translate from spanish to english: The Amazing Blind Interpreter: Jamey Cook

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Snapshot of Jamey and Abner.

In late April,Judy flew to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to give a presentation at the annual conference ofCATI (Carolina Association of Translators and Interpreters). It was a wonderful event, and her main highlight was meeting Jamey Cook, anawe-inspiring blind interpreter whoalways has her adorable Seeing Eye dog, Abner, by her side. Jamey is an accomplished scholar and interpreter, attends conferences on her own, and is the first-ever blind certified medical interpreter (CMI). You read correctly: Jamey is a top-notch Spanish medical interpreter who who also happens to be blind.
Read on to learnmore about Jamey's story. It's quite inspirational, and it reminded us that our fellow linguists are capable of overcoming enormous challenges. Jamey grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, and now lives in Carrboro, North Carolina (a suburb of Chapel Hill), where she is a Spanish medicaland telephone interpreter. She holds a master's degree in Spanish from The University of NorthCarolina at Chapel Hill.
It is trulyamazing how Jamey can navigate a world that's not designed for the blind. We hate to admit this, but we werequite ignorant about how non-sightedlinguists navigate computers (which we seem to use every minute of every day), and it was fascinatingto learn more about the tools that Jameyso successfully uses. What's even more embarrassing is that we didn't even know if we had to say "visually impaired" or if "blind" was fine. Jamey put as at ease and told us that all the political correctness is overkill. Using the term "blind" is perfectly acceptable. So here's our interview with the amazing blind interpreter, Jamey Cook.
Q: What was earlychildhood like for you?Jamey: After being bornthree months prematurely, and quite literally fighting for my life, I was diagnosed with Retinopathy ofPrematurity (ROP). I lost sight in both eyes by the time I was sixmonths old, and underwent a total of eleven eye surgeries by the time I wasthree. Doctors couldn't save my physicalsight, but my parents were determined that I be given every opportunity to live a full life.
What was school like?Jamey: I attended classes with sighted students from preschoolthrough high school, and spent a smallpart of my day in the vision room, where an itinerant teacher worked with me on everything fromBraille to adaptive technology.
How did youlearn Spanish?Jamey: My mother, who grew up in East Texas, taught me a fewwords, and I was fascinated. She checkedout tapes from the National Library Service For the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and I studied these dutifully foryears until I could get into high schoolSpanish courses. I now have a bachelor's and a master's degree in Spanish.
How did you becomeinterested in interpreting? Jamey: I beganvolunteering once in a while as a patient visitor at the local hospital when still in high school, and thenwas called on to interpret as asubstitute occasionally. Then, duringand after completion of my undergraduatework at Maryville College, I interpreted both on site and by telephone.
How do you get around on the computer?Jamey: First of all, I neither use a monitor nor a mouse, and Iperform all functions with keystrokes,and a program which reads the screen aloud to me. My screen readerdoesn't get along with every website, nor can it read images, but this would be a long digressionif I told you all about that. When I graduatedhigh school, I could barely type, and I had only a rudimentary concept of formatting. By God's grace, I met a private adaptive technology teacher who came out tomy college campus, and I was soon flying through Windows and Internet concepts. Again, how the screen reading and other technology has evolved since the pointwhen I had to read each entire webpagewould be a long discussion.
How did youmanage before you owned a PC?Jamey: I utilized asmall, portable device called a note taker. I still remember my mothercounting spaces and measuring indentations with a ruler to format my first resume accurately in highschool. I still use a note takertoday, but it is much moresophisticated, and is still far more portable than a laptop computer, though it can't handle Exceland PowerPoint yet. The ability to carry hundreds of Braille volumes inelectronic files is just incredible. Iam a proud Braille reader, and literally ripped backpacks carrying home bulkyvolumes during my school years before all this technology evolved.
What was grad school like?Jamey: Challenging. I had a great deal of difficulty gettinguniversity departments to collaboratewith each other when I needed specific help. Romance Languages faculty and staff bent over backwards to help meadjust to teaching, and DisabilityServices would Braille my tests and scan my textbooks, but if I wanted a sighted reader to help me speedthrough research far faster than I couldusing scanned texts, I ended up having to find my own. I experienced manychallenges when it came to finding all of the required reading for my comprehensive exams, and thesis researchwas slow, but I finished and graduated,thank goodness. In fact, grad school helped me grow up in many ways, and I have developed strategies toovercome those same problems, should Idecide to get another degree.
What made you decide to return to interpreting?Jamey: I had difficulty with the practical aspects of foreignlanguage teaching:preparing visual aids, being able to work my way through electronic resources fast enough to planlessons and complete my own coursework at the same time, etc. I love teaching, and my students asserted that my enthusiasm for Spanish wascontagious, but I was under a lot of stress because of the extra time I neededfor preparation. I attended a lecture by a local medical interpreter, andit hit me slap in the face that interpreting was my calling. Itis a richly rewarding and sometimes tough job, bridging communication gaps, andadjusting to new developments in this diverse field. I really enjoy it! I understand that if Ibecome an interpreter trainer or manager,I will take on more responsibilities, and maybe even have an opportunity to returnto teaching. Grad school taught me about research, and I am eager to writesome book reviews, perhaps some articles, and maybe even present at a conference sometime. I am thrilled to have received training and certification as a medical interpreter, aswell as to have obtained work, and I look forward to what lies ahead.
Can you tell usmore about Abner? How does he help you in your daily life?Jamey: Two weeks after graduation, I flew up to The Seeing Eyein Morristown, NJ, where I met this easy-going Lab and Golden Retriever cross namedAbner. Matching a dog to a person is a bit of an art and ascience all at once, and it was so wonderful to participate in that process forthe first time! Training was intense,but so totally worth bonding with this handsome fellow. He helps me to be more active andindependent, and definitely to travel farther and faster than I ever havebefore.

CATI board members look on as Jamey and Abner handle the raffle.

I have attended conferences in other cities on my own, weare expert Amtrak travelers, and he makes me more visible, which really helpswhen I need assistance. Instead ofwalking fixed routes with my cane, I can take my talking GPS and my dog with meand have the "big picture." Myspatial orientation has grown far more sophisticated, and I can actually walkto places in my neighborhood just about as fast as the bus can get methere. Not to mention that I can nowgive decent driving directions to locations in my area if I have been there afew times before. And yes, he is a loyaland faithful friend who helps me network, and sometimes even unexpectedly calmsothers down.
He had the distinction of snoozing quietly through mycertification exams last year, and as I understand it, I am the first totallyblind interpreter to have the CMI credential. I work night shift now, and having him beside me when I'm on the job isspecial.
I feel so very blessed in many ways, and thanks so muchfor this opportunity!

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