Interpreter Spotlight: DJ McGee  

Where is your hometown? 

My hometown is Placerville, CA      A.K.A. Hang Town

DJ McGee

What are your current certifications?

RID K-12 certified

How did you become interested in interpreting?

I would say the most rewarding part of our profession is having the ability to communicate visually.  We all have a unique ability to communicate in a medium that most humans cannot.  Our communication skills can be shown anywhere we are whether it is on land, under the sea or outer space.  We break the sound barrier that many people can only do at a basic level. And yeah, even in loud dance clubs. We make a difference by allowing communication between everyone including the hearing, the hearing blind, the deaf, and the deaf blind. As professions go, ours doesn't get any cooler!

What is the most frustrating part of the profession?

The most frustrating part of the profession is the lack of understanding that the general population has in regards to our profession.  Breaking the stigma of interpreting being a volunteer family obligation is a tough one.  It feels as though compassion and rational thought go out the window when someone receives an invoice. There is no easy fix for this one other than never give up.

Describe your most memorable moment?

There are many memorable moments that seem so notable.  The funny part of thinking back to memorable moments...there are two that stick out more than any and both come from when I was a "newbie" interpreter.  The first memorable moment will be shelved for this interview, and when you see me out and about, ask me about the pre-schooler and the two fingers.

The one moment that sticks out as the most memorable to me was story time.  When we get into a groove and our interpreting is spot on, we notice it.  As a newbie interpreter, it was rare that I had these moments and this day was no exception.  I have always been an animated person and it shows in my interpretations.  In the afternoon just before the end of the day, parents would come into the kindergarten room to pick up their kidos.  This particular day there were more parents than usual and of course me being the exhibitionist that I am, I embellished a bit. It was a story of color.  The parents watched me and not the children.  I was on fire. If I could remember the story, I would be able to explain this better, but lets just say, everything was flowing and vivid.  Even though the parents were hearing, they somehow looked like they understood my signs.  Near the end of the book is where it happened. All of the colors came together in the book. It was a rainbow and by this point I was so "cha" headed that I didn't even think about what I was signing.  Red, orange, yellow, signing was so easy. Green and blue. Ha! piece of cake! I never looked so good. Indigo! Indigo?!? I hit a brick wall.  I hit that wall so hard that even the parents watching me made this face that one may make when you see someone actually run into a wall.  Indigo? I had never heard that color in the rainbow before, and I was stumped.  My saving grace is when one of the parents, all of which were now laughing at me, leaned over to me and in a loud whisper said," purple."  Oh the days of being a green interpreter. I'll never forget this moment.

Who are the interpreter(s) you admire most?

CODAs, GODAs, SODAs and any other ODA that interprets professionally or otherwise.  They are the true heroes that were drafted at such an early age almost to become adults before their time.  Learning to interpret beyond their own vocabulary and learning how to manipulate the spoken language into visual language without a manual of any kind.  They had to use their imagination many times more than I ever could.  Even if the sign skills aren't up to the standards that we strive to reach, they are the ones that have to struggle in both worlds.  They are the ones that had to endure the prejudices that the some people have for anyone disabled. They experienced twice the heartache but also experienced twice the joy when the time called for it.  I could only aspire to be half the interpreter that you all are.  Thank you for all of your work both professionally and non-professionally.

What is something members would be surprised to learn about you?

I am almost fluent in Pig Latin.  Isay atthay urprisingsay otay ouyay?