JUSTISIGNS – Interpreters working with victims of sexual abuse – Masterclass with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

May 27, 2015

Interpreters working with victims of sexual abuse – masterclass with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

Interesource Group (Ireland) Limited and the Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin are delighted to be collaborating with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre who will host this 2-day training session as part of the JUSTISIGNS project masterclass series. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has since 1979 offered a wide range of services to women and men who are affected by rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment or childhood sexual abuse. The Education and Training Department of DRCC provides training programmes for professionals and volunteers who provide support or services to victims of sexual violence.

This training programme is designed to prepare deaf and hearing interpreters to work with victims of sexual violence including in their interaction with the legal process. It provides an opportunity to consider the beliefs that exist in society in relation to sexual violence and how they are internalised by and impact upon the victim. Participants will learn about the impact of childhood abuse and of rape and sexual assault. The legal process and its impact on the victim who reports is explored, and issues which arise for the interpreter. The principles and ethics of interpreting are considered in relation to working within this context. Some guidelines are provided regarding interpreting in a counselling situation.

The training approach is participative and experiential. Methods used include group discussion, lecture, case studies, videos, and experiential exercises. The training approach is invitational, with the sensitive nature of the issues being covered and the fact that they may resonate for participants acknowledged. Participation is encouraged but without pressure. There is a strong focus on the impact on the interpreter of working with these issues, the potential for vicarious traumatisation, and strategies the interpreter can employ for self care.

The training programme will be delivered by Leonie O’Dowd, Head of Education and Training and Jane Baird, Education Executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Education and Training Department.  DRCC develops and delivers tailored training programmes for those providing services and supports to people who have experienced childhood sexual abuse and sexual violence.  DRCC has provided training programmes for ISL interpreters in the past, and has published a Handbook for community interpreters ‘Interpreting in Situations of Sexual Violence and other Trauma’.  Leonie has worked with DRCC for 16 years and is an accredited  psychotherapist with specialist training in the treatment of trauma.  Jane has worked with DRCC for 7 years.  She is also an accredited psychotherapist, and has considerable experience of working and training in the area of disability.

To book please visit:  justisignsdrcc.eventbrite.ie  PLACES ARE LIMITED For any queries please contact Haaris on 087 2270311 or email: info@justisigns.com

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Workshop for interpreters – using demand control schema in police settings

September 2, 2014

As part of the JUSTISIGNS project, two exciting workshops will be delivered by Robyn Dean and Robert Pollard on Sat 20th Sept for Deaf interpreters and for both Deaf and hearing interpreters on Sun 21st Sept at the Centre for Deaf Studies.

To book please email leesonl@tcd.ie

 

Workshop

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‘Disability … Testing … Recruitment’ – Ahead Conference

September 29, 2013

Group Photo Ahead copy

We recently had the privilege of being part of an expert panel at AHEAD’s ‘Disability … Testing … Recruitment …’ employer event at the Law Society, Dublin.

“Strategies and Resources for Recruitment and Testing of Graduates with a Disability – Are you sure your testing is accessible?”

The focus of this event was on the assessment component of recruitment and the barriers posed by this process for many disabled applicants. Many companies use testing (in all its formats) as a component of the recruitment process and many more are moving towards using it.

We covered some interesting areas such as:

  • How much does the assessment really influence the overall decision to recruit or not to recruit?
  • How much should the assessment influence the overall decision to recruit or not to recruit?

Chaired by Carol Hunt, the expert panel comprised of Dr. Conor McGuckin – Selection by Design & TCD, Leslee Matthews – Enterprise Rent a Car, Haaris Sheikh – Interesource Group (Ireland) Limited & TCD, Louis Watters – WAM graduate and Katie Ridge – Barrister of Law.

Panel Discussion copyAn interactive session will follow an expert panel discussion covering several topics including:

  • How to test applicants with a disability legally
  • Planning for testing applicants with a disability
  • The testing environment/the test centre & testing procedures
  • Ensuring Deaf and Hard of Hearing Applicants are not discriminated against when using testing
  • Visible versus. perceived disabilities — how differences may affect the way you treat applicants
  • The real meaning of “reasonable accommodation” in relation to testing
  • Changes to ensure your testing is discrimination-proof – (Managing Disability/Accommodations)

If you are an employer and wish to know more about employment matters in general or with respect to graduates with disabilities or employing candidates who are deaf and hard of hearing contact us on 01 677 1957 or drop us an email: info@interesourcegroup.com

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An Audience with Dr Liisa Kauppinen

June 29, 2013

An honorary Doctor in Laws (LL.D) was bestowed on Dr Liisa Kauppinen by Trinity College Dublin yesterday (28 June) for her outstanding contribution in the field of Deaf advocacy and human rights. Dr Kauppinen was executive director of the Finnish Association of the Deaf for 30 years, General Secretary and President of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and served as the permanent WFD representative to the United Nations for 20 years.  She still continues to serve as an expert for the General Secretariat of the WFD.

