When we look at the interpreting profession of those that completed the ASLI 2021 survey  89.56% White and 8.84% Ethnic minorities

Akbar Sidker (2019) quotes the OPM figures that 20% of the total deaf population is from ethnic minority.  He breaks this down as 1% South Asian heritage, 0.4% muslin, where the Muslim population in the UK is 5% of the total population. 

However, when this is broken down IOC’s – interpreters of colour are a fraction of the total interpreting population.

We can add in the mix religion, culture and language and we can see that Black/Asian Deaf population is under served.

Interpreters of colour seeks to redress this under representation of IOC’s within the profession and offer a safe, nurturing and supportive environment for our colleagues of colour.

    •  Challenging colonial attitudes towards race, ethnicity and culture to Reframing the conversation on race, ethnicity and culture away from stereotypes to reflect the present construction of European society.

 

    • Challenging racism in the SLI profession and in society more generally. To Challenging the negative views of IOC’s held by some in the SLI profession and in society more generally.

 

  • Supporting research that explores interpreting with ‘third cultures’, culture brokering, the impact of race, ethnicity and culture, and post-colonialist or deconstructionist approaches – Change Supporting research that explores interpreting with ‘third cultures’, culture brokering and the impact/contribution that race, ethnicity and culture has on the interpreting profession.