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Board of Sign Language Interpreters

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Upcoming HLO Closures Due to State Holidays

​Mark your calendar and note that the Health Licensing Office (and all State of Oregon agencies) will be closed on the following state holidays:

  • Wednesday, December 25, 2024, for Christmas
  • Wednesday, January 1, 2025, for New Year's Day
  • Monday, January 20, 2025, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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Overview

During the 2023 Legislature Session, House Bill 2696 (2023) was enacted, establishing the Board of Sign Language Interpreters (Board) under the Health Licensing Office (HLO). The bill requires all individuals who perform “sign language interpretation services" to be licensed on January 1, 2024, and requires the Board to determine the minimum qualifications for each license. According to the bill, the Board is unable to begin meeting until after January 1, 2024, and therefore is unable to set those requirements and adopt rules. To bridge the gap between January 1, 2024, and when the Board establishes minimum licensure requirements, the HLO will issue temporary licenses.

Limited Waiver on Enforcement Extended

While the Oregon Board of Sign Language Interpreters, Rules Advisory Committee continues to work through the rule writing process to make rule language recommendations to the Board, the Health Licensing Office (HLO) is extending the limited waiver on enforcement through midnight on June 30, 2025. This means that the HLO is exercising its discretion to not take disciplinary action against individuals who are required to be licensed and choose to work under the limited waiver on enforcement, i.e., not obtain a permanent board license (permanent license).

The limited waiver of enforcement is narrow; the waiver only applies to the singular issue of providing sign language interpretation services in Oregon without a license. The HLO may impose discipline for any other violation of the HLO or Board rules or statutes. The limited waiver of enforcement ends on June 30, 2025. On July 1, 2025, any individual not covered by an exception and providing sign language interpreting (SLI) services will need to have a permanent license to avoid enforcement action by HLO.

Practitioner Information

The following regulated professions are overseen by the Board of Sign Language Interpreters. Learn more about applying for a license, associated fees, laws, rules and more by following the links below:

About the Board

The Oregon Board of Sign Language Interpreters consists of seven members appointed by the Governor:

  • Two members who are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing and who represent an association in Oregon that promotes and protects the rights of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing.
  • One member who represents a professional organization in Oregon for sign language interpreters and who holds a license issued by the Health Licensing Office.
  • One member who represents a sign language interpreter education program at a post-secondary institution in Oregon and who holds a license issued by the Health Licensing Office.
  • Two members who are hearing interpreters certified by or registered with a national organization for sign language interpreters and who holds a license issued by the Health Licensing Office.
  • One member who is a deaf interpreter certified by or registered with a national organization for sign language interpreters and who holds a license issued by the Health Licensing Office.
All members must be residents of Oregon and proficient in American Sign Language. The term of office of each member of the board is three years, with a member eligible for reappointment. Members serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

Board Members

Colleen Thayer

Term: 1st Full
Term end: 12/31/2025
Salem


Eric Crook

Term: 1st Partial
Term end: 12/31/2024
Medford


​Hello, my name is Eric Crook. I am honored to be on this board and to serve the state and my fellow colleagues in the field. A bit about myself: I am a United States Marine Corps veteran (2002-2007). After serving my country honorably, I discharged, moved to Sacramento, CA, and began my Interpreting journey. 

I started learning ASL in junior college, which led to my transferring to California State University Sacramento, where I majored in Deaf studies. After getting my BA, I wasn't sure what to do next, so I followed my advisor's recommendation to apply to the interpreting program at American River College in Sacramento. After I applied, I made it through screening and was accepted into the program. 

Upon graduating Interpreter training, I hit the ground running and began working in post-secondary and community work. I joined the local RID organization, SaVRID, and quickly became a member of the board, Member at Large. 

In 2013, I moved to Medford, Oregon, and began working as a K-12 interpreter and post-secondary at the local community college. After a couple of years, I decided to explore other opportunities and got hired on with a VRS company back in Sacramento. VRS was a challenge at first. Ok, honestly, it was more like drinking from a fire hose! Although it was challenging, I attribute so much of my professional growth to that job and the people I worked with. 

