Mission
The Mission of the Coalition for Sign Language Equity in Technology is to ensure that Deaf perspectives on the use of automated or automatic interpreting via artificial intelligence (AI) are thoroughly integrated into all policy recommendations, including those developed with the SAFE AI Task Force. Deaf perspectives are inherently intersectional, representing all stakeholder groups (end users, qualified practitioners, vendors and buyers) and diverse communities within and across identity groups, including ethnicity, nationality, Deafblind and other disabilities.
Values
The members of the Advisory Group (AG) take to heart the principles of S.A.F.E. as explained in the Guidance 1.0, emphasizing Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Ethics in the design and use of automatic/automated interpreting by AI. Additionally, we have two core values for conducting the research and development of recommendations: transparency and intersectionality. By transparency, we mean that decision-making processes are widely shared in American Sign Language and by intersectionality, we mean that stewardship of diverse experiences are supported rather than collapsed into a single ‘standard’ model.
AG-TF Liaison Team Members
Eileen Forestal
Professional Development Committee at Conference of Interpreter Trainers
One of the very few Deaf persons to ascend to leadership in ASL, Deaf Studies and Interpreter Education Programs, Eileen retired in June 2015 after 36 years as Coordinator/ Senior Professor of ASL-English Interpreting Programs in New Jersey. Certified as a Deaf interpreter since 1979, Eileen has taught at several universities and presented at national and international conferences, including the recent Symposium on AI and Sign Language Interpreting. She is currently on CIT’s Professional Development Committee and represents CIT on the Task Force for Stakeholders Advocating for Fair and Ethical Artificial Intelligence in Interpreting (SAFE-AI) and is a founding member of the Liaison Team of the Advisory Group on AI and Sign Language Interpreting.
Star Grieser
Chief Executive Officer at Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
Star is a Member of the Stakeholders Assembly of the SAFE AI Task Force and the CEO of RID since July of 2021. Star graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Professional and Technical Communication, and McDaniel College with a Master’s in Deaf Education (2001) and been active in advocacy and has worked among the Deaf and interpreting communities, be it medical, mental health care, Deaf education, legislative advocacy, interpreter education, etc., before becoming the Director of Testing for CASLI in 2017, and the CEO of RID 2021. She currently holds a RID certification as a CDI and is also ICE-CCP certified.
Timothy Riker
Senior Lecturer in American Sign Language at Brown University
Tim Riker is a Member of the Advisory Group (AG) on AI and Sign Language Interpreting. He is a Senior Lecturer in American Sign Language at Brown University and research co-investigator with the DeafYES! Center for Deaf Empowerment and Recovery. Through his Deaf-led team’s community-engaged research, Riker has collaborated to develop linguistically and sociopolitically correct methods of inquiry when conducting Deaf qualitative research. The research team leveraged technology so they could analyze sign language data while reducing bias found in traditional methods of inquiry.
Erin Sanders-Sigmon
Region 1 Representative for Mano a Mano, Inc.
Ms. Sanders-Sigmon is a game changer, mentor, deaf & DeafBlind multilingual Interpreter, transliterator, writer, consultant, abolitionist, and survivor of ZOOM Culture. She believes in 360* views, ALL Justices, especially Language, Disability, Transformative, Restorative, Social, and Racial Justice. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Ms. Sanders-Sigmon’s lifelong aim is to dismantle all hierarchies, and while uplifting the underrepresented, underserved, also influencing those in a position of privilege. The mission? To unite and create a just environment and spaces that are fully accessible for all walks of life, in the plethora of settings that exist in our current milieu., and finally, passing on that legacy. A just legacy that is sustainable… until the end of time.
Advisory Group Members
Professor of Philosophy and Bioethicist at Gallaudet University
Teresa Blankmeyer Burke is Professor of Philosophy and Bioethics at Gallaudet University. Her published research areas are bioethics, including the ethics of genetic technology; ethics of signed language interpreting; Deaf philosophy; philosophy of disability; and the ethics of emerging technologies, including AI. She has provided her expertise to a variety of entities, including the United Nations, World Federation of the Deaf, National Council on Disability (USA), the Canadian Association of Sign Language Interpreters, the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (USA) and is co-Editor in Chief of the Journal of Philosophy of Disability.
Product Strategist at Sorenson
An experienced corporate leader in marketing and product strategy, Ryan Commerson resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado with a partner of 20 years and a perfect mess of a dog. During his free time, he plays in the mountains and trains for ultras and triathlons.
Creative Strategist at GoSign.AI
Ryan Hait-Campell is a seasoned creative strategist with a decade of experience, recognized for innovative contributions to emerging technologies. His accolades include being named one of Time Magazine’s 25 Best Inventions of 2014 among others.
Currently, Ryan operates as a Program Lead at www.convorelay.com where he guides new product initiatives aligning with global expansion strategies. On the side, Ryan is one of the owners of www.gosign.ai where they focus on pioneering AI solutions for deaf and hearing individuals, breaking accessibility barriers worldwide.
