ASLI MEMBERSHIP POLICY
This policy details the terms and conditions for ASLI Membership on behalf of the Board of the Association of Sign Language Interpreters (ASLI):
1. ELIGIBILITY
There shall be three categories of ASLI Membership. Members are required to join at, and upgrade to, the highest membership category for which they are, or become eligible, for. Applications will be considered from those whose courses/qualifications do not appear on these lists if they no longer exist.
1.1 WHO MAY JOIN ASLI AS A FULL MEMBER (MASLI)?
Any Individual Registered with the NRCPD as RSLI or RSLT or as an interpreter for deafblind people
Any individual who holds one of the following qualifications, which meet the National Interpreting Standards for BSL/English Interpreters and Translators:
UCLAN/SLI Post Graduate Diploma in BSL/English Interpreting and translation
Heriot Watt University MA (Hons) in British Sign Language (Interpreting, Translating and Applied Language Studies)
University of Leeds MA in Interpreting Studies: BSL-English
SLI Advanced Diploma in Interpreting and Translation: BSL-English
IBSL Level 6 Diploma in BSL/English Interpreting Studies
IBSL Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting Studies
University of Leeds Post Graduate Diploma in Interpreting Studies: BSL-English
Wolverhampton University BA (Hons) in Interpreting (BSL/English) (graduates who achieve a first-class degree from September 2017 onwards*)
Level 4 NVQ in Interpreting (BSL/English) & Level 4 NVQ in BSL (pre 2010)
Level 6 NVQ in Interpreting (BSL/English) and Level 6 NVQ in BSL
Signature Level 6 Certificate in Working Effectively with Deafblind Manual and Visual Frame and Hands On Signers (Applicants to the NRCPD register will also require a recognised Level 6 qualification in BSL or other sign language as appropriate)
Other, subject to approval by the Directors
Interpreters with qualifications from overseas are welcome to join ASLI please email board@asli.org.uk with details of your qualifications. The overseas policy can be found at the end of this document.
SIGN LANGUAGE TRANSLATORS
Durham University MA in Translation Studies (graduates who have successfully completed the professional pathway including MELA43930 addressed using static and scrolling English and BSL) (Registration will be accepted from graduates up to and including July 2014. This course is not currently being offered).
Signature Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Translation
University of Wolverhampton MA Interpreting. (course available from 2018) Graduates of the MA Interpreting or those exiting with the Post Graduate Diploma interpreting
Graduates exiting with a Post Graduate Certificate having studied: 7IG003 – Critical reflective interpreting practice and; 7IG004 – Interpreting – healthcare settings; and 7IG005 – Interpreting – Legal settings
Other, subject to approval by the Board
1.2 WHO MAY JOIN AS AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER?
Any individual regulated by the NRCPD as TSLI or TSLT
Any Individual on a course that on successful completion allows them to register as a RSLI, RSLT or an interpreter for deafblind people, you do not have to be registered only be eligible to register
Any individual who has successfully completed one of the following interpreter training courses. It is essential for all applicants to have passed the BSL and Interpreting modules/units to the required levels:
University of Wolverhampton BA Hons in Interpreting BSL/English
University of Bristol BSc Deaf Studies (Interpreting).
UCLAN BA (Hons) in Deaf Studies (must include all Graduate Diploma modules).
UCLAN/SLI Graduate Diploma in BSL & Communication Studies.
Heriot-Watt University Certificate in Interpreting Studies & Skills.
Heriot-Watt University MA in British Sign Language Interpreting and Translation (Single or joint honours).
Middlesex University/City Lit BA (Hons) Deaf Studies Communication Support and Education (Interpreting Option).
University of Durham Postgraduate Diploma in Interpreting with the Deaf Community.
Belfast Metropolitan College Introduction to BSL/English Interpreting Certificate
Other, subject to approval by the Board
(Associate Members are encouraged to become Full Members within 3 years)
1.3 WHO MAY JOIN AS A STUDENT MEMBER?
Any individual undertaking one of the following interpreter training courses:
University of Wolverhampton BA (Hons) in Interpreting BSL/English
UCLAN BA (Hons) in Deaf Studies (must include all Graduate Diploma modules)
York St. Johns BA in BSL and Deaf Studies.
UCLAN/SLI Graduate Diploma in BSL & Communication Studies
Heriot-Watt University MA in British Sign Language Interpreting and Translation (Single or joint honours).
UCLAN/SLI Post Graduate Diploma in BSL/English Interpreting
Signature Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting
Signature Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Translation
Signature Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting and Translation (2020 onwards).
IBSL – Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting Studies
N.B. Some students will be eligible to join as an Associate if able to be a TSLI with the NRCPD. Working interpreters should be Associate members as they will get the benefit of Professional Indemnity Insurance.
1.4 ALL MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO ADHERE TO THE ASSOCIATION’S EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY.
2. BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
2.1 BENEFITS OF FULL AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
ASLI will make every effort to provide the following benefits of Membership to Full and Associate members, however provision of all benefits is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Some of the following benefits of ASLI Membership are dependent on the Member providing a functioning email address to ASLI.
Voting rights
Professional Indemnity Insurance for freelance interpreters, translators, interpreters for deafblind people, lipspeakers, trainers, mentors, assessors, verifiers and supervisors.
Public Liability Insurance
Free directory entry and updates
Members’ bio, links to members’ website, and social media
Reduced entry fees to ASLI events and accredited courses
Access to ASLI regional meetings for members based in the UK
Access to the members’ area of the ASLI website
Access to members’ and regional discussion forums via the ASLI website
Monthly Keeping You In Touch (KYIT) bulletin
Quarterly magazine – Newsli
Regular updates on the work of ASLI
Eligibility to stand for regional contact and/or Director of the Board
Use of MASLI after your name (Full Members only)
Use of ASLI Member logo (available on request)
Access to ASLI’s Continuous Professional Development and training (National/Regional)
Free webinars (approximately 10-12 per year)
2.2 BENEFITS OF STUDENT MEMBERSHIP
ASLI will make every effort to provide the following benefits of membership to Student members, however provision of all benefits is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Some of the following benefits of ASLI Membership are dependent on the member providing a functioning email address to ASLI.
Quarterly magazine – Newsli
Reduced entry fees to ASLI events
Access to ASLI regional meetings for members based in the UK
Access to the members’ area of the ASLI website
Access to the members’ forum, students’ forum and all public forums via the ASLI website
Monthly Keeping You In Touch (KYIT) bulletin
Free webinars (approximately 10-12 per year)
Access to ASLI’s Continuous Professional Development and training opportunities
Regular updates on the work of ASLI
3. COST OF MEMBERSHIP
The cost per year for Full Membership is £204 may be paid in instalments of £17/month or £51 quarterly
The cost per year for Associate Membership is £180 may be paid in instalments of £15/month or £45 quarterly
The cost per year for Student Membership is £48
A discount is available for Full and Associate members renewing their membership if they are in special circumstances (Maternity/Paternity/Adoption Leave, Career Break, Low Income, Study at PhD or MPhil/MRes level). Please email board@asli.org.uk with evidence of your circumstances.
4. JOINING ASLI AS A MEMBER
Join online by choosing the relevant category and payment preference (annual/monthly)
All memberships are for one year from the date of purchase but Full and Associate membership fees can be paid in monthly instalments
Submit any necessary evidence, as requested
Membership applications will only be approved once payment has been received.
An invoice will be sent from the website automatically to remind you to renew
If payment is not received, all membership benefits will cease.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
5. DATA PROTECTION
All details supplied by the Member may be held on a computer and used for the purposes of the Association in accordance with data protection legislation 2018 and GDPR regulations.
Members are responsible for the information on their profile and must keep it up to date. This information is within the public domain so members must check their profile displays information they wish to share.
Information provided for the Find an Interpreter function is controlled by members and only Full and Associate members’ details are displayed.
ASLI will not provide personal details of members without their express permission.
ASLI can verify whether a member is insured if we are asked.
6. CONTACTING ASLI
If you have any queries or comments about ASLI Membership/Support please email office@asli.org.uk
7. MEMBERSHIP FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
It is the general policy of ASLI that interpreters who hold interpreting qualifications from
other countries, but are living and working in the UK should be able to become
members of ASLI.
Procedure for applicants with overseas qualifications applying for entry into the directory as an interpreter of a foreign signed and spoken language:
1. An enquiry for membership is made to the ASLI Office – office@asli.org.uk
2. The office will contact the person and ask for copy of their Overseas Qualification.
If this document is not in English, the applicant must also provide a translation into
English. This information will be passed to the Board of Directors.
3. The Board will investigate the Overseas Interpreting Qualification and in consultation with external bodies such as the European Forum for Sign Language Interpreters (EFSLI) or the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI) decide on eligibility.
4. The Board will decide whether the Overseas qualification enables Full, Associate or Supporter status within ASLI.
5. The applicant will be informed of the decision by the ASLI office.
Procedure for applicants with overseas qualifications applying for entry into the directory as an interpreter of a foreign signed and spoken English language.
As above, plus:
English Competence
As part of this investigation the English language abilities of overseas interpreters will
be taken into consideration – especially when English is not one of the languages of the
overseas qualification. Where the spoken language of the qualification is not English
applicants will be required to provide evidence of an English qualification equivalent to
A Level standard or the necessary IELTS score (6) required for university entry.
Procedure for applicants with overseas qualifications applying for entry into the directory as an interpreter of BSL and English.
Applicants must meet the membership criteria for members who are qualified in Britain. i.e. have evidenced their ability to practice at the National Occupational Standard.