Yalonda Allgood

RIT/NTID alum Yalanda Allgood ’22 (American Sign Language-English Interpretation), ’25 (Health Care Interpretation) is currently an American Sign Language interpreter specializing in health care and medical interpretation. With expertise in interpreting, mentorships, and program development, she aims to enhance accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

Her love for language, advocacy, and community-building led Allgood to enroll in the NTID’s ASL and Interpreting Education program. After earning her bachelor’s degree in ASL-English Interpretation, she went on to complete a master’s degree in health care interpretation at RIT/NTID. 

Committed to advancing accessibility, representation, and inclusion for Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, Allgood serves as director of interpreting services at MyASLTeacherRocks, an organization that provides programs focused on ASL and interpreter development, including mentoring, training, and other educational opportunities. She also serves as a team member for Nclusive Scan, an organization dedicated to providing equal access to communication for healthcare literacy and beyond.

In October 2025, she co-hosted the Black Interpreter Experience conference in Greensboro, North Carolina, focusing on creating a space for Black interpreters to connect, share experiences, and address unique industry challenges. As an advocate for representation in the interpreting profession, she continues to train, support, and empower current and future generations of interpreters through mentorship and workshops. 

Why did you want to become an ASL interpreter?

From a young age, I knew what it meant to navigate the world while being seen as “not the same” as everyone else. That experience shaped how I view access, fairness, and the right each person has to be fully included. ASL and the Deaf community offered me a sense of connection and clarity that felt familiar to my own lived experiences.

Becoming an interpreter is not just a job, it’s my passion. It’s the path that not only allows me to stand in the gap for others, but also keeps me aligned with my purpose. Interpreting is where my love for language, advocacy, inclusion and community-building meet. Every time I interpret, I know I’m empowering someone with the right to participate in a moment that belongs to them.

How did the interpreting programs at RIT/NTID help prepare you for your career and the work you do as an interpreter? 

RIT strengthened my skills as an interpreter and broadened my scope of practice in ways that continue to shape my work today. The program elevated and refined the strong foundation I had already built during my time at Sinclair Community College, where I completed my first interpreting program. Sinclair established my base; RIT expanded it, stretched it, and pushed me into a higher level of professional readiness.

The bachelor’s program deepened my linguistic competence, sharpened my ethical decision-making, and strengthened my ability to navigate diverse interpreting environments. It expanded my professional range and helped me develop a stronger, more intentional practice. The master’s program in Health Care Interpretation was transformative on a different level. It equipped me to interpret in complex medical settings with precision, cultural humility, and critical decision-making skills. 

Most importantly, my master’s degree is where I discovered that I am a researcher. The program challenged me to analyze disparities, study communication patterns, and contribute to the growing scholarship on equitable health care access for Deaf individuals, including the urgent need to increase representation within the interpreting field itself. That realization continues to guide my leadership, advocacy, and future academic pursuits.

Tell us a little bit about your role as the director of interpreting services for MyASLTeacherROCKs and what this program is about. 

As the director of interpreting services for MyASLTeacherROCKs, I have the privilege of guiding interpreter development, mentorship pathways, and collaborative support for interpreter training programs. I bridge academic rigor with purpose-driven leadership. I work to expand access, nurture talent, and ensure that Deaf individuals receive services that honor both language and culture. This work is deeply personal to me. Every program we build, every interpreter we support, and every door we open reflects our collective commitment to equity, representation, and transformation within the interpreting profession.

MyASLTeacherROCKs is more than an organization; it's a movement centered on representation, language access, inclusion, advocacy, and community empowerment. At MyASLTeacherROCKs, representation isn’t an initiative; it’s our foundation. And I’m grateful to be part of the team shaping a future where more interpreters see themselves, belong fully, and lead boldly.

You were a lead host of the “Black Interpreter Experience” conference. Please share your experience at the event. Were there any sessions, interactions or discussions that inspired you? 

