Certification Guideline 40

SUBJECT
ACE Sign Language Instructors

GUIDELINE DEFINITION
American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA) instructor certification will be recognized for instructors teaching American Sign Language (ASL) courses offered as Adult and Continuing Education (ACE) courses in the Wisconsin Technical College System. The ASLTA requirements for certification can be found at http://www.aslta.org. Districts are strongly encouraged to utilize ASLTA certified instructors.

Districts may also employ individuals with a minimum of five years experience using ASL on a daily basis since ASLTA requires a minimum of 90 hours of ASL teaching experience before individuals are eligible for ASLTA certification. The five years experience using ASL on a daily basis will be documented by letters from three non-related individuals that also use ASL. An individual must obtain ASLTA instructor certification within one year after completing the 90 hours of ASL teaching experience to continue as an ASL instructor in the Wisconsin Technical College System.

Individuals who meet any of the following requirements will be allowed to teach Adult and Continuing Education (ACE) sign language courses:

1. Baccalaureate degree and a minimum of two years experience as a teacher of the deaf.
2. Associate degree and three and one-half years experience as an interpreter.
3. BS degree in education of the deaf.
4. Completion of an interpreter technician program of at least one year in length.
5. Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf (RID) certification.
6. Wisconsin Association of the Deaf (WAD) certification.

For additional information, see Guideline 49 at: http://systemattic.wtcsystem.edu/certification/cert/guide/guid49.htm

EXAMPLE
None

RATIONALE
The Wisconsin Technical College system has worked with representatives of the deaf community to develop these standards for sign language teachers. ACE sign language instructors are encouraged to attend workshops and training being offered by the Wisconsin Association for the Deaf and the American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA).

An example of the ASL courses being offered by the Wisconsin Technical College System is available at http://systemattic.wtcsystem.edu/cert/asl.htm

Implemented: September 29, 1999
Last Reviewed/Revised: May 2002

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