Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenée Richardson.
Hi Jenée, we’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As a Deaf individual, I have always relied on ASL interpreting services for various situations: school, jobs, doctor appointments, performances, etc. In one of my first professional jobs, a position opened up to run their Interpreting Department and I naively thought, “Well, I have always used interpreting services. How hard can this be? Sign me up!” Boy, was I wrong. There was so much to learn about what really goes on behind the scenes as all I knew was there was an interpreter who magically showed up when I needed one. I then went on to work for a well-known interpreting agency in Washington, D.C. who really showed me the ropes and provided with me a rich experience of how to run an interpreting agency. Because of this experience, I am where I am today: CEO of 512 Terps, an interpreting agency based here in Austin, Texas.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In some ways, yes, and in some ways, no. Being Deaf, I have naturally faced many obstacles in both my personal and professional life which vary from simple telephone calls to trying to converse with new individuals, to ensuring I have the accommodations needed, to being left out and rejected, to having to work harder to show my lack of hearing does not equate to my lack of skill and more. Nevertheless, as frustrating as these obstacles can be, all situations have and continue to greatly shape how I approach life. I can choose to dwell and live in the past or choose to look forward to the future. I choose the latter, which drives me to keep moving forward regardless of what stands in my way. It’s easy to see the hard times we face on a day-to-day basis but when you look back and recognize where you are today, that feeling overcomes the sum of the hurdles.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
512 Terps is a Deaf-and woman-owned interpreting agency that provides both American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting and Caption Access Real-time Translation (CART) services, both onsite and virtually. What sets us apart from others is the fact that 512 Terps is Deaf-owned; this means there is an extra special layer to our services because we simply get it. We understand how important it is to have the right interpreters and will work diligently to strive for the perfect match. We do not allow just any interpreter to work for us; all interpreters go through a screening process that allows us to evaluate and have a better understanding of their skills. That is what makes 512 Terps the agency to work with as we prioritize quality over everything.
Contact Info:
- Email: bookaterp@512terps.com
- Website: www.512terps.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/512terps
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/512TerpsATX
Image Credits:
Headshot: CjDuncan Photography (https://www.cjduncan.com/)
