Hi! My name is
Bianca G. Leon.
I'm a first-generation Latina sign language interpreter.Growing up with English as my second language, I can understand what it's like to feel left out and unheard.As a kid, I would often act as an interpreter for my parents and saw how difficult it was to communicate.My parents weren't incapacitated by their language barrier, just as deaf and hard of hearing people aren't "sick" or "broken".This is why I'm passionate about accessibility and quality interpretation.I want people to feel included and connected.
To this day, I remember my first interaction with a deaf person.I was at a school event helping elementary school kids make crafts and I attempted to communicate with a student who had cochlear implants.The American Sign Language interpreter came over and whispered to me, "Just talk to her like you would any other person."This was my introduction to Deaf culture. I began watching shows and movies with both Deaf children and Deaf parents.I loved how those families interacted and I wanted to learn ASL.I already knew what it was like to pick up a second language. So it made perfect sense in college to act on my dream.I also feel that children shouldn't be the ones who have to interpret other languages.
I am licensed in the state of Idaho (one day, I aim to be nationally certified).I have acquired a 3.5 in the EIPA ASL secondary and a 4.4 in the EIPA PSE Secondary.I have successfully taken the CASLI GENERALIST KNOWLEDGE EXAM (CGKE)cFUNDAMENTAL OF INTERPRETING EXAM RESULTS NOTIFICATION and Case Studies Exam.
Nampa School District, Nampa ID — Sign Language Interpreter
Aug 2021 - PRESENT● Maintained confidentiality and adhered to the ethical guidelines of the interpreting profession at all times.
● Facilitated language and culture between students and teachers Navigated a diverse range of subjects, effectively interpreting complex educational content across disciplines such as Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.Vallivue School District, Caldwell ID — Sign Language Interpreter
Extended School Year - June 2023● Worked closely with teachers and other educational professionals to facilitate an inclusive learning environment, adapting interpretation techniques as necessary to fit each student's learning style.
Sorenson - Connections
Sept 2023 - PresentConnections provides professional growth opportunities through webinars, self-paced online training with networking, goal setting, and skill-building, as well as group mentoring courses featuring weekly meetings, practice, and self-analysis.Catie Center - Dive In: Building skills and Confidence in Interpreting
Jan 2023 - Aug 2023A comprehensive program that includes 8-10 hours of weekly practice and reflection activities, regular communication with a professional coach, attendance of at least 10 mentoring sessions and 4 all-day immersions, reserved Thursday evenings for Dive In activities from February to May, and the development and implementation of an Individual Development Plan (IDP) with support from the CATIE Center.(IMET) Program
Aug 2021 - May 2022A structured, intensive, 8-month mentorship program focused on language and interpreting development through purposeful assignments and weekly meetings alternating with a language coach and an interpreter mentor. All assignment topics are specialized K-12 educational settings and are designed the improve an interpreter’s language and interpreting fluency as well as advance their EIPA score.
The National Association of Interpreters in Education
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
IdahoRid (Trilingual & Scholarship) Committee Chair 2023
Melissa Ross
Special Education Head at Nampa’s* Middle School
(Specific school withdrawn for confidentiality)Holly Nelson
DiveIn CoachMichelle Draper
IMET MentorElizabeth Schniedewind
ISU InstructorContact Info Provided Upon Request.
Get in touch using the form below!
Copyright © 2023 | All Rights Reserved.