Beth Ann Stewart Campbell, our first nationally RID certified interpreter in Utah and the United States
Beth Ann Campbell & Courtney LaDue, UTRID President
At the UTRID banquet on August 8, 2014, Beth Ann Campbell, our very first RID certified interpreter was awarded with the Kim Maibaum Lifetime Achievement Award for her amazing contributions to the Utah Interpreting and Deaf communities. She was the “first” interpreter in so many settings within our community, forging the way for those who followed. Truly, we are all where we are today because of the efforts of people like Beth Ann.
Suffice to say, Beth Ann truly was a pioneer within the ASL interpreting community dedicating her career to the interpreting field and working with the Utah Deaf community.
A child of Deaf parents, she never recalls a time when she was not interpreting. However, in 1963 she began interpreting within the community, starting down a path that would lead to a lifetime career. In 1965 Beth Ann attended an RID training program in Indiana where she was the first candidate to test for certification, which she passed. This gives her the unique distinction of being the first individual in the nation to become RID certified. From that point on, she worked in various community, medical, and higher educational settings. In 1970 she was the first interpreter at the University of Utah. In 1972 she went on to become the first full-time interpreter for the Division of Rehabilitation. Between 1975 and 1980, on a volunteer basis, she interpreted the nightly news in a corner on the TV screen. Beth Ann interpreted for Dr. Robert Sanderson and W. David Mortenson as they lobbied the legislature for changes in both Deaf education and Deaf community outreach services. She was one of the first hearing individuals to join UAD and served on the UAD board. In 1968 Beth Ann was a part of the founding of the original URID (the organization predating UTRID) serving as secretary. From 1985 – 1989 she was the Director of the Utah Community Center for the Deaf. Most of these accomplishments were done prior to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the law which requires an interpreter be provided in these settings.
More details regarding her career can be found:
http://www.utahdeafhistory.com/biographies-of-prominent-utah-interpreters.html
http://www.utahdeafhistory.com/utah-interpreting-service.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HHj_8Uoe74
Dr. Sanderson complimented her by saying “Beth Ann Campbell, my long suffering and patient interpreter and colleague, a tenacious advocate of the deaf, who was always ready” (Sanderson, 2004).
Julie H. Smith & Jodi B. Kinner
Suffice to say, Beth Ann truly was a pioneer within the ASL interpreting community dedicating her career to the interpreting field and working with the Utah Deaf community.
A child of Deaf parents, she never recalls a time when she was not interpreting. However, in 1963 she began interpreting within the community, starting down a path that would lead to a lifetime career. In 1965 Beth Ann attended an RID training program in Indiana where she was the first candidate to test for certification, which she passed. This gives her the unique distinction of being the first individual in the nation to become RID certified. From that point on, she worked in various community, medical, and higher educational settings. In 1970 she was the first interpreter at the University of Utah. In 1972 she went on to become the first full-time interpreter for the Division of Rehabilitation. Between 1975 and 1980, on a volunteer basis, she interpreted the nightly news in a corner on the TV screen. Beth Ann interpreted for Dr. Robert Sanderson and W. David Mortenson as they lobbied the legislature for changes in both Deaf education and Deaf community outreach services. She was one of the first hearing individuals to join UAD and served on the UAD board. In 1968 Beth Ann was a part of the founding of the original URID (the organization predating UTRID) serving as secretary. From 1985 – 1989 she was the Director of the Utah Community Center for the Deaf. Most of these accomplishments were done prior to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the law which requires an interpreter be provided in these settings.
More details regarding her career can be found:
http://www.utahdeafhistory.com/biographies-of-prominent-utah-interpreters.html
http://www.utahdeafhistory.com/utah-interpreting-service.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HHj_8Uoe74
Dr. Sanderson complimented her by saying “Beth Ann Campbell, my long suffering and patient interpreter and colleague, a tenacious advocate of the deaf, who was always ready” (Sanderson, 2004).
Julie H. Smith & Jodi B. Kinner
Dr. Jay J. Campbell & Beth Ann Campbell