British Sign Language Interpreting and Lipspeaking

In the Eastern region, there is a large deaf community. British Sign Language interpreting and lipspeaking allow you to work with members of the public who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. An interpreter or a lipspeaker, depending upon your client's needs, is contacted and comes to you to facilitate communication between and you and client.

Sign Language interpreters take spoken words and convert them, primarily, into a series of hand and body movements. Lipspeaking is different. Lipspeakers are trained to transfer the spoken word to precise recognisable lip movements that deaf people can understand.

Depending on where you are located Deaf ConneXions or Clarion are the agencies you will call whenever you want to book a face-to-face British Sign Language interpreter or lipspeaker.

Please refer to the Service Provider Guide if you are unsure which of the agencies below you should be contacting

It is advisable that you use the relevant numbers above to book an interpreter or lipspeaker as soon as you know that an appointment needs to be arranged. In an emergency situation, these agencies will try and provide at short notice if it is a matter where liberty or life are at risk.

If you want to develop strategies to help you communicate with people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, you may want to attend training workshops, such as the INTRAN staff training.

The INTRAN staff training is specific to interpreting and lipspeaking. On this course participants will focus on learning to arrange effective bookings with Deaf ConneXions or Clarion and on developing communication strategies through an interpreter or a lipspeaker.

See the INTRAN Staff Training section for more information.