Advisory Board for Interpreters for the Deaf Arkansas Department of Health

Advisory Board for Interpreters for the Deaf

Ark. Code Ann. § 20-14-804 creates the Advisory Board for Interpreters between Hearing Individuals and Individuals who are Deaf, Deafblind, Hard of Hearing, or Oral Deaf, which consists of seven (7) members appointed by the Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Health.

The Board's purpose is to ensure that individuals who are Deaf, Deafblind, Hard of Hearing, or Oral Deaf and those they communicate with may depend upon competent, reliable interpreting services.

We Are The Advisory Board for Interpreters for the Deaf (video with captioning and ASL interpreting)

Advisory Board Members

Name	Contact Info	Constituency	Term Expiration
Stephanie Ott	steph.ott@gmail.com	Interpreter	12.23.25
Daisy Dippel, Chairperson	daisykayp@yahoo.com	Interpreter	12.31.24
Sebrena Westcott	sebrenawestcott@gmail.com	Interpreter	12.31.25
Arthur Babin	adbabin@sbcglobal.net	Deaf Citizen	12.31.25
Shana Turner	shanaturner02@gmail.com	Hearing Community	12.31.24
Pamela Taylor	pamelat3584@gmail.com	Interpreter	12.31.26
Renika Witherspoon	rwitherspoon2020@gmail.com	Deaf Citizen	12.31.26

Committees

Licensure Committee	Investigation Committee	Budget/Fee Ad Hoc Committee	Technology Committee
Stephanie Ott	Arthur Babin	Arthur Babin	Pamela Taylor
Shana Turner	Daisy Dippel	Sabrena Westcott	Daisy Dippel

For an application to be sent to the licensing sub-committee of the Advisory Board for Interpreters for the Deaf, please read below.

For all RID Certified Interpreters: Screenshot your RID member portal that shows your name, certification(s), and expiration date.

For all Interpreters holding a QAST or EIPA credentials: A copy of your QAST or EIPA credential AND documentation showing that you completed 10 clock hours of continuing education units (CEUs) in the 2023 calendar year.

Additionally, if you live in the following states, you must also submit current state licensure for that state:

Alabama
Arizona
Idaho
Illinois
Iowa
Kentucky
Maine
Missouri
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Carolina
Rhode Island
Wisconsin

The application form and payment of fee(s) in full are required for renewals and new licenses. Only when all items and fees have been received, will the team submit the required application documents to the subcommittee.

In accordance with the rules, failure to renew by January 1 requires all renewal documentation specific to the license, a letter of explanation regarding the reason for late renewal, and payment of late fee.

In accordance with the rules, failure to renew by January 31st will result in the license becoming inactive until all required renewal documentation and payment of the reactivation fee are received.

For licensing not described above, please see the rules.

An interpreter wishing to be licensed in Arkansas is responsible for practicing in accordance with the Rules Governing the Advisory Board for Interpreters.