Shelli Holmes
@shelliholmes
NIC‑Advanced ASL subject matter expert advising on linguistic QA, accessibility, and AI training data.
United StatesWhat I'm looking for
I am a nationally certified (RID NIC‑Advanced) American Sign Language Subject Matter Expert with 25+ years of professional experience in ASL linguistics, Deaf culture, and language access. I advise public and private sector clients on linguistic accuracy, cultural appropriateness, and accessibility standards.
I define success criteria and quality thresholds for ASL interpretation, translation, training, and language‑focused deliverables, and I review complex ASL outputs to identify errors in grammar, classifiers, non‑manual markers, and spatial referencing.
I develop SOPs, QA checklists, gold‑standard reference examples, and training materials to standardize high‑quality ASL outputs across teams, and I mentor and calibrate ASL professionals to improve consistency on large projects.
I bring extensive experience in linguistic QA for AI/data projects—performing structured annotation QA, documenting failure modes, vetting annotators, and advising on tooling and workflows to ensure cultural integrity and technical accuracy.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
ASL Subject Matter Expert
Independent Consultant
Jan 2001 - Present (25 years)
Provide ASL linguistic consultancy and QA for public and private clients, defining success criteria, reviewing complex ASL outputs, and delivering remediation guidance to improve accuracy and cultural integrity across language projects.
FAExternal Affairs Officer
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Jan 2013 - Jan 2025 (12 years)
Served as Language Access & Equity Lead, monitoring language services contracts, evaluating linguistic quality and compliance, and developing training and guidance to ensure equitable communication access.
Supervisor, Video Relay Interpreter
Sorenson Communications
Jan 2005 - Jan 2008 (3 years)
Supervised and evaluated ASL interpreters, provided corrective feedback, and coordinated emergency-response language services to maintain linguistic accuracy under high-pressure conditions.
Language Services Program Manager
Travis County Services for the Deaf
Jan 2001 - Jan 2005 (4 years)
Managed county-wide ASL and multilingual language services, set linguistic standards, developed training resources, and liaised with government leadership on communication access.
Rehabilitation Program Manager
Texas Commission for the Blind
Jan 1999 - Jan 2000 (1 year)
Managed programs for Deaf-Blind clients including tactile ASL and Braille access, and oversaw interpreting and accessibility services with emphasis on linguistic precision.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
State University of New York
Bachelor of Science, Human Resource Management
Completed a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management focusing on organizational practices and personnel management.
ACAustin Community College
Associate of Applied Science, Deaf Studies & Interpreter Training
Completed coursework toward an Associate of Applied Science in Deaf Studies & Interpreter Training.
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
United StatesAuthorized to work in
Portfolio
notion.soJob categories
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