Membership (as of November 2020):
Teresa Lynch: Teresa is a Deaf Interpreter with over 25 years experience and a Deaf Interpreter trainer. She has completed the SLIS Deaf Interpreter accreditation with an R1 rating. She is Assistant Professor (part-time) at the Centre for Deaf Studies where she teaches courses on Irish Sign Language and interpreting. She holds an MSc in Deafhood Studies (University of Bristol), with her specialist research area being Deaf Interpreters in Ireland. She also has a Diploma in ISL Teaching (Trinity College Dublin). She currently serves as the chairperson of the National Deaf Women of Ireland. She has served on several committees: as the (first female) chairperson of the Irish Deaf Society (1990-2) and as a Director of SLIS – the government funded Sign Language Interpreting Service. Teresa has presented on Deafhood, Irish Sign Language, and issues relating to Deaf women and interpreting in many domains. She is a founder member of the Council of Irish Sign Language Teachers (CISLT), established in 2018.
Frankie Berry: Frankie is Chaplain with the National Chaplaincy for Deaf People. She completed an MA Course in School Chaplaincy & Pastoral Care in Mater Dei Institute in 2007. In 2006, she became an accredited DI (Deaf Interpreter) and was on the SLIS planning team for the accreditation process in 2009. For over 25 years, she has worked as community worker / chaplain within the Deaf Community, and does a lot of advocacy and Deaf interpreting work in the field of mental health. Frankie has provided Church Interpreting module workshops to Centre for Deaf Studies students, and to interpreters when requested. Frankie and Teresa Lynch provided a Deaf Interpreters workshop in Limerick in 2016. Currently, Frankie is on the committee of CISLI and is vice chairperson.
Susan O’Callaghan: Susan is a native of Cork City and has worked as an Advocate and Community Resource Officer for the Cork Deaf Association since 2001. She successfully completed the SLIS Deaf interpreting accreditation in 2009, obtaining an R2 rating. Susan is a Deaf Awareness trainer through Signature since 2006. She is a member of CISLI and has attended numerous interpreting and Deaf-related workshops. More recently, she obtained her Certificate in Equality Studies (Level 7), and a QQI Level 6 Information, Advice and Advocacy Course with INOU.
Terms of Reference:
1) This Sub-Committee takes it mandate from:
CISLI Constitution, Section 2.1
“d. To encourage best practice in Irish Sign Language interpreting by …
- Provide support for professional development and for a national forum for discussion of issues pertinent to the field of interpreting
- Upholding and promoting the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Conduct
- Recognising the importance of evaluation of interpreters in Ireland whose working languages include a Signed Language.”
CISLI Constitution, Section 2.2.
- “The objectives of the Council are: [4th Subpoint] – To encourage and promote initiatives to improve standards of Sign Language interpreting and interpreter training on the island of Ireland”;
CISLI Constitution, Section 3.2.2
- “CISLI acknowledges the diversity of skills within the interpreting community and the current absence of a national statutory licensing system of individual Interpreter ISL interpreting skills. CISLI will endeavour to take the lead and facilitate the establishment of such by working towards the establishment and further development of a national statutory system of registration of sign language interpreters.”
European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters – Policy Statement entitled “The inclusive notion of Sign Language Interpreter and Translator” (voted for by CISLI and adopted at efsli’s 2017 AGM):
- efsli promotes the inclusion of hearing and deaf professional interpreters and translators in all domains across Europe.
- efsli recommends that the term “sign language interpreter and translator” applies to all interpreters and translators who are trained and/or certified in respective European countries regardless of hearing status and that all:
a. are afforded access to interpreter education and continuous professional training
b. are afforded the same status and working conditions
c. are treated equally in terms of membership of professional organisations
d. are treated equally in terms of progression within the professional organisation at national and European levels
e. members of the national association work together on an equal basis, regardless of hearing status,
f. are to be encouraged to specify their working languages.
2) The Sub-Committee will take as its aims:
- To provide support and representation to current and prospective Deaf interpreters in Ireland.
- To discuss and define best practice in Deaf interpreting and to uphold standards of practice.
- To begin discussion around ways to recognise the skills of prospective Deaf interpreters within CISLI, as well as the profession generally.
- To provide advice and expertise on Deaf interpreting issues to CISLI members and external bodies.
3) The Subcommittee will liaise by way of face to face meetings, email, telephone contact or other means of communication.
4) The Subcommittee will submit a written Report twice yearly to the CISLI Secretary, outlining their activities.
6) All proposed costs will be submitted to CISLI Committee for approval prior to spending.
Council of Irish Sign Language Interpreters 