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Afghan Interpreters’ Lives and Fates
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Ontario Vaccination Mandate
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Announcement for LITP graduates
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OCCI Annual 2021 Congress
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Interpreter Opportunities Section
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COVID Best Practices Guide
Afghan Interpreters’ Lives and Fates
Many Afghans’ lives and their fates are more complicated now due to the political turmoil. Interpreters were among the most influential people in the country. Nearly everything we know about Afghanistan was filtered through interpreters who showed people around and explained, what was really going on. Up to today, the overwhelming majority of interpreters have remained in Afghanistan. Click here for more information and news articles.
Ontario Vaccination Mandate
As of September 7, 2021, in alignment with Ontario Ministry of Health Guidelines, a vaccination mandate will come into effect. The following is intended to help interpreters understand how the mandate may impact them. Please note that this information and these instructions may be subject to change as the situation evolves.
What can I expect?
Interpreters can expect to be asked to provide proof to interpreting agencies of full vaccination status in order to be eligible to be booked for some/all on-site assignments, and interpreters can expect to be asked to provide proof of full vaccination upon arrival/entry at the service location of the assignment as part of the location’s screening protocol.
What qualifies as “full vaccination” or “fully vaccinated”?
Currently, individuals in Canada are considered to be fully vaccinated after having received a second dose of a Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccine. If the definition of “fully vaccinated” changes, the requirements for proof of vaccination will change accordingly.
What can I use to prove that that I am fully vaccinated?
- The hard copy receipt that you were given when you received your second dose.
- The electronic receipt that you received by email following your vaccination.
- The Ministry of Health (MOH) receipt that you can download from the MOH site at https://covid19.ontariohealth.ca/ – download the Ministry of Health (MOH) receipt for Dose #2. Please note, the MOH receipt is the likely to be the version recommended that you have on hand ready to display at the service location.
I’ve sent proof of my full vaccination status the interpreting agency, is there anything else I have to do?
Yes. You should always be prepared to provide proof of full vaccination upon request at screening for entry into the service location. As mentioned above, the MOH receipt is the version currently recommended to have on hand, ready to display at the service location. You should always be ready to present a hard copy of your receipt, or to display an electronic version on your mobile device. In addition to having a copy of your receipt on hand, we urge you to check the website of the service location prior to leaving for the assignment to see if there are any further conditions for entry.
Where can I get a first and/or second dose of the vaccine?
Please contact the Public Health unit where you live:
https://www.peelregion.ca/coronavirus/vaccine/book-appointment/
Announcement for LITP graduates
With intention and view of advocacy for the LITP program of Community Colleges and supporting professionalization of Community Interpretation, the Ontario Council for Community Interpretation (OCCI) is launching a special program for graduates of LITP program.
The program will assist the graduates to immediately enter the work force with an accreditation which shall identify them as fully trained and ready for the market and will enable them to start their careers at a professional level.
Details: OCCI is offering up to 2 years of free Community Interpreters accreditation (ACI) to all college graduates of LITP program. All graduates from the LITP program of Community colleges can be eligible to apply for this exceptional offer within 4 months from the date of their graduation.Upon acceptance of their application, they will receive accreditation for the year in which they have applied, and to the end of the following year.
Example: A student who graduates at any time in 2021, should make the application immediately upon completing and graduating from the program. Once accepted, she/he will have the free accreditation for the remaining part of 2021 and to 31st, December 2022.
Clause: Due to exceptional circumstance of Covid pandemic, if a person has graduated in 2020, they can still make the application at any time before 31st, December 2021 and she/he will have this free accreditation privilege for 2021 and 2022.
OCCI Annual 2021 Congress
Save the Date
Date: Saturday, November 20, 2021
Time: 9:30am to 12:30pm
Topic: Impact of Transitioning from In-Person to Virtual Interpreting Services
Location: Virtual Event Online – Platform TBD
Details: Additional information to come
Interpreter Opportunities Section
There is a new section on the website called Interpreter Opportunities. These are listings of opportunities for employment and NOT an endorsement. Please conduct your own due diligence and find out about the working conditions, signing a contract or agreement before beginning any work. Click here for more information.
COVID Best Practices Guide
A great guideline created by the following organizations:
Interpreter Resources
These are stressful times for everyone and treating each other with compassion, civility, and kindness are fundamental in staying healthy and safe.
- OCCI Interpreter Resources
- A good article that deals with soft skills as integral skill to be a successful and professional interpreter
- Wearing Mask in Public
- When and How to Wear a Mask
- Concerned you may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of COVID? Visit the Ministry of Health website
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Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) COVID-19 Communication Guidelines National
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Center for State Courts (NCSC) Recommendations for In-Person Court Interpretation
Order free copies of:
“Working with Your Professional Interpreter” guide
The brochure is intended for individuals facing language barriers, explaining the role of professional interpreters in healthcare and answering such questions as:
- What does an Interpreter Do?
- Who is a Professional Interpreter?
- Do I need an interpreter?
- How Do I Get an Interpreter?
- How do I ask for help?
The brochure has been translated into 17 languages:
Arabic, Chinese-Simplified, Chinese-Traditional, English, Farsi, French, Hungarian, Italian, Korean, Nepali, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tamil, and Vietnamese.
To preview the brochure and to order free copies, go to the OCCI Publications page
The OCCI would like the acknowledge the generous support of our Gold and Silver sponsors.
For a full list of current sponsors and links to their websites, please see our home page.
Please send us your questions, comments, feedback, and suggestions.
The OCCI is committed to broad stakeholder engagement
and we want to hear from you.
Are there any questions that we have not addressed in the FAQs page?
What would you like to read about in the OCCI News?
Do you have any other feedback?
Please contact us at info@occi.ca
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