Andiamo! Commissions Investigation Into Acute Shortage of British Sign Language Interpreters
Summary
Keen to learn more about the issues surrounding the provision of BSL/English interpreters, the invitation from the RLN to attend the launch at Centenary House in Leeds appeared to offer the perfect opportunity.Helen began by highlighting the importance of producing such a report – stressing the public and private sector’s need to conform with disability legislation, and by emphasising the effect of the lack of BSL/English interpreters on the Deaf community in terms of social exclusion.What emerged was a picture of a long and expensive route to the career of BSL/English interpreter, of a lack of information at national level concerning the number of Deaf people using BSL and of poor communication and coordination between the different communities involved.The report, commissioned by the Regional Language Network Yorkshire & The Humber, was officially launched by its author, Helen Tagg, on 13 December 2007.The Projects Team at Andiamo!Keen to learn more about the issues surrounding the provision of BSL/English interpreters, the invitation from the RLN to attend the launch at Centenary House in Leeds appeared to offer the perfect opportunity.Attended by BSL/English interpreters, sign language tutors, members of the Deaf community and staff from the Leeds Deaf and Blind Society, amongst others, the day began with an overview of the report by its author Helen Tagg.