Hello, my name is Eric Crook. I am honored to be on this board and to serve the state and my fellow colleagues in the field. A bit about myself: I am a United States Marine Corps veteran (2002-2007). After serving my country honorably, I discharged, moved to Sacramento, CA, and began my Interpreting journey.
I started learning ASL in junior college, which led to my transferring to California State University Sacramento, where I majored in Deaf studies. After getting my BA, I wasn't sure what to do next, so I followed my advisor's recommendation to apply to the interpreting program at American River College in Sacramento. After I applied, I made it through screening and was accepted into the program.
Upon graduating Interpreter training, I hit the ground running and began working in post-secondary and community work. I joined the local RID organization, SaVRID, and quickly became a member of the board, Member at Large.
In 2013, I moved to Medford, Oregon, and began working as a K-12 interpreter and post-secondary at the local community college. After a couple of years, I decided to explore other opportunities and got hired on with a VRS company back in Sacramento. VRS was a challenge at first. Ok, honestly, it was more like drinking from a fire hose! Although it was challenging, I attribute so much of my professional growth to that job and the people I worked with.
In 2015, my family and I had some life changes and ended up moving back to Medford. At that time, I took a job with the state, working for the Office of Aging and People with Disabilities. There, I worked as a case manager and learned a lot about how the state works. I was also asked to join a Disability Services Advisory council where I was able to build a network of advocates. Through that board, we identified that our Deaf community in Southern Oregon is severely impacted and not adequately served. From that group, we formed a “Deaf Issues Work Group" to have a forum to discuss barriers in the community. That group is still going strong today! They have hosted a medical forum to educate our local clinicians and providers about access needs. They have also done a lot of work with the local CCOs to ensure access at medical appointments.
In 2018, after an outpouring of need from the community, I opened an Interpreting agency in Medford, SOS Interpreting Inc. In 2019, there was an opening at Southern Oregon University in their disability resources office. I was at SOU as an accommodations and learning specialist/ASL interpreter initially. Later, I would become the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Coordinator.
Then in 2020, we got rocked by COVID. I was working from home like most everyone else. People stopped meeting in person, and business for the agency tanked. By 2021, I had to close the doors, unfortunately.
In late 2022, I was approached by the Southern Oregon Education Services District regarding an administrator position that they had created to oversee their ASL Interpreting Department. I was floored to be offered the position and graciously accepted. I've now been with the SOESD for just over a year as an administrator.
I am so honored to be on this board, and I look forward to the work and hope to do my best for our profession.