FASLI award winner – Jenny Köhring

As a very motivated interpreting student Jenny recognised early on that more needed to be done to support students, so she liaised with the ASLI board to set up the Going Pro conference for student/ trainee interpreters before even joining the board! That has to be her biggest achievement, alongside the fact that she’s worked tirelessly for 6 years on the board (including a term as Chair), for what seems like non-stop hours to the many that have worked with her!

She’s represented ASLI at efsli meetings and conferences and become part of a massive change there, she’s worked on Accessible Information Standards with the NHS, and lobbied on information about the tax IR35 to bring some clarity to interpreters. She’s done all this alongside working as a new interpreter and then commencing a PhD. She has also been one of the most supportive people to those coming through the ranks behind her, always gives time to answer queries on various WhatsApp groups. She’s been a great support to many people and the nominator said that they didn’t think they could have got through their own course without Jenny urging them on.

Jenny massively deserves credit for all she’s done and, as predicted, was mortified at getting the attention for it when they FASLI was awarded, but it was important to recognise her efforts, especially with the perfect timing as she steps down from the board at the completion of her 6-year term.

Ben Steiner award winner – Edith Norrman

Edith grew up in the Fife Deaf community, with Deaf parents, a Deaf brother, and a Deaf uncle. She attended the Deaf club, Sunday School, and participated in various Deaf club events and pantomimes. After leaving school, she worked as a house parent at Donaldson’s school in Edinburgh then as a social work assistant in Dundee, and later at Cumbria Deaf Association in Whitehaven as a social worker and interpreter. She also worked for RNID in London for a few years and supervising a team of interpreters. She successfully completed the CACDP RQSLI exam after six weekends of preparation, passing on her first attempt.

In 1990, Edith was a member of the ASLI Executive Committee. She became the first interpreter lecturer at the Centre for Deaf Studies at Bristol University, where she worked for about 15 years. During this time, she guided the first Bristol cohort through the CACDP requirement for the register.

Edith also taught on Horizon-funded professional development courses for Deaf people and interpreters across the UK, Ireland, Greece, and Portugal from 1990 onwards. While teaching, she pursued a law degree and took a sabbatical from the Centre for Deaf Studies to qualify for the Bar Vocational Course (BVC). She completed her pupillage while still doing some interpreting work, then Edith became a tenant at Furnival Chambers and qualified as a barrister in 2000, working at the Bar for 13 years at Furnival Chambers, working with several deaf people on cases.

It is clear that Edith has been incredibly instrumental in shaping the profession, through involvement with ASLI, her teaching and her work on making justice accessible for deaf BSL users. Edith’s incredible contributions have raised the standard of today’s interpreting profession. Her students have praised her as a fair but strict teacher, whose guidance and high expectations helped shape their success. Due to health issues, Edith retired from work, but her achievements are truly remarkable, and she richly deserves this award for her outstanding contributions over the years.

Congratulations to the two very deserving 2024 winners! Read more about past FASLI and Ben Steiner Award winners here