Interpreting
British Sign Language (BSL) is the sign language used in the UK, and is the first or preferred language of some deaf people. BSL was recognised by the Government as a language in its own right in March 2003. BSL is the first or preferred language of an estimated 70,000 Deaf people in the UK. BSL is a visual-gestural language, with its own grammar and principles, which are completely different from the grammatical structure of English.
British Sign Language interpreters are available to facilitate smooth communication between hearing and Deaf people in any setting.
I am a regulated British Sign Language interpreter.
Interpreting service available for a wide variety of settings:
BSL Interpreters and trainees must hold a DBS check, must have an advanced knowledge of English and BSL and must be able to process information quickly and accurately.
All trainee and qualified interpreters follow a Code of Conduct, have an up to date Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), hold Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) and are subject to a complaints procedure and will carry an NRCPD badge.
Interpreting service available for a wide variety of settings:
- Meetings
- Interviews
- Medical appointments
- Schools, college, university
- Business
- Social
- Weddings and other religious and secular services
- Legal
- Mental health
- Social Care
- Conference
- Access to Work
When contacting me to arrange a booking please provide the following:
- Dates and times of the event
- The full address and meeting point at the place where you need the interpreter.
- The purpose of the booking such as office support or a meeting.
- The name of the deaf person and any other people involved in the event.
- Preferences of the deaf person if known such as BSL or signed supported English.
- Any paperwork to prepare the interpreter is essential:
- Agenda
- Participants
- Powerpoint slides
- Previous minutes
- Ensure only one person contributes at any one time to allow a successful interpretation.
- For assignments over 1 hour in length, two interpreters will be required. I am able to arrange for a second interpreter, if required.
Once a booking is confirmed, my terms and conditions apply. All firm bookings will be confirmed in writing within 24 hours.
If you would prefer to discuss your booking requirements, please email me to arrange a phone or video call.
Contact details – diannelawrence49@gmail.com
Meet Dianne
I have studied BSL and Interpreting for 13 years altogether. It was always something I wanted to learn, but never quite got around to. But one day everything changed for me. (I didn’t know then what a huge impact learning BSL would have on me). I was working in a local mobility shop when a Deaf couple came in to order something. They had written down on a piece of paper what it was that they wanted. They probably do this all the time, knowing that, as British Sign Language users, they would not be able to have a full conversation and be able to explain what it was they needed. This had a profound impact on me and I vowed to learn BSL so that I could be able to communicate with deaf people in their own language. I have never regretted it and never looked back.
I have completed my Level 6 in BSL andhave recently qualified as a Registered British Sign Language Interpreter.
Based in Fareham, Hampshire, I am able to interpret within Hampshire, Surrey, Isle of Wight and East Sussex.
My work background prior to interpreting includes supported living management, occupational therapy, care management, retail, child care, school governance, support work in the fields of learning disability and mental health, teaching and business. I also have experience interpreting in these areas in addition to health.
I am professional and friendly, which is so important in an interpreting environment.
I hold a current DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate and public liability and indemnity insurance. I am a qualified Emergency First aider.
So, my chance encounter has led me to the place I am at now. I have been fortunate to volunteer at Deaf club and with Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, and I have been supported and championed along the way by people from my local Deaf community.
When I am not interpreting, I enjoy walking, reading, knitting, swimming in the sea near my home, yoga, playing the tenor horn and trumpet in local bands, chilling with my dogs and spending time with my family.
I look forward to meeting you.
When I am not interpreting, I enjoy running along the cliffs and around our beautiful countryside, reading or kayaking with my family.
I look forward to meeting you.
Tips to help you work most effectively with a BSL/English Interpreter
1. Ensure the Deaf person can see both the Interpreter and the speaker clearly
usually by sitting them [the Deaf person] opposite. It would also be difficult to see a person signing, if for example they are sat in front of a window. The Interpreter and Deaf person will be able to advise you on the best seating arrangements.
2. Ensure you speak clearly and at a normal pace.
You might try to pause every few seconds in mid-sentence thinking this will ‘help the Interpreter’. However, this is not the case as Interpreters do not translate word for word. For example, they might listen to a speaker, process the meaning of what is being side and then convey the meaning into BSL.
3. Look at and speak directly to the Deaf person.
When talking to a Deaf person, don’t speak to the Interpreter to ask them to ‘tell him/her…’ It’s much better to look at and speak directly to the Deaf person.
4. Ensure you consider the Interpreter and Deaf person’s needs.
For example, both will need regular breaks as Interpreting is hard work and Interpreters will need time to switch off and recharge. Similarly, the Deaf person receiving content via an Interpreter can be very tiring for them, so will also need breaks.
5. Principles for medical/ optician/ dentist situations
*In medical/ optician/ dentist situations where examinations need to be carried out, it is likely that for reasons of dignity, practicality or space constraints, that the interpreter will not be able to interpret during the examination. In this situation please give full information to the Deaf person before the examination takes place, explaining what will happen. If the lights will be switched off please inform them as this cuts off all communication. Please refrain from talking throughout the examination as the interpreter is unlikely to have eye conatct with the Deaf person until afterwards.
6. Advice for reading material
You may decide to give out handouts and ask the Deaf person to read through. However, remember it’s not possible for them to listen and read the handouts simultaneously. Ensure that you stop speaking whilst you give time for the Deaf person to read through and understand. When they have finished reading, you can carry on speaking.
