Lambeth Teacher with Lambeth NUT

SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS

The purpose of this circular is to inform divisions and associations of organisations to contact when a sign language interpreter is needed for meetings.

British Sign Language is the fourth most widely used native language in Britain. The NUT supports the Federation of Deaf People’s campaign to give BSL official recognition as a community language.

The use of sign language interpreters for those who request them at meetings is an essential part of enabling deaf people to function between themselves and in society as bi-lingual.

SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION FACILITIES

Set out below is a list of organisations that provide sign language interpretation facilities. It is important to note that between six weeks’ and two months’ notice is usually required to obtain a sign language interpreter.

1. SIGN LANGUAGE BUREAU

Middlesex University

Able Centre

Queensway

Enfield

Middlesex EN3 4SF

Tel: 0181 362 5366 Fax: 0181 362 6237 Minicom: 0181 362 5639

E-mail: a.muller@mdx.ac.uk

Contact: Alan Muller

2. RNID

(www.rnid.org.uk)

19-23 Featherstone Street,

London

EC1Y 8SL

Tel: 0808 808 0123 (freephone)

Textphone: 0808 808 9000 (freephone)

Fax: 020 7296 8199

E-mail: informationline@rnid.org.uk

3. BRITISH DEAF ASSOCIATION

(britishdeafassociation.org.uk)

British Deaf Association

1-3 Worship Street

London

EC2A 2AB

E-mail: info@bda.org.uk

Website: www.bda.org.uk

4. COUNCIL FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COMMUNICATION WITH DEAF PEOPLE (CADCP)

(capd.demon.co.uk)

CACDP publish a Directory of Sign language Interpreters for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. CACPD set standards in sign language, sign language interpretation, lipspeaking, guiding for and communication with deafblind people, interpreting for deafblind people and speech to text verbatim reporting.

CACDP

Durham University Science Park

Block 4

Stockton Road

Durham DH1 3UZ

United Kingdom

Phone (Voice & Text): (0)191 383 1155

Fax: (0)191 383 7914

Text: (0)191 383 7915

E-mail: Durham@cacdp.demon.co.uk

5. SIGN LANGUAGE INFORMATION CENTRE

SLIC offers advice on BSL interpretation. Interpreters can be booked through SLIC, which has a wide experience of working with unions.

Criffel Riggs

Drumburn

Kirkbean

Dunfries

DT2 8DL

Tel: 01387 880222

Fax: 01387 880333

E-mail: margo@slic.demon.co.uk