Robert Frew

Credentials and Education

I have been an interpreter for Spanish since 1977 and for ASL since 1980. I received my Comprehensive Skills Certificate from RID in 1986 and my B.A. in Spanish from IU in 1991. Later I attended Vincennes University 1996-2001 taking classes in ASL Studies.

I stay active and maintain memberships in the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), Indiana Chapter of Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (ICRID), Midwest Association of Translators and Interpreters.

The areas that I interpret in the most are legal, medical, educational and video relay.

Personal Information and Background

I was born and grew up in Kokomo, Indiana, a small industrial town.  Early on I had a keen interest in far away places and people from different cultures.  I started learning Spanish at age 14 and became very involved with a foreign exchange club in school, meeting many students from all over the world.  At age 19, I met my lifelong Deaf friends at a party and fell in love with the language and culture. Interpreting continues to be a way of finding purpose in my life and connecting with people from different cultural orientations.  

Interests

I try to spend as much time as possible in my garden and hosting friends from around the globe.  I spend a lot of time around professional baroque musicians and a “bug of a different sort” has finally bit me.  I am going to learn to play the Native American flute!                         

I volunteer for RID, ICRID, National Wildlife Association, Bloomington Habitat Stewards and Early Music In Motion, Inc