From a small group of motivated individuals we began to consider and recognize the work of many committed interpreters and clinicians involved in providing mental health services for Deaf people. It was clear that many professionals felt they were working with very little knowledge of best practices. 

 

From this we organized the first L.E.A.D-Leading Educational Advancements in Deafness workshop housed under D.E.A.F-Deaf Educational Advancements Forum to bring clinicians and interpreters together for the first time to discuss how our roles intersect and impact mental health service delivery for Deaf people.

 

With a group of over 80 participants representing various allied health professionals and interpreters from across Canada we opened the lines of communication at our first annual conference in May, 2013. In 2014, we continued that conversation at our very successful two day L.E.A.D conference. Based on the feedback we collected from both of these events we are now preparing for a one day conference with interpreters and clinicians followed by a three day mental health interpreter training program in June, 2015.

 

It is our continued desire to improve mental health services for Deaf Canadians and support the dedicated professionals who work in this field.