She has been a major inspiration to Deaf communities internationally, and an articulate and intelligent ‘voice’ on the need to explicitly state the human rights of deaf people at national, European and global level, all the while decrying the lack of opportunities for education and training, the under-employment of deaf people, and the lack of recognition of signed languages as ‘real’ languages.  She has supported the development of deaf self-advocacy in Ireland and was a key supporter of the move to establish a Centre for Deaf Studies at Trinity College in 2001/02.

Professor Lorraine Leeson, Centre for Deaf Studies Director, nominated Dr Kauppinen for the award for her outstanding contribution in the field of Deaf advocacy and human rights. Dr Kauppinen was executive director of the Finnish Association of the Deaf for 30 years, General Secretary and President of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and served as the permanent WFD representative to the United Nations for 20 years.  She still continues to serve as an expert for the General Secretariat of the WFD.

On Saturday 29th June, recognising and applauding her global contribution, the Irish Deaf community gathered at the Deaf Heritage Centre at Deaf Village Ireland where Dr Kauppinen shared her memories with friends and peers. Dr John Bosco Conama (Centre for Deaf Studies) presided over the ceremony. To mark the auspicious occasion this short presentation captured some fond memories and some warm words of gratitude from her colleagues.

Interesource Group has been working with the Centre for Deaf Studies for the past few years, and Chief Executive of Interesource Group – Haaris Sheikh, is an adjunct lecturer at CDS. The World Federation of the Deaf have been supporters of many of the projects which Interesource Group have been involved in and the international project teams wholeheartedly congratulate Dr Kauppinen at this wonderful achievement and recognition of her global contribution.

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Dr Liisa Kauppinen awarded an honorary doctorate at Trinity College Dublin.

June 28, 2013

90305806Dr Liisa Kauppinen is awarded an honorary doctorate (Doctor in Laws LL.D) at Trinity College Dublin. She was nominated by Professor Lorraine Leeson, Centre of Deaf Studies Director at the School of Linguistics Speech and Communication Sciences at TCD.

Dr Kauppinen was CEO of the Finnish Association of the Deaf for 30 years, General Secretary and President of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and served as the permanent WFD representative to the United Nations for 20 years.  She still continues to serve as an expert for the General Secretariat of the WFD.  She has been a major inspiration to deaf communities internationally, and an articulate and intelligent ‘voice’ on the need to explicitly state the human rights of deaf people at national, European and global level, all the while decrying the lack of opportunities for education and training, the under-employment of deaf people, and the lack of recognition of signed languages as ‘real’ languages.  She has supported the development of deaf self-advocacy in Ireland and was a key supporter of the move to establish a Centre for Deaf Studies at Trinity College in 2001/02.

The World Federation of the Deaf have been supporters of many of the project which Interesource Group have been involved in and the project teams wholeheartedly congratulate Dr Kauppinen at this wonderful achievement and recognition of her global contribution.

President of Ireland, Michael D  Higgins,  Irish Historian, Margaret Mac Curtain,  The Dubliners’ John Sheahan were also conferred with Honorary Degrees.

Back row from left: Irish Historian Dr Margaret Mac Curtain, Chancellor of the University Mary Robinson, Musician and Composer John Sheahan. Bottom row, from left: former CEO of the Finnish Association of the Deaf Dr Liisa Kauppinen, Squee and Provost Patrick Prendergast.
(Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)

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Lord Mayor’s Reception – MEDISIGNS Conference

March 3, 2013

We have had an absolutely wonderful MEDISIGNS conference.

Thanks to all the team, fellow speakers, delegates, CDS staff and students, (in particular Ellen Lennon-Bowman, Wendy Murray and Caroline Corrigan), efsli, IDS, DeafHear, DCC CISLI, Bridge Interpreting, SLIS, KDRC, HSE, Léargas and the European Commission, Dublin Lord Mayor’s office and Deputy Lord Mayor, Johnny Corcoran, our Irish Sign Language and International Sign interpreters.

Of course, special mention to Professor Lorraine Leeson for her world-class expertise at all levels of the project, Finola Sisk for project managing MEDISIGNS, and thank you to our international consortium – Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin, University of Nicosia, FRP, Lodz, University of Stockholm and Heriot Watt University, Scotland. You made my job as project chairman very enjoyable and worthwhile.

We are already planning another workshop soon!

