Tuesday, May 12, 2009

UK Terp Shortage

If you think its difficult sometimes getting an interpreter in the US, just try living in Britain. If need a British Sign Language interpreter you have to wait an average of two weeks and pay a minimum of £130 (that's about $255). Interpreters must be booked for at least three hours at a time. There are only 360 qualified British Sign Language interpreters in the UK. That’s about one for every 140 deaf people who use sign language. That's why most BSL users rely on hearing members of their family to translate during medical and legal appointments.