Juti's mother was Irish American and her father was French Canadian. She has her mother's passion and her father's patience.

 

 Juti Kissing her mom at her wedding

I am so grateful that there are so many interpreter training programs (ITP) across the United States, for anyone who wants to become a professional interpreter.  When I started interpreting, I had never even heard of an "ITP" and I wish I had, because it would have made my journey so much more enjoyable and knowledgeable.

When I received my first check as a professional interpreter I felt like I was standing ontop of a mountain. I had been interpreting in the Deaf community for a number of years prior to being paid for services rendered. In the words of Lou Fant, "If we received any compensation it was freely given and happily accepted, but not expected."

My mom would tell "anyone" that was struggling to communicate with a hearing person, "Oh! my daughter is the best interpreter" If you want, I will tell her you want her to interpret for you?" I was not always paid, but some would offer a few bucks for gas, money for lunch.

When Sign Language, American Sign Language "ASL" is your 1st and native language, it affords you a perspective while growing up in the Deaf community that no other experience in life can hold.

The person, and the interpreter that I am today, what I have to share with those who desire to learn ASL, learn to Interpret and learn about the Deaf community and cultre comes not from a text book, but rather living it everyday of my life.

My mother was a great storyteller to be sure and one day she told me, we have a new Deaf president!!! and I sighed and laughed and thought to myself, well this beats all! Then later I found out that there was indeed a new Deaf president indeeed, at Gallaudet University, I. King Jordan, I smiled at her delight.

My mother told me so many times as a child, tell them(Hearing folks) about us (Deaf folks) so they will not act afraid of us, and understand we have feelings too, so they will want to get to know us, so they will respect us, and be comfortable with us. If you don't who else will? Many, many thanks, Mom.

Even though that was during the 50's and 60's before interpreting became well known as a profession, and accepted among the Deaf community, it still rings true today, too many people are still unaware and do not know or understand about people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and their unique community. However, more than ever I am grateful for the amazing numbers of people who have become interested and facinated with learning ASL and even going on to become certified interpreters, helping to fill in the large need for qualified interpreters for the Deaf community.

I will always remember the day in the early 60's my mother said, to me, "You know what, they passed a law and they have to pay interpreters to interpret for us!" I said, "who is going to pay?"

Well, the President said they will pay!, my mother said proudly. You know Deaf people are important too, as she raised her right hand above her head clenched in a fist and her left palm over her left ear.

I was about 15 at the time and I thought she went completely bonkers, but she hadn't, a law was passed ordering that interpreters be paid a fair rate. She was teaching me to be proud of my deaf family and I am. My mother was a big part of the Deaf Club in Los Angles, Long Beach and Orange County. She kept up to date on all of the laws and news that affected the Deaf community and was always quick to share your proud moments with me. She served as fundraiser chair which she enjoyed the most, she was a terrific cook and would create the menu at the snack stand in the Deaf club.

My dad would dance me on his feet to the beat and vibration on the wooden floor, from the live band that played so loudly, often times the police would come, and it was a great laugh when they discovered they too didn't know how loud it really was, but the police would help out with the sound level, leave and the beat went on!

Both my parents loved to play cards and it was a regular ritual to play cards at the Deaf club and at the homes of Deaf friends. If it wasn't for cards, I think my math skills would have a lot worse!

If you like who you are today and what you have done with your life, it is directly related to how you have perceived what you have lived and learned growing up. You can take the good and the not so good and use it all as a motivator to accomplish your dreams and desires, or you can waste time throwing yourself pity parties for the rest of you life.

Because of how I grew up and what I endured as a child, I became a crusader for my parents and their Deaf friends. I also became an avid reader and lover of the arts. I lived through the stories in books at the library (it was a terrific place to hide out) because only nice kids hung out in the library in the 1950's.

Today, I am grateful and even feel blessed that I have Deaf parents. I was given the gift of sign language from my parents.

I grew up living in the trenches bewteen the Deaf and Hearing and learned how to problem solve the struggles between the Deaf and Hearing communities. I developed a great skill of compassion, defending and peacemaking. I learned compassion for those who had great challenges in their lives. I learned that you are who you think you are and that has taken me on a journey of a lifetime.

However, that was not always the case, as a child growing up in the early 50's (I was born in 1949) it wasn't easy having Deaf parents. I was teased, tormented and tortured as a child. Kids poked at me, pushed me and called me names. They said my parents belonged in the circus with the bearded lady and the two headed man. They called me dummy, ugly, ortho, weirdo, stupid, stinky and anything else that came to mind. They would trip me, knock my lunchout of my hands wouldn't let me sit with them at the tables in the cafeteria and wouldn't let me join in the recess games. Yes, I was bullied even in the 1950's.

