Supporting clients in foreign sign languages

Deaf people who use other sign languages live in the UK, and sometimes need to contact public services, like the police or the NHS. It’s important that interpreters are provided that meet their needs. 

We asked our domestic abuse team to explain how they support deaf people who use different languages. Our team are really creative and good at identifying how to best support victims. They’ve supported deaf people from Lithuania, Poland, Pakistan, Iran, Romania and many other places.  Here’s what they told us is important to consider.

Tips for communicating with deaf people who use foreign sign languages

1. Book the right interpreter: Mainstream services are probably familiar with booking spoken language communication support, sign languages are no different! If someone is from Poland, they may need a polish sign language interpreter, be sure to book the right support for your meeting.

2. Ask! Find out what are the deaf person’s communication needs? Which sign language do they use?

3. Adapt your communication style: Deaf people are very visual, and our team are experts at adapting and making themselves understood, sometimes using signs that are internationally recognised.

4. Check understanding: It’s important to regularly check understanding, check the quality of the work of translators, and adjust to make sure there’s full accessibility.

5. Build trust: The domestic abuse victims we support have had a lot of trauma and it might be intimidating to have many language professionals relaying and interpreting in a meeting. We try to find the best way to support communication with a client without involving too many people. The client will always meet with the same SignHealth IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advisor) so they are a familiar face and over time the victim can build trust and understanding develops on both sides.

6. Don’t speak for others: We don’t speak for clients. It is important that the victims are able to make their voice heard and share their experience directly in court proceedings or with the police.

Making a difference

One of the survivors we worked with is doing really well and is rebuilding her life as an independent woman. But she still faces challenges due to her language. For example meeting with solicitors to buy a house. She can do it, if we can all do our best to remove the barriers!