Review of Sign Language Interpretation Services and Service ...

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InternetThe internet and email have transformed communications throughout the globe.The internet presents vast new opportunities for communication, for example inrelation to entertainment, news, social events. The internet is widely accessibleand is utilised by Deaf and hearing people alike. Webcams can be useful forDeaf people because you can see the person/people with whom you arecommunicating. However, there can be problems with the quality of image.Videophones and videoconferencingVideophones and videoconferencing allow for two-way, real-time visual and audiocommunication at a distance. Both technologies allow for communication withDeaf people through sign language or lip reading, directly or through aninterpreter. Either can be used on local or long distance calls.Display quality must be good and provide smooth detailed motion, or it may bedifficult to understand what is being signed or spoken. Videophones are availablein a small proportion of organisations in Ireland, but are not as yet fully accessibleto the wider Deaf population.There is a relatively new type of videophone on the market called the 3G which ismobile, and therefore can be used anywhere by virtue of the fact that it is wirelesslike any other mobile phone. It has a small video screen which enables parties tosee each other. Unfortunately, the quality of image on the G3 in Ireland is notquite good enough to enable effective communication between two people usingIrish Sign Language. However, in Sweden they have a model of the 3G which hasadvanced quality and can be used directly between two Deaf people.FaxFax is a popular method of sending images (text and pictures) bytelecommunications link. Most fax transmissions are via normal telephonenetworks. Many Deaf people use fax machines regularly to communicate, giventhe ease and speed of communication.MinicomsThe minicom comprises a small screen and keyboard which is connected to adedicated telephone line. It enables the user to have a telephone conversation bytyping the message and receiving the reply on screen.National Relay ServiceEircom supply the National Relay Service in Ireland, which transcribes speech totext. The National Relay Service is an Ireland-wide telecommunications serviceavailable 24 hours a day and relays calls between people who are Deaf and peoplewho are hearing. The Relay Service provides communication between those usingminicoms and normal phones by translating speech to text and vice versa.There are three main numbers via which Eircom provides this service:• If a Deaf person wishes to place a telephone call they can call up 1800 207 900and use a minicom to type what they wish to say to an Eircom operator. Theoperator then dials the person with whom the Deaf person wishes topage 50 • Review of Sign Language Interpretation Services and Service Requirements in Ireland
communicate and reads off the screen what the Deaf person types, and in turntypes in what the person at the other end of the line says back to the Deaf person.• Alternatively if a hearing person wishes to place a telephone call to a Deaf person,they can dial 1800 207 800 and again the call will be transcribed to text by anEircom operator in the manner described above.• In the case of an emergency, Eircom have a number specifically for Deaf people tocall, namely 1800 207 999. This number also uses minicom technology and the Eircomoperator alerts the relevant emergency service and provides them with the details.Irish Sign Link TechnologyIrish Sign Link currently offers four main forms of communication for peopleseeking to book interpreters;• Telephone• Email• Minicom• Text mobileIrish Sign Link do not currently have a website. However, there is one currently underconstruction. It is intended that this website will have a link to enable direct bookingthrough the website via email. It will also provide information on the interpreters andthe services available.Irish Sign Link recently made an application to the Department of Health and Childrenfor funding for videophone technology to be introduced in Irish Sign Link. However,this application was unsuccessful. Other organisations have also submitted applicationsfor funding for videophone technology, with a similar outcome.3.6 INTERPRETER STAFFING AND SKILLSIt is estimated that there are fewer than 50 Irish Sign Language/English interpreters inIreland at present - however there is no official statistic available. There are currently44 sign language interpreters on Irish Sign Link's database. Irish Sign Link estimatesthat this includes almost all ISL/English interpreters currently working in Ireland.There are no contracts between Irish Sign Link and the interpreters with whom itworks. All 44 interpreters are self-employed and work on a freelance basis. There are28 full time interpreters and 16 part time interpreters working through Irish Sign Linkat present.Table 3.7. Current interpreter availability and skill levels used by Irish SignLink (Aug 2005)Registered Registered Awaiting Relay Not TotalQualified Trainee Registration (e.g. Interpreter RegisteredGraduates of CDS)Full time 3 3 22 0 0 28Part time 5 3 2 3 3 16Total 8 6 24 3 3 44Source: Information provided by Irish Sign Link, August 2005Review of Sign Language Interpretation Services and Service Requirements in Ireland • page 51
Page 1: RESEARCH SERIESSEPTEMBER 2006Review
Page 4: 4.8 Theme 6: Accreditation and a fo
Page 7: PrefaceAs proposed in the Outline S
Page 10 and 11: Key players involved in SLI service
Page 12 and 13: Interpreter staffing and skillsIt i
Page 14 and 15: INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICEThe rese
Page 16 and 17: appears to be growing in popularity
Page 18 and 19: • Personalised service - A person
Page 20 and 21: • The establishment of a new enti
Page 22 and 23: • Further development of the Iris
Page 24 and 25: • Estimated cost in year 1 is €
Page 26 and 27: 1.3 REVIEW OBJECTIVES and SCOPE1.3.
