HISTORY OF THE ALABAMA REGISTRY OF INTERPRETERS FOR THE DEAF

• ALRID was organized on June 13, 1969 by the Alabama Association of the Deaf. The ALRID organizing committee was J. Thomas Wheeler chairman. Connie Barnes, Robert Deloach, H. L. Baynes, Marice Horn, Maude Sinclair, Floyd Little and Charles Estes.
• President of MD, AL Pimentel was National ALRID advisor.
• First officers: Connie Barnes, President; Sam Rittenberg, Vice President; Maude Sinclair, Secretary; Fred Hughston, Treasurer. Board members at Large were Charles Estes, Rex Purvis and BobCunningham.
• 1971 - Membership increased to 66
• Interpreter law Alabama House Bill 1953 was passed July 29,1971.
• 1971-72 Rex Purvis resigned 1972; Joseph Onderdonk elected Treasurer and Marie Horn elected Board Member-at-Large
• 1972 J. Thomas Wheeler elected President.
• Huntsville Division Organized
• 1973 Mary Lou Bingham first in Alabama to receive national certificate and elected ALRID President.
• 1973 - Logo designed by Mary Lou Bingham
• Evaluations for National certificate in Alabama organized by Mary Lou Bingham.
• Terms of office changed.
• 1974 - Mary Lou Bingham, President; Mrs. Kelly Smith, Vice President; Sue Walker Noblin, Secretary and Lawrence Barclay, Treasurer.
• First evaluations for national certification held: CSC - Connie Barnes, Marie Horn, Don England, Peggy Terrell, Harvey Williams.
• EIC - Frances Kearley, Sue Walker Noblin.
• RSC - Olen Tate, Houston Dutton, Pat Adams, Wayne Minch. These Reverse Skill Certified deaf
• members served on evaluation committee.
• 1976 - David Williams, President; Connie Barnes, Vice President Peggy Terrell, secretary: Earl Birdwell, Treasurer.
• ALRID expanded to 9 divisions.
• 1977 - First screening committee to evaluate interpreters and prospective interpreters to help them improve their skills on the local and state level. State screening set up also to help interpreters know areas that needed more training so they can try for national RID certification.
• - State screening is also being used to make a new Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf in Alabama according to the skill and certification of the interpreter.
• 1978 - Ongoing planning and preparation of tapes, films, slides and study material to be used in a new Interpreter Training Curriculum Guide. This Curriculum Guide will be sent to all state divisions to help them provide uniform training to those who qualify for interpreter training and for those interpreters who want to improve their skills.

... More to come.  Stay tuned!