British Sign Language Videos are available for each of our service provisions - please use the MENU at the top of the page to navigate to the BSL Translation
British Sign Language Interpreters
The provision of British Sign Language communication support is necessary where someone does not have a significant ability to communicate effectively as a direct result of their deafness or hearing loss. Individuals who use British Sign Language (BSL) as their method of communication require a British Sign Language Interpreter to facilitate their interactions with hearing people who speak English.
We firmly believe that individuals with this need should be able to access their academic studies and medical advice, understand their legal rights and be made aware of their own financial and other responsibilities. It is particularly important for vulnerable adults and children for who the provision of accurate and confidential information is embedded as a legal right due to UK legislation.
We are able to meet your requirements by maintaining a national network of professional interpreters who are neutral, independent, professionally trained and accept the responsibility of keeping all information confidential.
Communication Support Workers (CSW's)
We utilise Communication Support Workers (CSWs) within colleges, universities and schools. Their role is to support deaf students to access the teaching being delivered, allowing them to participate fully in their peer group environment. This is achieved through conveying the spoken information from the tutors using BSL and reinforcing the teaching as well as modifying English to BSL and vice versa, enabling the student to progress within their studies.
CSWs offer students a different option when planning their support. They are able to spend more time differentiating the teaching being delivered which enables the learner to have a greater understanding of the terminology and the requirements of their course or lesson.
Specialist Support Professionals
Our Deaf and Hearing Specialist Support Professionals have an in-depth role in the support of D/deaf clients using a variety of communication methods such as BSL, SSE or spoken English. They support clients through language modification, explanation and revision of information. They ensure clients have the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and achieve their goals in their written English activities. They may at times be required to liaise with other support professionals in planning and carrying out their support, ensuring their allocated time with the client is productive, leading to higher levels of success. Within education, they are able to liaise with exam boards and where necessary, ensure the appropriate assessment methods are in place for the student
At Interpreting Solutions, we will always ensure that students receiving our language services are supported, not advantaged. We firmly believe their work should be a verbatim representation of their meaning with the adapted text being completed in partnership with the student at all times. We will work along with our partners (HEI/FE) to investigate any concerns they may have and provide detailed feedback on the activities undertaken by our Specialist Support Professionals.
Deaf Blind Interpreters
Depending on their residual sight and hearing, people who are deafblind may use some form of tactile or other communication such as Deafblind Manual Alphabet, Block Alphabet, Hands-On Signing and Visual Frame Signing.
Our interpreters at times may need to act as sighted guides to and from the assignment location, should this be required then notification beforehand will be necessary.
Lipspeakers
A lipspeaker is a hearing person trained to relay a speaker’s message to lipreaders accurately without using their voice. They clearly produce the shape of words, the flow, rhythm and phrasing of natural speech and repeat the stress as used by the speaker. The lipspeaker also uses facial expression, natural gesture and fingerspelling (if requested) to aid the lipreader’s understanding.
Interpreting Solutions have been providing Lipspeakers for many years and are one of the most established providers of services to hard of hearing people.
Electronic Notetakers
Our Electronic Notetakers produce a real-time summary of what is said using an ordinary laptop which is able to be linked to a second laptop for the client to read from. It is intended for anyone who is unable to take notes for themselves in a business or educational setting. This may be due to the fact they have to give their attention to a communication professional who is relaying information or as a result of mobility impairment. If using the two screen facility the equipment can be connected via a “serial” cable or wirelessly and can be outputted using a refreshable Braille display for deafblind clients if required. At the end of the session the Electronic Notetaker will provide a copy of the transcript by email, hard copy or via memory stick.
The standard delivery of this support involves the Notetaker accompanying the client to a lecture or meeting and producing a detailed set of summary notes. The service is very flexible and the notes will be tailored according to the client’s specifications. The Notetaker can differentiate for each individual speaker and all verbal communication, including jokes and asides, can be recorded where required.
Manual Notetakers
Our Manual Notetaker provision is delivered in a similar way to our Electronic Notetaking whereby the professional is trained to produce a clear set of handwritten notes in English for the client to read later. The Notetaker will attend the lecture or meeting with the client and will need to sit within “listening distance” of the speaker. The Notetaker will record a summarised account of all relevant spoken information.
Electronic Notetaking has proven very popular due to the ability to provide a digital hard copy of the transcript, however we can factor in having the notes typed up at an additional charge, which we would negotiate with the language professional.
Please contact us for more INFORMATION / QUOTE / BOOKING