Descripción del taller El taller abordará las formas de ser y los comportamientos que se esperan de un líder en nuestra sociedad. El orador, mediante el uso de ejercicios de experiencias específicas e información escrita, obtendrá respuestas específicas de la audiencia que ayudarán a anclar las distinciones y comportamientos de un Líder. También ayudará a los Intérpretes a enfrentar los desafíos y a solucionar situaciones problema que se presentan a diario

Workshop Description The workshop will address the ways of being and behaviors that are expected of a Leader in our society. The presenter, through the use of specific experiential exercises and written information, will elicit specific responses from the audience that will help to anchor the Leader's distinctions and behaviors. It will also help the Interpreters face the challenges and solve problem situations that arise everyday.

José E. Bertrán Ortega was born and raised in Puerto Rico. During his early years he had a service calling which at first he channeled through his church where he became a leader. At age 13 his life was impacted by a sign language interpreter who would summarize 5 minutes of the TV newscast for the Deaf. Right there and then he swore to learn the language that had so much impact on him and to know the people that used that language.

It wasn't until many years later when he started his Bachelor's degree in the area of psychology that he learned sign language and became an interpreter in his church for Sunday Mass. This was the entry door to a new world that he had never contacted before; the Deaf Community. Upon finishing his Bachelor's of Art in Psychology and after experiencing and witnessing the needs of the Deaf Community, he decided to pursue his graduate studies in Psychology at Gallaudet's University School Psychology Program at Washington DC. During the three year program he obtained his Masters in Developmental Psychology and a Psychology Specialist Degree in School Psychology with Specialization in Deafness and Learning Disabilities. Although José had opportunities to stay in the States as a trilingual psychologist, he decided to go back to Puerto Rico to support the Deaf community there. Upon arriving to Puerto Rico he was offered a Staff psychologist position in a new Vocational Rehabilitation Center that would specialize in Deaf Clients.

There the person that interviewed him for the job was the same one that he had seen many years ago in TV and that would inspire his involvement with the Deaf Community. As a Psychologist there, Mr. Bertrán had the opportunity to support his fellow co-workers at the Center providing presentations of the newest trends in the area of Deaf Rehab technology and practices. A couple of years later he discovered what would be his true passion, working within the confines of a not for profit organization. In 1993 he became the Sub- Director of Oidos Inc.

He worked there for a couple of years until in 1995 he decided to establish a not for profit organization to provide interpretation services to the Deaf Community and advocate for their rights; Servicios Orientados al Sordo Inc. (SOS Inc). This year, the organization becomes 14 years old in the process of fighting to open opportunities to the Deaf Community in Puerto Rico. One of the projects that the organization started 5 years ago was the Quantell Interpretation of Channel 6 (local PBS Station) newscast which airs Monday thru Fridays. Another project that the organization also runs is a weekly TV Program called ABC en Señas which also airs on Channel 6, Saturday's at 4:30 p.m. In 1995 Mr. Bertrán also started to work in another not- for profit organization where he became the Clinical Director.

The organization served the Handicapped population providing evaluations to children from the Education Department, special education program in Puerto Rico. There he was in charge of a clinical staff.

During the 12 years that he worked at the Diagnostic Center for Children with Learning Disabilities, Mr. Bertran gave conferences in different areas of Puerto Rico. In 2001 Mr. José Bertrán became the Host of a TV Program called ABC In Signs at the local PBS Station Channel 6. And two years ago became the Executive Producer of the Show.

Mr Bertran has been a guest speaker in Dominican Republic and in Mexico in themes related to the Deaf Student's development, including areas like self -esteem and leadership. He currently works as a consultant to Gracias VRS and ASL Services Inc.