Parliamentary Tours are usually held each summer, or organised by a constituent's MP, so visitors can see the Commons and Lords debating chambers, the Queen's Robing Room, etc. A question was recently asked in parliament about access: Jacqui Smith... [...] more »

Hearies are at it again, trying to make sense of the in-vision interpreter and the only way they know how to deal with it is by way of humour. For me half the point of in-vision interpreting is to remind... [...] more »

You can't split up the two. A Deaf child cannot get an education in a public school without an A.S.L. interpreter of some sort. The shame is that the Deaf child's interpreting needs are attacked on all sides! [...] more »

Private Eye, 12-25 December 2008 (Page 9) carried a cartoon featuring an in-vision interpreter on his cigarette break [...] more »

Forgive me for losing my sense of humour, but I was definitely NOT amused this morning when I read Deafweekly's report on a "sign language lady randomly waving her arms around during a British children's TV programme." You can read... [...] more »

Ofcom has been carrying out a consultation in respect of how BSL is transmitted on television. The consultation is supposed to end this Friday. I responded to this consultation, and further responses can be found on their website. [...] more »

I have attended a conference in Berlin last week, before heading to another conference in Trieste. I am not usually doing that, but out of coincidence both conferences happened to take place with only a one day break in between. I did not want to miss them, however, because usually I have to work as an interpreter at conferences, but this time I only had to give a lecture and then could lean back and enjoy being a participant. [...] more »

In the UK digital television is required to meet an eventual 5% target for producing signed output on television (unless granted an exemption). Since the interpreter cannot be turned off, this annoys some viewers, and from time to time we... [...] more »

We all have to get in contact with authorities from time to time. We need a new passport, need a driving liscence, have to claim for social benefits or whatever. Deaf people are no exception to this and for a very long time a Deaf person would have to put up with writing down things, which for many Deaf people is quite an effort and does not provide very reliable information, or they would have to bring an interpreter on their own expenses or on the expenses of the local Deaf Association. [...] more »

Warning, this post is long but it raises some serious questions around the nature of interpreting, specifically in the UK. I don't even want to be typing this, I've got other things I want to do, and I'm completely irritated... [...] more »