You can learn more about Ryan at his website www.ryanhc.com
Chair at National Association of State Relay Administration
Travis Dougherty is a dedicated advocate for communication accessibility, serving as the Chair of the National Association of State Relay Administration and the Maryland Relay Manager. His work focuses on enhancing communication services for the deaf and hard of hearing community. Additionally, Travis is an AI & Sign Language Recognition Consultant, where his expertise bridges technology with accessibility. As a serial entrepreneur, he leverages his knowledge and passion to innovate and advocate for more inclusive communication solutions, making significant strides in the intersection of technology and accessibility.
Director, Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing at MasterWord Services, Inc.
M. Cody Francisco serves as the Director of Interpreting Services: Deaf and Hard of Hearing at MasterWord in Houston, Texas. He completed his undergraduate studies at Oklahoma State University. Furthermore, Cody earned his second Bachelor’s in Social Work & Master’s in Multidisciplinary Studies with a specialization in Deaf Studies and Counseling from the Rochester Institute of Technology. With an extensive 18-year career, Cody has held leadership positions in various capacities, including roles at a prominent Video Relay Service provider, Interpreting Agencies, and Interpreter Training Programs. He is also a Certified Deaf Interpreter
Assistant Professor at Gallaudet University
Dr. Abraham Glasser is a Deaf at birth, native ASL signer from Rochester, NY. He attended RIT from 2015-2018 for his B.S. in Computer Science (mathematics minor), and 2019-2022 for his PhD in Computing and Information Sciences. His dissertation was about ASL interaction with personal assistant devices (e.g. Google Assistant and Alexa), and he has over 30 peer-reviewed academic publications.
He is currently an Assistant Professor at Gallaudet University, where he is committed to growing the new M.S. in Accessible Human-Centered Computing program, as well as continuing Human-Computer Interaction and accessible technology research.
NAOBI-Atlanta, Inc.
Holly was an IT Consultant for 10 years before switching her career to interpreting. She was a staff interpreter at Georgia State University for 8 years but now teaches in the ASL and Deaf Studies programs. She has worked in VRS and community settings for over 10 years and presents annually to K-12 schools for Career Day. She has a B.S. in Computer Science from Clark Atlanta University, an ITP Certificate from Georgia Perimeter College, an M.Ed. in ASL-English Interpretation from University of North Florida, and has trained/worked with Deaf-Blind individuals at Helen Keller National Center in New York. She is BEI-certified, ASLPI 4.
Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer at Sign-Speak, Inc.
Nikolas Kelly is a Missouri native and is Deaf. ASL is his first language. Nikolas Kelly is Sign-Speak’s Co-founder and Chief Product Officer where he shapes the product with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. Nikolas obtained a BS in Supply Chain Management. He studied for an MBA with a concentration in Data Analytics from the National Technical Institute of the Deaf (NTID) and the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). He started Sign-Speak with Nicholas Wilkins and Yami Payano to solve an unmet market demand and remove communication hurdles that he and others in the community face.
Executive Director at Canadian Association of Sign Language Interpreters
David has been an activist in the Deaf community and a leader within various Deaf organizations since the 1980s. With over 25 years of experience in senior management, David has worked in interpreting services as well as the delivery of social and health services. He held senior management positions including Executive Director of Durham Deaf Services, Regional Director with the Canadian Hearing Society, Deputy Director of DCARA, and is currently the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Sign Language Interpreters (CASLI).
CEO at TDIforAccess (TDI)
AnnMarie Killian is a trailblazing leader and advocate with over 20 years of experience
championing accessibility and inclusion in information communication technology. (ICT) As the Chief Executive Officer of TDIforAccess (TDI), AnnMarie’s remarkable career has been marked by her unwavering commitment to advancing communication access for the Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing community. She is deeply involved in shaping and influencing public policy through her engagement with the FCC Disability Advisory Council (DAC).
Silvia is a social entrepreneur passionate about the Deaf community and partners with the public and private sectors to champion Deaf rights. With over 5 years of experience in providing research, data collection, and analysis, she has helped design programs on inclusion and diversity for organizations working in marginalized communities.
Ms. Muturi has published articles on best practices regarding the Deaf in the justice, social media, and transport sectors. She lives with her teenage son and loves nothing better than to dance, listen to music, read a good book, and travel.
Co-Founder at GoSign.AI
I am from Cincinnati, Ohio. I am interested in developing novel approaches to data farming for accessibility applications. Along with Ryan Hait-Campbell and Calvin Young, we cofounded GoSign.AI, a company dedicated to collecting data of the sign languages of the world. Currently, there is great disparity in the robustness of AI tools designed for the hearing and those for sign language users. We aim to help fix that.
Director of Government Affairs, Public Policy & Advocacy at Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)
Neal has spent over a decade of his career working in areas intersecting with disability rights and government affairs at local, state, and federal levels. His passion for influencing and implementing positive change is the driving force behind his professional pursuits with the approach of, “Leave the world a better place than you found it.” He is honored to work for RID knowing that he and his team have a direct impact on the lives of the diverse Deaf and ASL using communities.
