Deaf people’s access to experienced BSL interpreters in the future has been thrown into question after shock figures from the National Union of British Sign Language interpreters (NUBSLI) were revealed.
The results of a survey of 485 interpreters (nearly half of registered NRCPD interpreters) showed 48% of them are thinking about, or already planning, to leave the profession.
82% of those who are thinking of leaving their career as an interpreter said this was because of uncertainty over the future of the profession.
Of those who responded, 93% were fully qualified, with nearly half having over 10 years experience in the profession.
In a post on the Unite for Our Society website, Nicky Evans, the NUBSLI Branch Secretary wrote:
BSL interpreters are experiencing an uncertain time. Recent changes to the Access to Work scheme and now an anticipated introduction of a national framework, is creating a lot of anxiety.
The survey results are extremely worrying, and show that we are at risk of losing our most experience professionals. This would leave the Deaf community in a vulnerable position, and set back access to levels last experienced twenty plus years ago.
The full survey of interpreters’ working conditions can be read by clicking here.
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denissmith2
February 2, 2015
This is very disturbing news.
Do we know how many people in the UK are currently reliant on BSL? Is this a rising or a falling demand? What effect is the provision of new technologies such as cochlear implants (CIs) having on the need for BSL? Are there deaf people that can’t benefit from CIs?
Please excuse my ignorance on this subject but I am confident that I am not alone.
Monkey Magic
February 2, 2015
There is already not enough interpreters for the numbers of Deaf sign language users that rely on interpreters for access. A common misconception is that any ability to sign results in the ability to interpret – not the case, a registered interpreter is someone who is proficient in BSL first and has then been trained to interpret and met the minimum competence criteria to work as an interpreter. By being registered you can expect a minmum level of competence and there is somewhere to complain to if you don’t get that. It is true that there are new interpreters coming onto the scene every year but the issue there is that they lack the experience that the experienced interpreters do and generally it is reasonable that the experienced interpreters do the best job. However, if all the really good people leave then who are new interpreters going to observe and co-work with in order to hone their skills? Interpreting is a ‘leg up’ profession – training interpreters learn on the job and much of their progression comes from the more qualified and experienced interpreters that they work with. Worrying all round. A Cochlear Implant is not a cure for Deafness and the success of functioning with one depends very much on the individual and what level of hearing loss they have so in some cases users of CI’s still use communication support. Not all Deafness conditions can be aided by one either so CI’s have not seen a decline in the need for interpreters – it is the ignorance of the budget holders and framework writers and their lack of consultation with the users of interpreters and with interpreters themselves that is the issue. It is the age old issue that Deaf people are easier to ignore and purposeful misunderstand because they are a linguistic minority. The framework writers have not consulted widely, as they claim, if they had then there would be a realistic provision being proposed and 48% of interpreters, that will be missed, would not be considering looking for alternative employment.
pennybsl
February 2, 2015
The Access to Work debacle in 2013-2014 is a main culprit for the situation.
Many interpreters did not get paid on time or had to wait months whilst their Deaf clients battled with the DWP over AtW. Professionism was completely messed up by civil servants’ handling of AtW.
I know several competent BSL interpreters now disillusioned with the more insecure climate caused by hat happened last year, impacting upon their ability to pay for their mortgage, families etc..
Cathy
February 3, 2015
Ye heavens!!! This is a dreadful state of affairs!! I already have a big problem finding an interpreter at level 3 to support me in teaching voluntarily in order to gain experience!!
If the most experienced ones leave the profession it means I am unlikely to ever work in the profession Iam qualified for!!! So my qualifications will be worthless!!!
I can barely imagine the deaf community going back in time to 30 or 40 years ago when interpreters did not exist but it looks like we are going that way………..!
Deaf Children growing up with CI’s may fare many times better than I and hundreds of others ever did! But I have no idea how many can or cannot cope alone, if the latter then may heaven help them! The only jobs open to deaf people as time marches on will be cleaning and general dogsbody!!!!
What wonderful progress we have made so far, but its value is dismissed as poncing politicians make cut after cut after cut, while simultaneously chucking billions abroad year in year out, leaving Britain to sink into the mire, with no thought whatsoever of the adverse impacts of their cruel cuts on disability groups especially the deaf!! Shame on you, CamerMORON!!!!!!!
Monkey Magic
February 3, 2015
Level 3 is not an interpreter. I know it’s voluntary but an interpreter has level 6. At level 3 there is no interpreter training and if this continues then level 3 is the best you’ll get!
Cathy
February 3, 2015
Monkey Magic, as far as im concerned level 3 IS an interpreter. Remember those in charge, usually hearing are the ones pulling the strings: they changed the number from 3 to 6! Why??? So they can command more money thats why!
As I can lipread fairly well I would be happy with a level 3 interpreter. I would support them as they support me, it would be great. I dont need “level 6” and I have wondered when are those people going to change the number from 6 to 8?!??
In reality it should be all deaf people in charge of sign language, but it isnt is it? It was hijacked by hearing people long ago, who probably had pound signs in their eyes!!!
Interpreting is now so expensive we could scarcely pay for a weeks support ourselves, all because “numbers go higher and money increases!”. The irony is not lost on me.
Give me level 3 I will manage perfectly!
Matt Brown
February 5, 2015
Terrible survey, badly written, awful conclusions, utterly misleading. If you want an interpretation and employ an unqualified interpreter, people hit the roof. But if you need statistics and use someone who makes up numbers to suit their own agenda, people lap it up. I expect better from people who throw around accusations about other people’s competence.
Here’s my response, as someone with basic training in critical reading of statistics: http://terpatron9000.com/a-suffusion-of-yellow-interpreters-interpreting-data-badly/