A Word from Our Chair
Dr Christopher Stone
I stood for Chair (2007) to continue the maturation of the sign language interpreting profession in the UK. I am interested in following through the votes cast at AGMs in previous years and for ASLI to continue in becoming a more supportive professional association by providing a regional structure, professional indemnity insurance, professional development courses, an annual conference and supporting its members going through complaints. We need continued effective representation in the IRP and other national fora relevant to sign language interpreters. We need to support the IRP in becoming fully independent, as supported by the members in 2002, and to work with them in collaboration to embrace Deaf and hearing sign language interpreters and hold them accountable to a Code of Ethics either via the complaints procedure administered and held by the Independent Registration Panel (IRP), the interpreter's employer or the hiring agency.
I successfully completed my training at the Centre for Deaf Studies, University of Bristol in 1997 and have been working since then as both a freelance and staff BSL/English interpreter and interpreter trainer. I completed my MSc in 2001 and my PhD in 2006, both at Bristol, whilst maintaining my freelance work and active involvement in ASLI. I have knowledge of interpreting within the UK both in service provision, interpreter training (full time and short courses), external examination and course verification as well as the internal workings of the IRP.
I also have knowledge of interpreting within Europe and Internationally having worked in Uganda and Finland. I maintain an active interest at the European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters (EFSLI), the World Association of Sign Langauge Interpreters (WASLI) and the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD). These experiences include working with Deaf interpreters working into Ugandan Sign Language, American Sign Language, Irish Sign Language, modified BSL and International Signs. I have presented at local, national, European and International professional and academic conferences including the European Society of Translators, Critical Link - a conference for community language interpreters and the WFD Congress.
I have been a member of ASLI since 1996 and a continuous member of the NEC since 1997 starting as Gay man's Co-optee, then becoming Bristol and South West Rep from 2000. More recently Regional chair from 2002 and then voted in as Vice-chair from 2005. During that time I have been involved as the Associate member representative in the Licensing Policy and Career Structure sub-group and in the International task group. I am now involved in the Overseas Qualifications standing committee and have been representative to the IRP since becoming Vice-chair and will continue to do this as Chair. I have also been actively involved in drafting motions for the AGM over the last five years and have a keen eye for matters concerning the Memorandum, Articles and Bylaws.