Mary Lou Bingham Award  

1996 Recipient - Robin Price

Robin Price, 1996 MLB Award Recipient

Robin Price was the first interpreter with ADRS and developed her role to scope interpreting, employer relations, job placement, job readiness, independent living skills training, budget counseling, housing assistance ... she became a one-stop deaf center back at a time when there were no other places to receive such help. Later on, she assisted in brainstorming and establishment of the first Deaf Support Services unit in the state with ADRS.

Robin interpreted for the first Alabama deaf juror in a civil case. She developed relationships with law enforcement and the legal system to help those entities recognize the need for appropriate communication assistance for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. She was a pioneer in helping the police department and other law enforcement personnel obtain interpreters for individuals from being Mirandized to interaction with court-appointed or private counsel.

Robin devised and supported the idea of community-based interpreting services with certified interpreters rotating a beeper for emergency health services. On many nights and weekends, Robin might be found in the hallways of a local medical facility advocating for the rights of a deaf patient to clear and appropriate communication with the physician and staff providing services.

In regard to mental health services, Robin again was among the first to provide interpreting services in clinical settings when there were no specialized interpreters for the service. She advocated frequently for deaf individuals who required mandatory or voluntary AA meetings, SA support groups, divorce recovery and/or other mental health services. She frequently educated psychiatrists and therapists to an awareness of the differences in culture and language among deaf individuals.

Robin also mentored and trained several of the now-certified sign language interpreters in the Birmingham area who now work in a variety of interpreting settings. She gave many volunteer hours to GBRID and ALRID. She served on several deaf-related boards and was instrumental in seeing that the Alabama Licensure Bill was created and subsequently passed into law. She advocated for the rights of deaf children in mainstream schools which was the primary focus and origin of the Alabama Licensure Law for Interpreters and Transliterators.

In addition to her service to her employer and the community, Robin poured countless hours into her spiritual service to the Roebuck Parkway Church of Christ congregation of deaf members. She taught ladies Bible classes for deaf women and trained other members to an understanding of deaf culture and inspired some to go on into the field of interpreting.

Currently, Robin is providing her skills and experience to Orange County Goodwill Incorporated in California as a job placement/employment counselor. As she did here in Alabama, she is assisting deaf and hard of hearing individuals find and retain employment.