>> VIEW PHOTO ALBUM

 

MEDISIGNS Lord Mayor's Reception

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Welcome to our efsli and medisigns delegates

February 24, 2013

With only 2 more days to go, we are putting the final touches to The European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters’ (efsli) 3rd Working Seminar entitled “Quality assessment – A European modelMedisigns_logo_NO TAG for sign language interpreter education & training”. The 2 day event aims to reach an agreement upon some recommendations on quality assessment methods and instruments for the European model curriculum for sign language interpreters. The conference is hosted by the Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin.

This will be followed by the Medisigns conference on 1st and 2nd March 2013. Medisigns is promoted by Interesource Group who have been working on the project since 2010 and this conference brings to a close the Medisigns project. A series of products ranging from posters, training courses, a report on Deaf healthcare, training resources and the iPhone App will be launched this week.

The MEDISIGNS conference is jointly hosted by Interesource Group and Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin and partnered with efsli.

Check out the conference programme  CLICK HERE

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MEDISIGNS Conference – 10 places left

January 9, 2013

20130109-160717.jpgWith 17 days to go, there are only 10 places left at the MEDISIGNS Conference.

As a result of a quick sell out, we doubled the capacity and despite this we again have only 10 places left. There will be no additional availability due to the size of the room we have booked as well as ensuring that we have a small group numbers.

Of course we are worried that places will fill up and people will be disappointed. Perhaps there will be hoards of wannabe delegates stranded outside the Centre for Deaf Studies building, bashing down the doors to get in, organising protests and marches to force us to increase our places – but what are we going to tell them as we waive our fingers with a “I told you so” tone?  “You should have booked earlier”.

The early bird rate is no longer available and the current rate is 135 euro.

By the way, there are no freebies. There are no concessions and there are no free sweets (maybe some milky moos!).

To register go to: www.medisignsproject.eu and follow the big link on the page.

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MEDISIGNS Conference on Medical Interpreting

December 28, 2012

Medisigns_logo_NO TAG

We are delighted to invite you to participate in an event for interpreter trainers that focuses on the training of interpreters for healthcare settings.

This seminar will present findings from a recent European Commission funded project, MEDISIGNS, and outlines some key training materials and resources available to support the training of interpreters (as well as healthcare professionals and members of the Deaf community) for work in the healthcare.

The target audience for this conference is interpreter trainers as well as interpreting students, interpreters working in healthcare, healthcare professionals and members of the Deaf community.

The conference speakers are internationally renowned experts from the fields of interpreter training, Deaf studies, healthcare and legal medicine and this is an event not to be missed and the first of its kind in  Ireland.

The event is promoted by Interesource Group (Ireland) Limited and hosted by the Centre for Deaf Studies, the MEDISIGNS project, partnered with EFSLI.

Places are limited so please register early by clicking here.

CONFERENCE LANGUAGES:  English/Irish Sign Language (ISL),/International Sign (IS)

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Irish Sign Language book launched

December 28, 2012

The first comprehensive body of work on Ireland’s indigenous sign language Irish Sign Language: A Cognitive Approach was launched by MEP for Dublin, Emer Costello, at the DeafIrish-Sign-language-book-a Village Ireland on December 8th last. Interesource Group (Ireland) Limited was responsible for the creation of the book imagery, and DVD content, which we were happy to sponsor.

The book, written by the Director of Trinity Centre for Deaf Studies, Dr Lorraine Leeson and Head of the School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences at TCD, Professor John Saeed, describes the social and historical background of Irish Sign Language (ISL), and places ISL in a global context. It examines the linguistic structure of ISL and contributes to the developing investigation of the relationship between spoken and signed languages.

“Irish Sign Language (ISL) is the indigenous sign language of Ireland, used in the Republic and Northern Ireland by more than 6,000 people. It is a living and vibrant language that serves the expressive, social and cultural functions of any other language, spoken or signed,” said Professor John Saeed. “This book explores how grammar, meaning and communication works in a language whose expression is not sound but movement in space. It also describes the history of ISL and its relations with other sign languages of the world.”

The work provides an essential resource for researchers in sign linguistics, sign language teachers and interpreters, students of sign linguistics, and learners of ISL in Ireland. Examples of signing within the book are taken from the School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences’ Signs of Ireland corpus, one of the largest digital collections of a signed language in Europe, which are also included on the DVD accompanying the book.

“This is an invaluable piece of work that contributes to our understanding of the complexity of Irish Sign Language and the impact of ISL on the world stage.” stated MEP for Dublin, Emer Costello.

Photo from L-R  Professor John Saeed, Ms. Emer Costello, MEP,  Dr. Lorraine Leeson and Minister Joe Costello. Photo by Johnny Corcoran

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