In 2015, my family and I had some life changes and ended up moving back to Medford. At that time, I took a job with the state, working for the Office of Aging and People with Disabilities. There, I worked as a case manager and learned a lot about how the state works. I was also asked to join a Disability Services Advisory council where I was able to build a network of advocates. Through that board, we identified that our Deaf community in Southern Oregon is severely impacted and not adequately served. From that group, we formed a “Deaf Issues Work Group" to have a forum to discuss barriers in the community. That group is still going strong today! They have hosted a medical forum to educate our local clinicians and providers about access needs. They have also done a lot of work with the local CCOs to ensure access at medical appointments. 

In 2018, after an outpouring of need from the community, I opened an Interpreting agency in Medford, SOS Interpreting Inc. In 2019, there was an opening at Southern Oregon University in their disability resources office. I was at SOU as an accommodations and learning specialist/ASL interpreter initially. Later, I would become the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Coordinator. 

Then in 2020, we got rocked by COVID. I was working from home like most everyone else. People stopped meeting in person, and business for the agency tanked. By 2021, I had to close the doors, unfortunately. 

In late 2022, I was approached by the Southern Oregon Education Services District regarding an administrator position that they had created to oversee their ASL Interpreting Department. I was floored to be offered the position and graciously accepted. I've now been with the SOESD for just over a year as an administrator. 

I am so honored to be on this board, and I look forward to the work and hope to do my best for our profession.

Mish Ktejik

Term: 1st Full
Term end: 12/31/2026
Lake Oswego


Dr. Mish Ktejik is currently the department chair for the ASL/English Interpreting Program at Portland Community College and teaches courses on ethics, interpreting processes, business practices, and the profession of interpreting. She began interpreting professionally in 2009 and worked primarily as an independent contractor in Chicago and the DC/MD/VA area until moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2013. She holds a National Interpreting Certification, a Specialist Certification in Legal Interpretation, and is a Certified Health Care Interpreter in Oregon.

Mish graduated from Gallaudet University in 2009 with MA degrees in linguistics and interpretation. She holds an Ed.D. in leadership with a focus on second language instruction. Her dissertation explores the leadership experiences of board members in nonprofit organizations.

She served on the national board of directors for the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf for four years. Other service experience includes being treasurer for the Oregon Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and chairing committees for the Oregon Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and the Potomac Chapter Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. She has presented workshops on interpreting and leadership at the national, regional, and local levels. Mish spends her free time traveling, reading, learning new things, and cuddling with kittens. She is passionate about lifelong learning, teaching, and having a positive impact on the ASL community.

Tammy Adams

Term: 1st Full
Term end: 12/31/2025
Gresham


​Hello, my name is Tammy Adams, and I am honored to be appointed to this inaugural board. I am a graduate of Portland Community College’s interpreting program and hold certifications from RID (CT) and EIPA: Secondary (4.7). I have been actively interpreting since 1995 and have extensive experience in K–12 and post-secondary educational environments, as well as working as a freelance interpreter. In addition, I have experience supervising and coordinating college-level interpreters. I find tremendous enjoyment in my current position providing interpreting services to younger students who are often in need of language models and language development.


In my current interpreting position with Columbia Regional Inclusive Services, I am the Vice President at Large for the union and a member of the bargaining team. I take pride in collaboratively working towards pay equity that will result in drawing highly skilled interpreters to the K–12 setting to support our students in gaining equal access to their education.

The Board of Sign Language Interpreters currently has an opening for a Member – Deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing; represents an Oregon association that advocates for the protection of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing; and is proficient in ASL. To apply, fill out the Application form.

The Board of Sign Language Interpreters currently has an opening for a Member – Deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing; represents an Oregon association that advocates for the protection of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing; and is proficient in ASL. To apply, fill out the Application form.

The Board of Sign Language Interpreters currently has an opening for a Member – Represents a professional organization in Oregon for SLI; holds a license issued by the HLO; and is proficient in ASL. To apply, fill out the Application form.

Board Recruitment

Are you interested in serving as a volunteer citizen board member? HLO-regulated boards seek new members as current board member terms expire.

Current vacancies and how to apply

For board recruitment questions or the appointment process, contact the Oregon Governor's Office of Executive Appointments at 503-378-6829.