About the course

Part 3 of a 3 part series on interpreting in family court, this course focuses on the most emotionally and ethically demanding aspects of juvenile court work. You'll build precision with legal vocabulary through glossing exercises, learn trauma-sensitive interpreting techniques grounded in five core principles, and explore the unique language and developmental considerations when interpreting for Deaf youth. The course addresses when and how to team with a Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI), walks you through an ethical dilemma involving confidentiality and mandatory reporting, and culminates in a full case study walkthrough examining the interpreter's role at every stage of a family court proceeding. Self-care strategies for interpreters working in high-stakes, emotionally charged settings are also covered.

Anna McDuffie CI, CT, SC:L & NIC

A native of Atlanta, Anna graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Interpreting for the Deaf. She began her career in Boston as a staff interpreter at The Learning Center for Deaf Children, a bilingual/bicultural school for the Deaf, and also worked part-time interpreting for graduate programs at Boston University. Anna returned to Atlanta in 1999 and has worked as a freelance interpreter for the past 25 years. She earned her Certificate of Interpretation and Certificate of Transliteration from RID in 1999, her Specialist Certificate: Legal in 2008, and her National Interpreter Certification in 2011. Anna began teaching medical interpreting workshops with her co-presenter, Heather Brown, in 2008, and together they co-authored Health Care Providers and the Americans with Disabilities Act, published in the Journal of the American Association of Physician Assistants in January 2011. She expanded into legal interpreting workshops in 2018. Anna is passionate about standardizing best practices for medical and legal interpreting — the driving force behind every workshop she designs. Anna lives in Marietta, Georgia, with her husband, Eric. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her step-daughter, Cece, her fur kids, Kiwi and Pippa, traveling, and playing tennis.