7. Preperation for the Interpreter
You may have booked an Interpreter for an event or a conference for example. Ensure your preparation such as PowerPoints or handouts are provided to the Interpreter before the event. This allows the Interpreter to read through and prepare themselves, feeling more confident and knowledgeable about the context. This means when they arrive at the event, they are ready to start interpreting. Also, ensure you give a copy of the preparation material to the Deaf person.
8. In a group situation, ensure that only one person speaks/signs at a time.
If everyone speaks over one another, it will be impossible to interpret all the information.
9. If you have any videos to show, ensure they have subtitles.
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10. You may ask the Interpreter for their personal opinions; however, they can’t be actively involved in the conversation.
In addition, please don’t ask them not to interpret something you have said.
11. Briefing the Interpreter
Sometimes Interpreters arrive and they have received no preparation beforehand. If you decide to have a brief before the event, ensure the Interpreter is involved so they can fully understand and be prepared for what is going to happen.
BSL Act 2022
The BSL Act Now! Campaign was led by the British Deaf Association (BDA), working collaboratively with other deaf organisations such as RNID, Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD), Signature, Institute of British Sign Language (iBSL), SignHealth, the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS), National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPD), and Black Deaf UK. These organisations represent the diversity of the Deaf community in the UK. Together, we successfully campaigned for the BSL Act 2022 which comes into force on Tuesday 28th June 2022.
The Act will create greater recognition and understanding of BSL, and inclusion and equality for BSL users by:
- Legally recognising BSL as a language for England, Wales, and Scotland.
- Requiring government departments to report on how they are promoting and facilitating the use of BSL.
- Providing guidance to government departments and public bodies on how to meet the needs of people who use BSL as their first or preferred language.
Now that we have the BSL Act 2022, we will continue working with the other organisations involved in the campaign to ensure the Government meets their commitments to the Act. This includes:
- Establishing a non-statutory Advisory Board where representatives of the Deaf community can advise public services
- Increasing the number of registered interpreters
- Improving Access to Work provision for claimants and employers.
British Sign Language GCSE: Everything you need to know
Students will soon be able to study British Sign Language (BSL) as a GCSE following a consultation into the course content.
Parents, teachers and organisations from the deaf and hearing communities, overwhelmingly agreed with the proposals it set out. The responses have helped ensure the content is knowledge-rich, coherent and challenging.
Good communication is essential both inside and outside the workplace and this new GCSE will give students a vital life skill valued by employers.
The introduction of the new GCSE is in part thanks to 17-year-old, Daniel Jillings, who has campaigned for the qualification since the age of 12.
As well as being the focus of an Award-winning documentary film, Daniel has also addressed more than 20 MPs in his first language, BSL.
Here’s what you need to know about this new and historic qualification.
What will be on the BSL curriculum?
As part of the GCSE, students will be taught at least 750 signs and how to use them to communicate effectively with other signers for use in work, social and academic settings.
Students will also learn about the history of BSL, and how it evolved into the language it is today.
The GCSE assumes no prior knowledge of BSL but will be accessible for students who use it as their first language.
We have worked closely with subject experts, stakeholders, exam boards and schools to ensure the subject content is knowledge-rich, diverse in its teaching and challenging. The qualification is internationally recognised and accepted in school and college performance tables.
You can view the BSL GCSE subject content on Gov.uk.
When will the GCSE be available?
We aim to have exam board syllabuses approved by September 2025.
The BSL GCSE has been in development since 2019 but was delayed due to the pandemic.
Qualifications do take time to develop from scratch. Once the subject content has been finalised post-consultation, any exam boards that choose to offer the GCSE need time to develop a full specification.
Specifications must be reviewed and accredited by Ofqual before schools and colleges are able to teach them.
Schools also require time to prepare for the introduction of new qualifications, including planning any timetable changes and ensuring teachers have the support they need to teach them.
What are the benefits of studying BSL at GCSE?
BSL was recognised in law as a language of Great Britain in the BSL Act (2022), and the new GCSE will be key to helping inclusivity within education.
The study of BSL will help students to develop ways of expressing and negotiating meaning through visual spatial language, communication and visual memory skills that will be an advantage to them for the rest of their lives.
As well as learning how to sign effectively, the GCSE will also give students an understanding of the history of sign language in the UK. This will provide a solid foundation for students’ understanding of how the language has reached its current form.
Who can take the BSL GCSE?
Any student, of any age, can take the GCSE, either through their school or college, or entering as a private candidate.
Will it be part of the national curriculum?
Studying BSL is not part of the National Curriculum, however, schools are able to teach BSL to their students if they wish.
While it is optional, we are confident that its introduction will encourage more schools to teach the subject more widely.
Rose Ayling-Ellis
is inspiring the next generation of Deaf children and challenging perceptions of Deaf people
Since Rose Ayling-Ellis stepped onto the Strictly dancefloor, she has been instrumental in challenging opinion, proving that Deaf people can integrate in a hearing environment and succeed and throwing light on the challenges that Deaf people face every day.
If you haven’t seen the heart-stopping moment in Strictly, you need to see this – Bing Videos
More recently Ayling_Ellis made a documentary exposing the barriers that Deaf children and adults face at home, at school and in work. If you haven’t seen it, please watch it – BBC One – Rose Ayling-Ellis: Signs for Change