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Interpreters are essential to BSL users in mainstream colleges, and with more deaf students than ever before, they're in increasing demand.
Dawn Marshall, who runs an interpreter's agency in Newcastle, Communication Support Service, says there is a 'dire shortage' of interpreters. In fact, according to the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People, there are about 70,000 deaf people in the UK, and only 341 interpreters. That's one for every 205 deaf people.
But it's not just a question of quantity. 'There is a long way to go in getting the quality and level of skills needed,' says Dawn.
Amanda Casson-Webb, an interpreter at the Royal Association for Deaf people, explained some of the problems. 'I think about the meaning and how to translate that into BSL to match the deaf person's own level,' she says. 'This can vary. Sometimes people just nod their heads, even though they don't understand. But how do I know? It's their responsibility to inform me.'
But Lorna Allsop, who teaches BSL interpreting at Bristol University, says that deaf people sometimes find it hard to explain what they need. 'I think a lot of deaf people don't know how to use interpreters, because of confusion about getting "additional support",' she says. 'Interpreters simply have to translate meaning. A lot of deaf people don't understand this and might be expecting help, so it leads to confusion. At the same time, interpreters need to have professional boundaries... Deaf people can feel offended, cut off from them.' She suggests training workshops on how to use interpreters.
It takes three years of training and another year's work experience to
become a registered interpreter. But that shouldn't be the end of training,
according to Lorna. She says it's vital that interpreters stay in touch
with changes and keep updating their skills.
BSL Interpreters
www.skd.ndirect.co.uk/nordaf/directory/bsl.htm
Listings for BSL interpreters in Cleveland, Cumbria, Tyne & Wear,
Durham and Northumberland.
Training as a sign language interpreter
www.rnid.org.uk
RNID factsheet explaining what sign-language interpreters do and how
to train as an interpreter. To access, go to the information section on
the homepage and search for 'training'.
Graphic version
Includes layout and images.