The Black Interpreter Experience (TBIE) Conference was powerful beyond words. The concept first came to me while presenting at another conference that RIT sponsored me to attend. As I looked around the room, it became clear that there was a noticeable lack of representation both among presenters and participants. I began to imagine what it would look like to create a conference intentionally centered on representation, one that highlights and celebrates the depth we bring as interpreters, educators, and human beings.

I shared the idea with our CEO, Somer Stanley, and – as anyone who knows Somer can attest – when you bring her an idea, she brings you a blueprint. With her leadership, TBIE was brought to life. I served as part of the core planning team, led by Somer. Contributing to a space intentionally designed for Black interpreters was deeply meaningful to me, and I’m grateful to have played a role in something that reflects both our shared vision and our community’s needs. 

There were two of the most impactful moments for me. One was serving as the accessibility coordinator for our events, where I had the full ability to make intentional and unique decisions. This included ensuring each panelist had their own interpreter, thoughtfully matched both in skill and personality, as well as hand-selecting interpreters that reflected representation for each panelist.

The second most impactful moments for me was sitting on the “Interpreting While Black” panel. During that conversation, we explored what it means to navigate a field that is not always designed with us in mind. We discussed experiences with microaggressions, systemic barriers, and the emotional labor that often comes with simply existing as a Black interpreter in predominately non-Black interpreting spaces.

What are the most challenging and rewarding moments in your career? 

The challenges in my career have come from navigating high-stakes environments, carrying the emotional labor interpreting requires, and advocating in spaces where cultural and linguistic competence is not always prioritized. Health care interpreting, in particular, demands emotional resilience and critical decision-making. The most rewarding moments are when Deaf individuals feel seen, respected, and empowered. When a patient says, “Thank you, I understood everything.” When a student finally feels connected. When an interpreter in our mentorship program gains confidence and recognizes their potential.

Representation victories are equally meaningful. Every time I see a Black interpreter graduate, earn certification, or step into leadership, it feels like a collective win. Increasing representation is not just a goal, it’s a movement. One of the historic milestones has been witnessing the establishment of the first-ever four-year accredited interpreter training program on the campus of an HBCU – Shaw University – launching in 2027. Being on the Shaw Advisory Board, I have the opportunity to witness and be a part of a vision coming to life, and I have to tell you, it’s extraordinary and well overdue. 

These moments remind me why I chose this path and why I remain committed to it. They reflect the legacy of access, equity, and community that I hope to contribute to.

What advice would you give individuals who aspire to become an ASL interpreter?

Immerse yourself in the language, the community, and the culture. Stay curious, stay humble, and take every learning opportunity seriously. Seek mentorship, welcome feedback, and practice consistent reflection. Most importantly, remember that interpreting is about people first. Your role is to honor Deaf voices, not replace them. If you remain grounded in that purpose, you will serve with integrity.

Give yourself grace and space to grow. We are not perfect in our first language, so do not expect perfection in your second or third. Progress requires patience, compassion, and consistency. 

Is there anything you would like to add that people would be surprised to learn about you or your work?  

People are often surprised by how deeply invested I am in interpreter development, social justice, and community education. I am committed to creating pathways for interpreters to grow—especially interpreters of color whose voices are often underrepresented. When we elevate each other, we elevate the entire profession.

In addition to my interpreting work and position with MyASLTeacherROCKs, I proudly serve as a team member for Nclusive Scan, a revolutionary accessibility platform transforming how health care communicates with patients. I have recently accepted a new role as a Rater for Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education (CCIE). I am also an entrepreneur, the CEO and Founder of Melanated Tribe, a clothing line centered around culture, empowerment, and collaboration.

Lastly, of all the titles I carry, I enjoy being Nahtuh or Tee Tee Landa, also known as Aunt Panda, an aunt to all of my nieces and nephews, and a sister, as I am the oldest of six children. My siblings mean the world to me.