No one would befriend me because they would be out-casted too.  I was a loner, I ate and played alone under a tree at the far end of the playground and if they kids saw that I was content, they would be sure to come and stir up some trouble for me.

Teachers didn't stand up for me or protect me, they stood by and turned a blind eye and a deaf ear. In the 4th grade some kids brought snow inside the classroom and piled it on the teachers seat. I didn't know anything about it, the kids all said I did it, and I jumped up and yelled, No! No! No! and my teacher backhanded me in the face, and drew blood with a ring she wore that scratched my face, of course she was fired. It was obvious to me she didn't like me and I really didn't know why.

School was difficult for me, I am a visual learner and I couldn't understand when the teacher would instruct us during class to do something, I was clueless, I had to watch what others were doing and then I would follow them in order to participate in class, this was terribly stressful for me as a child.

In addition, I had anxiety, I couldn't focus in class, and I spent all day in class trying to figure out a safe route home without being followed by some bullies who would grab my books and push me down all the way home.

I wasn't allowed by the parents of other children to come to their house and play. Children made fun of me and mocked me, waving their hands in the air like they were unable to control their hand movements and they called me "Ortho" that was a term used in the 50's to describe someone that was handicapped or mentally retarded.

I couldn't walk down the street without being jeerd and heckled. I was a miserably sad and lonely child. My only saving grace was my parents moved around a lot so I never stayed in one place very long.

I remember sometimes hiding in the root celler or basement trying to avoid going to school, and I never got caught because my older sister, who went throught what I did would sign notes to the school for me. She was 5 years older than me and she was my only protector.

I tell this part of my story, not for sympathy but rather for understanding. The events in my life, the tears, pain, rejection and how I grew up, is at the core of who I am and why I have dedicated my life educating the hearing community understand the Deaf Community and their culture,and will until the day I die, because what doesn't kill you truly makes you stronger.

Many, many thanks for taking the time to read thispart of my story, my wish for you is to embrace and support the Deaf Community with caring and compassion, avoiding the role of "For Your Own Good" doing for someone what they can learn to do for themselves, with time we can all accomplish our dreams and desires.

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It happened again! As recently as the Winter of 2013, A Judge asked me"How can a Deaf person get a suspended driver's license? They don't allow them to get a driver's license becuase,they can't hear a siren?

I wanted to say, "Deaf not Blind!" Yes, they can drive,

I said as calmly as possible. "Deaf people can drive as good as you or me and, they can see flashing lights before hearing folks can hear the sirens."

Yes, it's sad but true...Audism still goes on even today.

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I think often of my mother's words "tell them, and teach them about usDeaf folks" My mother's words always ring in my ears whenever I see or hear an uneducated comment about people who are Deaf.

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In 1964, a Judge told my mother, Ignorance of the law is no excuse, my mother told the Judge that she thought the law seemed very unfair. I was interpreting for my parents in small claims court at 14 yrs old, and I felt the pangs of discrimination and Audism even when I didn't understand what the terms meant, I experienced them with my parents.

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These kind of stories continue to induce me to share, with those of you, who desire and are excited to live and learn about people who are Deaf, their language, their lives and to become part of our ever growing Family of Interpreters at LOVE2ASL.COM. Being part of our family means being in the know about what is up and coming, what's new in the field of interpreting and learning to be a qualified professional.

Only at Love2asl's Sign Language and Interpreter Educational Outreach Center, in Anaheim, Orange County,California, will you be taught such unique, in-depth, accelerated and comprehensive interpreter workshops, and training by someone who has earned through life experiences and formal education, the position as interpreter/instructor.

At Love2asl.com, You will learn from a top-notch, educationally qualified, professional interpreter, with over 4 decades of experience that supercedes everything else.

Love2asl's offers unique programs like, AMP, (Accelerated Mentoring Program) PEP (Preparing for theEvaluation Program), FIT (Formal Interpreter Training), EZ2B workshops and many more specialized classes courses and workshops.

All of the Love2asl's courses, classes and workshops have been developed and designed from Juti's 65 years in the Deaf community, 45 years as an Interpreter for the Deaf Community and over 25 years of Guidence and Counseling with Deaf children, all of this to assist you in all areas of your life and professional career. Where else can you find this kind of learning environment?

What is unique to Love2asl.com's training programs is, Juti's life experiences, interpreting experiences and psychology background to individualize and customize signing and interpreting programs to specifically meet your needs.

Juti's educational background in counseling has trained her to evaluate, analyze, assess and develop individual professional programs, making a perfect fit for your interpreting skills and style. She will show you how to strengthen areas that need to be strengthened, and identify old habits that hold you back from reaching your highest level of signing and interpreting ability.

Only at Love2asl will you learn unique techniques to help you build on the skills you have already attained and not waste time teaching you what you already know.