Deaf Studies and Interpreting Conference

This academic year, the University celebrates 30 years of provision in Sign Language Interpreter Education & Training (1993-2023/4), and we would like it if you could join us in the celebrations!

A key aim of the course back in the 1990s 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.

This conference provides an opportunity to acknowledge those achievements, celebrate the success of our alumni and look to the future by exploring the big questions, challenges and opportunities for the next 30 years and beyond.

Conference schedule

Thursday 23 May, 9.30am - 4.00pm

Morning

• 9.20am-9.30am Head of School welcome

Historical Context - establishing the subject/pioneering early years for the subject & the profession

Founder & historical subject/department heads:

• 9.30am-9.45am Professor Megan Lawton

• 9.45am-10.am Kristiaan Dekesel
• 10am Ryan McLean RSLI

Presentation: MSc research (DCAL) on how sign language experiences impacts facial recognition skills and behaviour

• 10.30am Katherine O’Grady, (DQToD) Head of Language and Communication Team, & Rebecca Fenton Ree, Language and Communications Teacher/Department (QToD, RSLI), Oak Lodge School, London

Presentation: Swimming through the educational challenges and of deaf education.

• 11am Comfort Break

• 11.15am Omoyele Davey: RSLI / Professional Supervisor / Course Tutor 360 Supervision

Presentation: Professional Supervision: keeping the interpreting profession reflective, supported and accountable.

• 11.45am Hamza Shaikh: British Deaf Association – member Board of Trustees

Presentation: Experiences as a Deaf Studies student at the University of Wolverhampton

• 12.15am Lunch Break

Afternoon

• 1.15pm Nikki Stratton: Director Zebra Uno

Presentation: Assessing the Impact of digital spaces on the development of BSL: are renditions of a 3D language on a 2D screen changing our language?

• 1.45pm Dr Robert Skinner: Associate Professor Heriot-Watt University

Presentation: The academic journey

• 2pm Comfort Break

Round Table discussions:

Posing the big questions, challenges and opportunities for the next 30 years and beyond. Discussion groups comprising presenters and selection of current students/alumni.

• 2.15pm Round Table 1

• 3pm Round Table 2

• 4pm Close

Celebrating 30 years of sign language interpreter education and training at the University of Wolverhampton!

Most presentations will be in BSL, some will be in spoken English. Sign Language interpreters provided.

Venue: MH002: Mary Seacole Building, Nursery Street, City Campus North, Wolverhampton, WV1 1AD. 

Book your place here.