Esther Diaz

Translator and Interpreter Trainer

Language Access Expert

M.Ed. in Adult Education and Human Resource Development Leadership

ATA Certified for Translation from

English to Spanish and Spanish to English

Certified Healthcare Interpreter - CHI-TM

dba Language and Learning

Austin, Texas

Esther Diaz, M.Ed., CT, CHI™

Esther is a self-employed translator and interpreter trainer who co-founded the Austin Area Translators and Interpreters Association and the Texas Association of Healthcare Interpreters and Translators. She served as Medical Division Administrator for the American Translators Association and has served in a variety of capacities with the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care. Esther also created the seven-course Translation and Interpreting Certificate Program at Austin Community College where she has been an adjunct faculty member for 20 years and has also taught interpreter workshops for refugee resettlement agencies throughout Texas.

EXPERIENCE

2000 - Present

Language Access Advocate

Language and Learning

Member of Community Advancement Network’s (CAN) Language Access Workgroup, a partnership of governmental, non-profit, private and faith-based organizations which leverage mutual resources to collectively improve social, health, educational and economic opportunities for the Austin community. Serve as subject matter expert and point of contact for all interpreting issues, including language access plans.
Panelist of the English-to-English National Task Force of the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) working on the development of a feasibility study concerning certification for interpreters of less common languages.
Member of the Organizational Development Committee of the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC) working on a manual of standard operating procedures for NCIHC.
Past Board Member of the Texas Association of Healthcare Interpreters and Translators (TAHIT), leading efforts to promote a healthcare interpreting bill in the Texas Legislature from 2004 through 2009, culminating in the passage of HB 233 in 2009, establishing the Texas Advisory Committee on Qualifications for Healthcare Translators and Interpreters.
Chair of (TAHIT) subcommittee to implement recommendations of the Texas Advisory Committee on Qualifications for Healthcare Translators and Interpreters.

2010-2016

Member, Chair, Vice-Chair

Texas Advisory Committee on Qualifications for Healthcare Translators and Interpreters

The committee advised the Texas Health and Human Services Commission on the following for health care interpreters and translators:

Language proficiency required for certification
Training requirements
Standards of practice
Requirements, content, and administration of certification examinations
Procedure for testing, qualifying, and certifying
Reciprocity agreements with other states

1998 - Present

Independent Translator and Trainer

Language and Learning

Develop and present Translation and Interpreting Program at Austin Community College.
Develop and present Introduction to Community and Medical Interpreting for refugees and Introduction to Interpreting for City of Austin bilingual staff through the Multicultural Refugee Coalition’s Shared Voices program.
Teach Bridging the Gap: A Basic Course for Medical Interpreters, for Cross Cultural Health Care Program’s clients throughout the nation (2000-2004).
Translate patient education materials (EN>ES) and medical records including operative and pathology reports, discharge summaries and progress notes (ES>EN).
Interpret for Spanish-speaking patients at Volunteer Health Clinic (two years).

EDUCATION

1990-1992

Master's Degree

University of Texas at Austin

M.Ed., Adult Education and Human Resource Development Leadership

1972-1976

Bachelor's Degree

University of Texas at Austin

B.A., Spanish; Minor: French

2000

Medical Interpreter Training

Bridging the Gap: A Basic Course for Medical Interpreters, Cross Cultural Health Care Program

MEMBERSHIPS

CLIENTS

AATIA ATA NCIHC TAHIT PART

SKILLS

Spanish to English Translation

Translator and Interpreter Training

Immigrant and Refugee Advocate

English to Spanish Translation

Medical Translation and Interpreting

Language Access Consultant

EXPERTISE

Background

Esther learned Spanish while living and studying in Mexico for ten years. She learned medical terminology on the job while working as an in-house medical translator, disability examiner and training director for the Texas Rehabilitation Commission and taught medical terminology there for 19 years.

Advocate

She is a tireless advocate for immigrants and refugees, particularly in the area of language access, both as a policy-maker and as a an educator. She actively participates in the Community Advancement Network of Austin on language access issues and serves as a subject matter expert. She was the first recipient of the Texas Star Award for Language Access from the Texas Association of Healthcare Interpreters and Translators in 2014.

Volunteer

In addition to policy-making and education, Esther provides hands-on assistance for refugees who face difficult situations during resettlement on her own initiative. She is also a champion for the rights of people seeking asylum in the U.S., providing assistance through the Pan American Round Table of Austin.

CONTACT