Deaf Interpreter Conference 5
June 22 - 26, 2026
Workshops
The Deaf Interpreter’s Multilingual Toolkit: Cross-Border Mediation Between ASL, LSM, and Spanish
International
.15 CEU
(PS)
As Deaf Interpreters expand our practice beyond national and linguistic borders, multilingual mediation becomes more than a technical skill—it becomes a strategic professional competency. Fluency alone is not enough; effective cross-border interpreting requires structural linguistic awareness, cultural analysis, and truly Deaf-centered decision-making.
This workshop examines interpreting practice between American Sign Language (ASL), Mexican Sign Language (LSM), and Spanish, highlighting how structural and cultural differences reshape the interpreting process. Drawing from lived professional experience in both Mexico and the United States, the session explores how Deaf Interpreters actively lead ethical mediation, ensure message clarity, and navigate collaborative team dynamics in multilingual environments.
Moving beyond traditional monolingual frameworks, this session positions multilingual competence as an expression of Deaf professional leadership, strengthened identity, and the international expansion of Deaf interpreting practice.
Rene Gonzalez Puerto
Dr. René González Puerto is a Certified Deaf Interpreter recognized through CONOCER (Mexico) and an RID member based in the United States. He is a university professor in Mexico and an instructor for the Ranger Sign and Family Sign programs at Texas School for the Deaf (TSD). His work focuses on Mexican Sign Language (LSM), Deaf education, and interpreting studies. His research explores cross-linguistic interpreting practices, Deaf-centered professional development, and international perspectives on interpreter competency. Dr. González Puerto is also the director of AProSEL, an institute dedicated to Deaf education and interpreter training in Mexico.