“CODA” movie brings attention to Interpreter Training Program
(Image from WCPO.com: Cincinnati State ITP student Austin Hannah discusses his experiences as a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA) while ITP Program Chair Dawn Caudill serves as on-screen interpreter for the TV story.)
The movie CODA won Best Picture at the Academy Awards on Sunday, and Deaf actor Troy Kotsur received the award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role– bringing new attention to Deaf culture, CODA cuture (Children of Deaf Adults), and the role of sign language interpreters.
Cincinnati State’s Interpreter Training Program (ITP) was featured in a WCPO story that aired Mar. 28 about the Oscar-winning film and how it has brought attention to Deaf culture and resources in Cincinnati.
ITP student Austin Hannah, whose parents are Deaf, is interviewed in the story, saying he is attending Cincinnati State to pursue a career as an interpreter, so he can take his family’s first language a step further.
“Interpreting is a whole different thing [from casual signing],” Austin said in the story. “It’s such a professional level.”
In addition, ITP Program Chair Dawn Caudill was interviewed and also served as an on-screen American Sign Language interpreter during the Channel 9 story, to make the broadcast more accessible to Deaf viewers.