Hello, I am Jean Kelly and I have been a community-based and educational interpreter for more than 30 years.   Since 1987 I have been an interpreter trainer in two interpreting training programs in San Diego, and have offered workshops across the country to working and student interpreters.

I have been involved in sign language since 1972 and became a certified interpreter in 1982, earning my Comprehensive Skills Certificate (CSC).  Additionally, I hold a Special Certificate: Legal, and a Certificate of Transliteration (CT). 

I am a member of  the Conference of Interpreter Trainers CIT, and have been an active member of RID since 1978.   I have been involved on the local, regional and national level, having served in the capacity of a Chapter President of SCRID, Treasurer for San Diego RID, Chair for the 1985 RID Convention, 6 years as a member of the RID Professional Development Committee, and served on the board and co-coordinator for two Region V Conferences.  From 1993-1996, I was the Area Coordinator for the RITC Mentorship Program and trained and served as a mentor. 

I was quite involved in putting together a pilot program for the San Diego City Unified School District School to Career program, and taught 4 years in a program in which high school students were able in their 3rd year high school language ASL class as an exploratory course on the field of interpreting.  I am proud to note that students from this class are beginning to enter the field.

I was honored to be recognized by the San Diego Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (SDRID) for my contribution to the field of interpreting in 2002, and awarded the Judie Husted Award for Region V for my "commitment to the profession as a role model for present and future interpreters".

I have an undergraduate degree in Communication and a MA in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University.  I have published numerous articles and written two books.  My books, “Transliterating: Show me the English” and “ASL to English: Say it like They mean it.” Are used in interpreting training programs across the country.

Thank you for visiting my web site. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions,I would love to have you e-mail me. I look forward to hearing from you.

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