Page 28 and 29: 2 Review Methodology2.1 APPROACHFig
Page 30 and 31: Interviews and discussions• Inter
Page 32 and 33: 3 Overview of CurrentSign LanguageI
Page 34 and 35: Table 3.1. Persons aged 15 to 64, w
Page 36 and 37: 3.2 POLICY AND LEGISLATION3.2.1 Int
Page 38 and 39: Sustaining Progress, Social Partner
Page 40 and 41: According to the Education Act 1998
Page 42 and 43: 3.4 KEY PLAYERS INVOLVED IN SLI SER
Page 44 and 45: upholding the status of Irish Sign
Page 46 and 47: 3. A Deaf user or service provider
Page 48 and 49: 3.5.3 Main reasons for accessing se
Page 52 and 53: As shown in the table above, there
Page 54 and 55: Figure 3.10. Total number of interp
Page 56 and 57: The first cohort of students on the
Page 58 and 59: Looking at the summary financial an
Page 60 and 61: 3.7.2 Overall client spend on sign
Page 62 and 63: The public sector service providers
Page 64 and 65: 4.3 THEME 1:THE NEED FOR SIGN LANGU
Page 66 and 67: subject for both Deaf and hearing s
Page 68 and 69: 4.5 THEME 3:ACCESS TO SLI SERVICES
Page 70 and 71: 4.6 THEME 4:THE QUALITY OF SLI AND
Page 72 and 73: primary client of the interpreter.
Page 74 and 75: 4.8.1 The impact of the absence of
Page 76 and 77: 4.9.3 What is neededFunding is need
Page 78 and 79: 4.10.3 A quality service on the gro
Page 80 and 81: Table 5.1. Key statistics on SLI se
Page 82 and 83: The research has considered mainstr
Page 84 and 85: Summary• Other than where the par
Page 86 and 87: 5.2.1 Linguistic approachIn all of
Page 88 and 89: Interpreting services are also prov
Page 90 and 91: 5.3.1 Population distributionMost o
Page 92 and 93: 5.3.3 Responsibility for booking in
Page 94 and 95: 5.3.4 Sign language interpretersSal
Page 96 and 97: The use of videophones and webcams
Page 98 and 99: • It provides a flexible solution
Page 100 and 101:
5.5 QUALITY OF SLI SERVICES DEFINED
Page 102 and 103:
5.5.2 Interpreter training courses
Page 104 and 105:
Pressure for the registration and r
Page 106 and 107:
Proposal (which has been agreed wit
Page 108 and 109:
• In most of the countries includ
Page 110 and 111:
Table 5.6. Overview of key strength
Page 112 and 113:
6 Summary ofKey Findings6.1 INTRODU
Page 114 and 115:
6.3 KEY AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN TH
Page 116 and 117:
7 Recommended FutureModel for Deliv
Page 118 and 119:
7.2 RECOMMENDED FUTURE SLI SERVICE
Page 120 and 121:
Table 7.2. Key areas for improvemen
Page 122 and 123:
7.3.2 Comhairle - oversight of SLI
Page 124 and 125:
There are substantial risks associa
Page 126 and 127:
Requirements:• Excellent project
Page 128 and 129:
7.3.9 ComplaintsThe Irish Sign Lang
Page 130 and 131:
number of Deaf clubs. The videophon
Page 132 and 133:
7.6 OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS TO SUPPOR
Page 134 and 135:
Accreditation should be linked to t
Page 136 and 137:
videophone technology, piloted in t
Page 138 and 139:
It is assumed that the rollout of t
Page 140 and 141:
Appendix 1: Bibliographyand Referen
Page 142 and 143:
www.bris.ac.uk/deaf - Bristol Centr
Page 144 and 145:
SASLISLAISLISLIANZSMSTCDVCOThe Scot
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