Podcast launch celebrates 30 years of Sign Language Interpreter education

Tim said: "My podcast mainly focuses on supporting signed language interpreters throughout the world who have little to no access to formal education in their region. Learning from interpreters, researchers, and educators, each interpreter feels more connected and empowered in our profession. Knowing the history of our profession is vital. The program at the University of Wolverhampton is a shining example of educating quality interpreters to serve our communities better." 
 
Sarah Bown said: "Winston Churchill said that ‘the longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward’ and increasingly over recent years, the profession of sign language interpreting is charting and documenting its history. This is important for to know where we wish to go, we also need to know where we’ve come from, and our history is one of our frames of reference for our future plans.  

“In the early 90s, a key aim of the course was ‘to broaden opportunities for Deaf people, facilitate Deaf people’s access to higher education and to raise Deaf awareness within all areas of society and work’. During the intervening years, both the Deaf Studies and Interpreting programmes have successfully made an outstanding contribution towards this aim which can be evidenced via the work of our alumni, staff, research projects, national and international collaborations, to name but a few.  

“When Tim Curry reached out to suggest an opportunity to capture some of that early history as part of our 30th Anniversary celebrations of British Sign Language interpreter education and training at the University of Wolverhampton, his special edition of 3 podcasts were the perfect medium to encapsulate this historical journey by some of the people who were there from the start or very early days, and a fitting contribution to an important year of celebration.”