Equality and diversity day

Zoom details for this event have now been sent – if you are booking onto this event please email trainee@asli.org.uk once you have booked a ticket requesting the zoom details.

Equality and Diversity day.

Confirmed speakers – Vicki Lamb, Azaria Francis and Chance Walton-Ashmore.

Interpreters – Rebekah Spencer and Kat Wright

10:00 – Welcome and house keeping

10:15 – Vicki Lamb

11:15 – Break

11:30 – Azaria Francis

12:30 – Lunch

13:30 – Chance Walton-Ashmore

14:30 – Break for reflective notes

15:00 – reflective space

16:00 – close

Vicki Lamb

Dedicating time to embed equitable, diverse and inclusive practices is vital; we understand the ethical and moral rationale for doing so, but the interpreting profession has yet to catch up with the business case for it. The fact is that diverse work forces are more successful… oh, and our clients are intersectional too!

 During this workshop, we will spend some time exploring the value-added benefits of a neurodiverse profession and how course providers can feel informed to support students and early career interpreters to thrive.

 Neurodivergent interpreters are one of the professions well-kept secrets. We are many; quietly getting on and doing our jobs well. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of us who never made it over the line, because attrition rates are high for neurodivergent interpreters who do not have their needs met. The first step to changing that is having the space to talk about why it happens.

Vicki Lamb grew up in London before relocating to rural Wales to study for her undergraduate degree in Social Anthropology. After returning to London, a fortuitous job application led to her learning British Sign Language and eventually qualifying as a BSL/English interpreter in 2011. As a result of her interest in Anthropology, Vicki’s research often seeks to explore how culture and our lived experiences intersect with our professional practice.

Azaria Francis

An introduction to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for Trainee interpreters.

Focusing on Intersectionality, power and privilege, impact and intent, being anti racist and being an effective ally.

In this session we will start the dialogue about the importance of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in interpreting.  Discussing in a safe space those difficult and awkward topics.  I will share my personal experiences as a Black British female interpreter, and explain why EDI should always be a priority in our profession and everyday lives.  For a truly inclusive society, everyone should feel valued and that they belong.

We can all do better.  Learning takes place when you come out of your comfort zone and stretch yourself!  It’s about starting these important uncomfortable conversations and keeping them going.

Azaria has been a Registered Sign Language Interpreter (RSLI) for 9 years.  For the past 6 years she has worked in a VRS company as an interpreter, interpreting team leader and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Officer.

She has led training sessions for interpreters in the UK and Europe, initially on ‘Race and Interpreting’, as well as other EDI related topics.  In 2022 she was also one of the presenters at EFSLI’s ‘#Awkward’ conference.

Azaria is one of the Directors of the Interpreters of Colour Network (IOCN) and passionately believes in promoting their mission of ‘support, educate and celebrate’, to address the under-representation of people of colour and other marginalised groups within the interpreting and translation profession.

Chance Walton-Ashmore