Claude Shirts

Claude Shirts, CI & CT, IC/TC

Claude was born and raised in South Lake Tahoe, California.  He first encountered American Sign Language (ASL) while attending San Francisco State University and eventually went on to study ASL and Interpreting at Ohlone College, California State University Sacramento and American River College.  Claude worked as a relay operator and assistant interpreter coordinator at NorCal Center on Deafness in the early 1980’s. He became involved with Deaf Blind interpreting at the Enchanted Hills Deaf Blind Camp and with the Northern California Association of the Deaf Blind.  He has also done educational interpreting for local colleges and universities.

In 1985, Claude moved to New York City and stayed for almost seventeen years. While in New York, he held staff interpreting positions with the New York Society for the Deaf, LaGuardia Community College Program for  Deaf Adults, and the New York City Board of Education. He also held Staff Interpreter /Interpreter Coordinator positions with the Helen Keller National Center, New York University Center for Students with Disabilities, and Hands On Sign Interpreted Performances.

In the Deaf Blind interpreting field, Claude was a Support Service Provider at six American Association of the Deaf Blind Conventions and was the Interpreter Coordinator for two New York / New Jersey Usher Syndrome Family Conferences.

From 1987 – 2001, Claude was active in the theater world, interpreting for over sixty-five Broadway and Off-Broadway performances in New York City.  Through his volunteer and staff positions with Hands On Sign Interpreted Performances, he co-coordinated interpreted performances for over 250 Broadway and Off-Broadway plays and developed the organization’s on-line cultural calendar of events and its website.  In 1999, in memory of his partner James Tola, he established the Tola Program, which provides interpreted theater experiences for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children.

Claude served four years as the New York City Metro RID Treasurer and 3 years as Membership Chair. In 1990, he received NYC Metro RID’s Outstanding Service Award and in 1992, he received New York University’s  Michelle Zinkovich Outstanding Service Award.

Since returning to California in the fall of 2001, Claude has worked primarily with Eaton Interpreting Services as a freelance interpreter.  In 2003, he worked as a Video Interpreter for Hands On Video Relay Services, and most recently, has coordinated interpreters and developed the scheduling system for Eaton Interpreting Services, Inc.