre on the Web - a collection of theatrical work from deaf playwrights
- That Deaf Guy - a comic strip from a Deaf perspective
- USA Deaf Sports Federation
ASL/English Interpreting
- Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf - https://rid.org
- Mission: "Support the Continued Growth and Development of the Profession"
It is the mission of RID to provide international, national, regional, state and local forums and an organizational structure for the continued growth and development of the profession of interpretation and transliteration of American Sign Language and English. - Philosophy: "Ensure Effective Communication"
The philosophy of RID is that excellence in the delivery of interpretation and transliteration services between people who are deaf or hard of hearing and people who are hearing, will ensure effective communication. As the national professional association for interpreters and transliterators, RID serves as an essential arena for its members in their pursuit of excellence. - RID's "Standard Practice Papers" explain the current understanding of interpreters' standard practice in a variety of settings including K-12 education.
- Mission: "Support the Continued Growth and Development of the Profession"
- Iowa State RID - http://new.iowastaterid.org
Iowa has an affiliate state RID chapter. Their website also has an interpreter search option and posts state and local information regarding issues that impact interpreters. - National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers - http://www.interpretereducation.org
The NCIEC is a consortium of six federally funded centers tasked with the goal of improving signed language interpreter education. - Discover Interpreting - http://www.discoverinterpreting.com
The National Consortium of Interpreter Education Center (NCIEC) created this website to promote the interpreting profession. This site includes information about how to find an interpreter education program and career opportunities in interpreting. - The CATIE Center - https://minerva.stkate.edu/offices/academic/interpreting.nsf/pages/about_catie
The nearest NCIEC is in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Collaborative for the Advancement of Teaching Interpreting Excellence (CATIE Center) provides interpreter education resources to the Midwest region. - The Iowa Department of Public Health/Iowa Board of Sign Language Interpreters & Transliterators
licenses interpreters in Iowa. This license indicates the holder is competent and follows established professional and ethical guidelines. Their website can be found at: https://idph.iowa.gov/Licensure/Iowa-Board-of-Sign-Language-Interpreters-and-Transliterators. This website enables you to search by name, license number, or geographical region the license database. Interpreters working in Iowa must hold an Iowa license. - Many classroom interpreters take the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA), an evaluation tool developed by Boys Town National Research Hospital. An EIPA score of 3.5 or above will allow an interpreter to hold permanent Iowa licensure. An explanation of the EIPA, its standards and requirements, can be found at: https://www.classroominterpreting.org/eipa/index.asp.
Additional information about the EIPA can be found at the TAESE (Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education) website: https://taese.org/cms/index.php/task12-home.
The American Sign Language Program is in no way responsible for, nor has control of, the content of any external websites nor do we endorse any commercial products, services or websites. You should always research any opportunity thoroughly.