Innivee Strategies is proud to partner with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) on a statewide needs assessment focused on interpreting services for Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing (D/DB/HH) communities. This initiative, part of the Michigan Qualified Interpreter (QI) Program, aims to better understand the challenges and opportunities within signed and protactile interpreting services across the state.
Through this assessment, Innivee Strategies will gather critical insights directly from D/DB/HH community members and interpreters. The results will provide LARA with the data needed to make informed decisions about interpreting services and collaboration with D/DB/HH individuals and interpreters in Michigan.
Innivee Strategies’ Approach
As a Deaf-led leadership and organizational development firm, Innivee Strategies specializes in community-driven research and the advancement of interpreting systems. Our approach to this needs assessment is structured into three phases:
- Engagement and Planning – Promoting the project and refining its design to promote meaningful community input
- Data Collection – Hosting virtual focus groups, conducting interviews, and distributing a statewide survey in ASL and English to gather perspectives from D/DB/HH individuals and interpreters
- Analysis and Reporting – Developing a data report that highlights key findings and provides recommendations to guide LARA in next steps for interpreting in Michigan
How to Get Involved
Community participation is essential to the success of this effort. We invite Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing individuals, interpreters, and aspiring interpreters to share their experiences and ideas.
For updates and more information on this initiative, visit the LARA Qualified Interpreter website: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bchs/qualified-interpreter
If you are interested in contributing to this project, please subscribe below:
