ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT efsli 2011 – 2012 (AGM 1203)

INTRODUCTION The efsli activities report gives you an overview of all the activities that efsli has undertaken from June 2011 till June 2012. This efsli year has been successful due to many people involved with efsli. An overview of the activities and accomplishments is given in this report. The efsli board likes to thank everyone who has supported efsli in one way or another.

Special Attendance Fund (SAF): - Yvonne Jobse, coordinator (Netherlands) - Bibi Lacey-Davidson (UK) - Paul Pryce Jones (UK) - Maya de Wit (Netherlands) New since 2012: - Androniki Xanthopoulou (Greece) - Julia Cramer (Germany) - Daan Heimans (Netherlands) Till February 2012: - Astrid Meller Donatsky (Denmark) - Camilla Eurenius (Sweden) - Paul Michaels (UK) Research Fund (eRF) Committee - Klimis Antzakas (Greece) - Brendan Castello (Spain) - Aleksandra Kalata-Zawlocka (Poland) - Christopher Stone (UK) - Maya de Wit (Netherlands) Communications: Website Liivi Hollman (Estonia) & Andy Irvine (Scotland) Newsletter: Tim Curry (Czech Republic) - efsli in brief: Maya de Wit (Netherlands)

efsli training, supported by: - Utrecht University of Applied Sciences - Institute of German Sign Language and Communication of the Deaf at Hamburg University - Association of Sign Language Interpreters (ASLI – London South East) - Austrian Association of Sign Language Interpreters (ÖGSDV) - Greek Association of Sign Language Interpreters (SDENG) - Estonian Association of Sign Language Interpreters (EVKTÜ) AGM support 2011: - Caron Wolfenden (UK) efsli 2011 conference coordinator - Antonella Bertone efsli 2012 conference coordinator - Hanna Boesch

In addition efsli has been supported from many members throughout the year. Page 2 of 22 © efsli annual activity report 2011/2012

The efsli Board consists of: -

Maya de Wit, President (NBTG – the Netherlands);

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Marinella Salami, Vice-President & Head of the Training & Development Department (ANIOS – Italy)

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Paul Pryce-Jones, Treasurer (ASLI – England, Wales & Northern Ireland);

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Liivi Hollman, Head of the publicity & promotion Department (EVKTÜ Estonia)

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Stéphane Gobert, Secretary, Head of the Membership Department (AFILS - France)

The efsli board met in January 2012 in Vienna for three days. The efsli board continues to have their online board meetings throughout the year. Another board meeting is scheduled to take place 3 days before the AGM 2012 in Austria.

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INTERNAL DEPARTMENT Maya de Wit, president The efsli Annual General Meeting (AGM) was hosted on 16th September 2011 by the Italian Association of Sign Language Interpreters (ANIOS) in Vietri sul Mare, Italy. The efsli board presented a comprehensive work programme for 2012. The main decisions taken at the AGM were the change in membership fees for individual members, to design and develop new policies and to establish an efsli committee of experts. For the second time at the AGM a discussion with the full members took place this time on the topic of the ‘European Qualifications Framework’ and the ‘ET2020’. Prior to the conference the full members filled out an online survey. These results were then presented at the AGM and followed by a discussion with the members. In addition, Flora Misitano, member of the AIIC Sign language network, presented the aims and work of AIIC. The efsli board met eight times since the AGM in September 2011: once live in Vienna for three days in January 2012 and the rest through online Skype meetings. In addition, where needed further online meetings were scheduled between the departments. An important contribution to the efsli success was the approval of the EU operating grant for a third time, which was awarded to efsli in the spring 2012. The current operating grant is financial support for efsli of a three-year framework agreement with the EU from 2011 till 2013 to carry out the daily tasks. Thanks to the operating grant, efsli was able to appoint the first efsli Executive Director. The efsli Director will work closely with the efsli board and Minke Salomé, efsli administrative support, and Lourdes Calle, efsli project coordinator. The efsli director starts on 25th June for 20 hours per week till the end of 2012. Starting 1st January 2012, the number of contracted hours for Lourdes and Minke increased from 8 to 12 hours per week.

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Thank you This year was the 6th and last year of my efsli presidency. Being efsli president has been an honour and great inspiration. I have worked with wonderful board and committee members, national associations of sign language interpreters, other international associations such as EUD, national Deaf associations, EULITA, WASLI and AIIC and of course the many individuals. I truly enjoyed the enormous efsli spirit among all our members and the trust you have given me as a president, but mostly the kindness and openness among all of you to support each other and cooperate internationally. A special thank you I would like to give to my current and previous board members and the efsli staff. Thank you for coming along the daily roller coaster ride with me. I know it has been intense, but most of all it has been a wonderful adventure!

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SECRETARIAL DEPARTMENT Stéphane Gobert - Secretary

Secretarial This is my last year as efsli board member. I am stepping down with regrets for professional and personal reasons. I must say that being in the efsli team has brought me a lot more than I expected. Many exciting efsli projects, trainings and partnerships came to life. Each one is a new place for all Sign Language Interpreters to learn. And it is growing. The secretariat had to develop and it became more effective on a day-to-day basis thanks to Minke Salomé, our administrative support. She helped us with the increasing number of email correspondence between the board, the staff, the partners and the efsli members. The efsli secretariat is now professional and secure. The efsli secretary can rely on the admin support and focus more on the development of membership activities and services.

Membership We are happy to inform that the association of sign language interpreters from the Italian Speaking part of Switzerland (ILISSI) joined us this year. Also another membership in process is the Irish Association of Sign Language Interpreters (CISLI).

efsli now represents 28 full members from 23 different countries: ÖGSDV (Austria), ABILS (Belgium-French), BVGT (Belgium-Flanders), CKTZJ (Czech Republic), FTT (Denmark), EVKTÜ (Estonia), SVT (Finland), AFILS (France), BGSD (Germany), SDENG (Greece), HASLI (Hungary), ANIOS & ANIMU (Italy), NBTG (Netherlands), Tolkeforbundet (Norway), STPJM (Poland), ANIALMG (Romania), ATSZJ & UTLOSS/AOIFDP (Serbia), ALTPRENES (Slovakia), FILSE (Spain), STTF (Sweden), ARILS (Swiss French), bgd (Swiss German), llissi (Swiss Italian), ASLI (England, Wales & Northern Ireland), SASLI (Scotland), ZTZJS (Slovenia).

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From 16 associate members last year, we increased to 24 associate members: AIIC (Geneva), BDÜ (Berlin), CVO Crescendo (Mechelen), SAVEZ GLUHIH (Mostar), Diakonia-Ammattikorkeakoulu (Helsinki), DODIR (Zagreb), EFFETA (Nitra), Fellingsbro folkhögskola Tolkutbildningen (Örebro), HfH (Zürich), HUMAK (Helsinki), Instituut Gebaren Taal & Dovenstudies (Utrecht), KENG (Thessaloniki), Kilencven Decibel Kft (Budapest), Lessius Hogeschool (Antwerpen), RID (South Elgin, Illinois), Södertörns Folkhögskola (Stockholm), SIGNATURE (Durham), Sor Trondelag University College (Trondheim), Stockholm University (Stockholm), Tulke Oy (Helsinki), University of Applied Sciences (Magdeburg), University of Graz (Graz), University of Wolverhampton (Wolverhampton, West Midlands), VSLSC (Helsinki).

The total number of individual members has increased from 209 (2011) to 297 in 2012. The membership is the main source of income for efsli together with efsli events. Therefore it is important to promote membership. Every event is an opportunity to gain more members. For this reason, we offer a special membership discount at these events. This year, we launched an efsli membership contest special for the efsli 20th Anniversary.

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FINANCE DEPARTMENT Paul Pryce-Jones – Treasurer

The pace of efsli activity has been frenetic at times in 2011 with an exceptional number of events and activities and correspondingly this has been the case in the Finance Department. It only seems a short time ago that I was reflecting on my first year as Treasurer and yet again time has come to reflect on my second year.

Financial Processes The present set of finance systems have stood up well to the test of the EU Operating Grant. The use of an online system has meant a reduction in time at the end of each month and at the end of financial year when reviewing income and expenditure through the production of finance reports. Any small errors are quickly highlighted and can be corrected with relative ease.

Using the software has encouraged us to create more clarity within the filing system so that reviewing documents and evidence of income and spending smoother process, but this is always under review by myself and the president to ensure that we can track and be responsible with efsli’s finances. At the year-end, an annual report is produced and verified by our accountant and this year as well, the software was invaluable in producing a detailed report for the EU at the end of 2011 for reporting and evidencing the spending of the grant. This process was more in evidence at the end of 2011 as to obtain the maximum EU Operating Grant possible; efsli must make the most of potential income sources.

The claim forms that are used as evidence of our spending have been reviewed to complement the new system.

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EU Operating Grant End of March was the deadline for the submission of the financial records for the EU Operating Grant; Maya undertook sterling work to ensure that we met this deadline and it should be noted that the quality of the report meant that efsli received no queries from the relevant department within the EU.

At the end of 2011 we completed the first year of our three-year-grant period and the increased budget for 2012 was accepted by the EU, which is the main source of funding for carrying out the daily work of efsli.

Due to the effort of creating a budget for the EU Grant, the change in 2011 to efsli’s internal budget has been successful and efsli’s annual budget follows a more EU Operating Grant style. This change for the board has been an interesting one but provides more clarity and congruity with our EU Operating Grant budget.

SAF The SAF committee continues to be busy with fundraising and processing the applications for the 2012 AGM and conference as well as obtaining reports from 2011 candidates which can be seen on the efsli website. At the time of writing the final considerations of successful candidates are taking place, the potential number of SAF candidates could be seven which matches the number of candidates in 2011.

The committee has started work on the flyer of 2013, which will be available at the conference in Vienna.

Acknowledgements For this year it is completely appropriate to take this opportunity to thank the other board members for their support as I continue to grow into the role of treasurer, most of all I want to thank Maya as a driving force of the board, it will be hard to imagine the team without her. I also would like to thank Minke, the administrator whose efficiency knows no bounds and Lourdes who joined the efsli team in 2011. It is truly inspiring to work with such a group of dedicated people.

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TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Marinella Salami, vice-president Many different activities have kept the efsli training department particularly busy over the last past year and up to now. The working schedule ranged from the traditional efsli schools to tailored-made trainings and project partnerships. Here is a brief overview.

efsli training on demand The New Year was celebrated with the launch of the second efsli training on demand that took place in Vienna from 13th to 15th January 2012. The training focused on “Teamwork of Hearing and Deaf interpreters in Austria” and was organized by ÖGSDV in cooperation with efsli. Juli af Klintberg, the contracted trainer, shared her experience and expertise with 12 highly-motivated Austrian Deaf and hearing interpreters.

Preparatory work has been carried out to guide AFILS (French Association of Sign Language Interpreters) in the organisation of the efsli training on demand to be held in Paris in October 2012. While a prep-meeting with Aleksandra Kalata-Zawlocka from the Polish Association of Sign Language Interpreters (STPJM) took place in Warsaw at the end of January to set the foundations of an efsli training on demand in Poland in 2013. efsli schools Over the years efsli schools have become a safe and friendly training environment where interpreters from across Europe can develop deeper insights of the profession and share their experiences. Particular attention is given to the selection of host countries and topics in order to satisfy a wider variety of interpreters' needs and expectations.

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Since the second semester of 2011, three schools have been organised: •

2011 efsli Winter school ("Performing Arts Interpreting", second run) in London (UK) in cooperation with ASLI London South East. At the end of the training, participants took part in a showcase ("efsli's got talent") in a London theatre, which was cohosted by Zane Hema (trainer & producer of the show) and by myself. 9 interpreters from across Europe attended the school.

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2012 efsli Spring school ("Sign Language Interpreting in Legal Settings") in cooperation with the Greek Association of Sign Language Interpreters (SDENG). The school took place in Thessaloniki (Greece) and the training was provided by Sharon NeumannSolow from the USA. 12 participants registered.

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2012 efsli Summer school ("Ethical dilemmas and role conflicts in Sign Language Interpreting") scheduled in Tallinn (Estonia) and hosted by the Estonian Association of Sign Language Interpreters (EVKTÜ). Trainer: Peter Llewellyn-Jones (University of Leeds, UK). 16 registered participants.

Upcoming schools: •

2012 efsli Autumn school ("Deaf interpreters in a team. Part II – The Next Step") in cooperation with SIGNAMIC (London), 23rd-25th November, 2012.

The 2013 efsli schools schedule has been worked out already: •

efsli Spring School in cooperation with NBTG (The Netherlands);

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efsli Summer school in cooperation with FTT (Denmark).

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efsli trainers’ seminar Equal attention is given to trainers. Every two years efsli organises a seminar dedicated to European trainers. This year the efsli trainers' seminar, “Sign Language Interpreter Training: an integrated approach”, will take place in Vienna from 17th to 19th September 2012 in cooperation with the University of Graz.

The preparatory work started well in advance. In January the efsli Board met the contact person of the host committee in Vienna during the annual Board live meeting to discuss the work schedule in detail. Further discussions have been carried out by a great number of emails.

efsli working seminar The first efsli working seminar on developing a standard curriculum took place on 14th & 15th November 2011 in the Netherlands. The Utrecht University of Applied Sciences hosted the seminar with 75 participants from 23 European countries. The seminar was the result of the outcome of the trainers’ seminar in 2010 in Helsinki, where participants expressed the need to have a seminar on curriculum development. On 26th & 27th March the second efsli Working Seminar Towards a standard curriculum for Sign Language Interpreters across Europe. Coming to an agreement on learning outcomes and curriculum content took place in Hamburg, Germany. The seminar was hosted by the Institute of German Sign Language and Communication of the Deaf (IDGS). More than 40 people from 19 different countries, mostly sign language interpreter trainers, participated in this seminar. The aim of the working seminars is to come to a model or so called best practices curriculum for interpreter training programmes in Europe. The third and last seminar will take place in February 2013. Till then the educators and members are invited to participate in the further development of the model curriculum through an online platform hosted by efsli. TRAFUT project - efsli partnership efsli is a team member of the European Project named TRAFUT, Training for the future, whose primary aim is to contribute to the implementation of the EU Directive 2010/64 on the right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings. In order to actively assist in and contribute to the implementation of the EU Directive, the TRAFUT project team has Page 12 of 22 © efsli annual activity report 2011/2012

developed the format and the content of four European regional workshops addressed to judges, prosecutors, lawyers, judicial staff, police authorities, representatives of ministries of justice and national professional associations of legal interpreters and translators. I took part in all the prep-meetings and workshops: •

22nd -25th May, 2011 - prep-meeting in Paris

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23rd-26th November, 2011 - first workshop in Ljubljana

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27th-29th January, 2012 - follow-up meeting in Warsaw

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14th-16th March, 2012 - second workshop in Madrid

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13th-15th June, 2012 - third workshop in Helsinki

In January 2012 efsli launched an online survey on sign language interpreters working in legal settings with regard to the Directive and the use of new technology. The preliminary results were presented in Madrid and Helsinki. A thorough report will be presented at the BDÜ (Germany's Federal Association of Interpreters and Translators) conference on “Interpreting the future” from 28th to 30th September 2012.

efsli representation efsli and the training department have been represented at different events: •

The profession of sign language interpreters and the political influence of translation images created by sign language interpreters were discussed at the Low Countries Conference by Maya de Wit and myself at the Lessius College in Antwerp (16th-18th November, 2011).

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On 5th-6th February 2012 I attended a training seminar for interpreter trainers hosted by AIIC in Rome and led by Daniel Gile from the University of Paris III. The theme focused on research results and implications for interpreter training.

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As mentioned before, efsli was represented at the TRAFUT meetings and workshops by myself. Three presentations were made in Ljubljana, Madrid and Helsinki.

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Acknowledgments This last paragraph is not a mere formality for me. Such an amount of work is really hard to carry out. Unity is strength. That’s why the cooperation of my colleagues from the efsli Board (Maya, Liivi, Stéphane and Paul) as well as Lourdes and Minke (efsli project manager and efsli administrative support) was an invaluable and most precious support.

My sincere thanks to all the co-organisers and co-hosts of any efsli training event and to the trainers. They all contributed to the success of the efsli training activities. New challenges are waiting for us. Let’s face them together once again.

Thank you!

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PUBLICITY & PROMOTION DEPARTMENT Liivi Hollman

2011-2012 was my second year as head of Publicity and Promotion Department. It has been full of challenges, work and fun. But most of all, it has been a great privilege to work in such a wonderful team.

Website According to the agreements from the last year efsli website has been continuously maintained by Andy Irvine at Commtacs. During the last months Andy has been intensively working with the new layout for the efsli website and we do hope that by the AGM and conference in September 2012 we already have the new website up and running. The new website also includes new membership area for members to update their details, check the membership payments and brows the internal documentation.

During the last 12 months efsli web page has been visited approximately 4400 times per month as an average (see the chart below).

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In June 23-27 2012 the web page was visited from 39 countries around the world (see the map below).

Publications and Merchandise efsli publications and proceedings from the previous conferences are available on the efsli website. In the efsli online shop (http://www.efsli.org/shop/index.html) the following proceedings are available: •

“Synergy – Moving Forward Together”, Glasgow, Scotland 2010

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„Sound Mind in Sound Hands“, Tallinn, Estonia 2009

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„Third Language Interpreting“, Voorschoten, The Netherlands 2008

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„Setting Quality Interpreting Standards“, Zurich, Switzerland 2007

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„Innovative Practices in Team Interpreting", Prague, Czech Republic 2006

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„Interpreting - Cooperating and Teamwork", Vantaa, Finland 2004

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„Professionalism: Our Challenge for 2000", Barcelona, Spain 1996

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efsli CD “Signs for Countries in Europe & Beyond - 2008 edition, contains signs for 48 Countries and over 280 cities.

We are extremely sorry that the proceedings 2010 did not arrive in Italy in time. However, all the full members who had sent the address where they would like to receive the proceedings and all who ordered the proceedings at the AGM and conference in Italy have

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received them by mail. It is of course possible to order the proceedings from the website as well.

Promotional Activities In the beginning of 2012 efsli announced the 20th Anniversary Membership Promotion to gain more individual members. During the last year special offers for individual or associate membership have been provided at all efsli events. We have produced promotional efsli banners for using at efsli events or wherever efsli is present, folders and pens in efsli colours and with efsli logos and more items are coming for the efsli 2012 conference in Vienna. The design of all the mentioned items is from a Deaf designer, Triin Jõeveer.

Special efsli photo contest In the end of 2010 efsli announced a special efsli Photo Contest “Interpreting in its Best!” and as a result of the contest the efsli desk calendar for 2012 was presented in Vietri sul Mare, Italy.

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INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT Maya de Wit, efsli president

The efsli board has noticed an increase in the international requests for information and support. Over the last years efsli has become more visible and has attended international events in the field. If possible efsli board members try to attend important events in their countries and accept international invitations in other countries. Due to the increase in requests the efsli board cannot always accept every invitation.

Events The summer of 2011 brought two major international events: the WASLI and WFD conference in South Africa. A joint presentation of EUD and efsli was held at the WASLI conference by Maya live in combination with prior recorded video by Mark Wheatley, EUD director. A live blog was kept from the two events publishing over 100 posts of the presentations and happenings in South Africa. One day prior to the efsli AGM & conference EUMASLI hosted their final seminar with the MA presentations by all the first EUMASLI students. All board members alongside another 50 participants attended this unique seminar. During the year efsli presented and attended the following events: •

14th & 15th October 2011, Prague: presentations at Charles University and to the members of the Czech Chamber of Sign Language Interpreters (CKTZJ).

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21st & 22nd October 2011, Madrid: EUDY General Assembly & seminar

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5th – 7th November 2011, Al, Norway: observer at EUD board meeting

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8th November 2011: Al, Norway: Conference ‘Sign languages as endangered languages'

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16th – 18th November 2011, Antwerp: presentation at Low Countries conference ‘Translation and National Images’ Page 18 of 22 © efsli annual activity report 2011/2012

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31st January 2012, Paris: Presentation for sign language interpreter students at Paris 8 University.

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3rd – 4th February, Prague: presentation at EULITA conference and participation in AGM.

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24th March, Madrid: FILSE general meeting

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13th May, Leuven: EUCISS annual conference

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18th May, Copenhagen: EUD seminar ‘Active Aging’

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18th May, Zwickau: presentation at first European seminar for students in sign language interpreting.

EU events / milestones •

September 2011: efsli published the internal report for efsli members on the current status of the European Accessibility Act (R1102).

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21st September 2012: Unanimous Vote at Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted unanimously an important opinion on the European Commission disability strategy for the next 10 years.

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25th October 2011: Adam Kósa’s Mobility Report passed in the European Parliament. The mobility report is a step forward to the protection of sign languages and accessibility.

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3rd December 2011: International Day of Disabilities, highlighted by several important events at EU level, such as a first state of the Union on Disability (http://bit.ly/ualqog) in Brussels organised by the European Disability Forum (EDF) and the presentation of the World Report on Disability (http://bit.ly/iJxycr).

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3rd December 2011: Publication and presentation of new EDF report the Freedom Guide, a publication on freedom of movement for persons with a disability. Efsli contributed to this report with their report ‘The Rights to Sign Language Interpreting Services when Working or Studying Abroad’(R1101).

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February 2012: EU public consultation on the future accessibility act. efsli, in consultation with EUD, has responded to the consultation in regard to accessibility and the provision of sign language interpreting services in EU member states.

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Network & projects •

EUD: Throughout the year efsli had several meetings with EUD. Common topics and future potential projects were discussed. In addition, Mark Wheatley, EUD director, wrote a joint article with Maya on the presentation held at the WASLI conference. In May 2012 EUD and efsli published a joint policy paper on guidelines for the use of sign language interpreters at international events. efsli also cooperated on an additional EUD paper on international sign. On 18th May Maya de Wit, efsli president, attended the EUD seminar on ‘Active aging’ in Copenhagen, Denmark.

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EULITA: On 4th February at the EULITA general assembly Maya de Wit, efsli president, who had been co-opted to the EULITA board for the last two years, stepped down. The NBTG became the first sign language interpreter association to become a full member of EULITA. Mirjam Stolk, NBTG board member, was co-opted to the EULITA board. In addition, efsli has set up an internal mailing list for efsli full members who have become a member of EULITA to exchange information.

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AIIC membership: The efsli board worked in close cooperation with the AIIC working group on sign language interpreting to prepare the documents leading up to the voting. In June 2011 the efsli board submitted a formal request to the AIIC board, accompanied by academic reports, for sign language interpreters to become members of AIIC. At the AIIC general assembly in Buenos Aires, the AIIC members voted in favour of allowing conference sign language interpreters to become members of AIIC.

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Deaf interpreters: following discussions at the efsli working seminars and the trainers’ seminar, efsli has planned to host the first efsli working seminar for Deaf sign language interpreters in September 2012. The aim is to offer a platform for experienced Deaf sign language interpreters to exchange ideas and expertise on how to further the development of Deaf sign language interpreters in Europe. In April 2012 efsli published their official view on the provision of Deaf sign language interpreters.

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WASLI: the WASLI European representative Stuart Anderson was elected at the WASLI AGM in South Africa in July 2011. In November 2011 Stuart and efsli board members held a meeting to discuss in detail further cooperation in Europe. In February 2012 efsli received an email from Stuart informing efsli that he had stepped down from his WASLI Page 20 of 22 © efsli annual activity report 2011/2012

position. As a follow up efsli published a call for a new European representative from the WASLI president, Deb Russel. No new European representative has been appointed yet.

AGM & conference The Italian Association of Sign Language Interpreters (ANIOS) provided a very successful AGM and conference in 2011. The participants enjoyed the professional and enthusiastic setting and programme that ANIOS had created. The efsli board would like to thank the ANIOS board and organisation committee again for their commitment in this. İGSDV, as the organisers for the efsli 2012 conference in Austria have worked with great enthusiasm and dedication to provide an excellent conference to all participants. Organising a conference involves many voluntary hours with endless details that need to be taken care of. In 2013 ZTSZJ (Slovenian Association of Sign Language Interpreters) will organise the 21st efsli AGM and conference.

Future hosting Year 2012 2012

Event efsli AGM Trainers seminar

2013 2014

efsli AGM efsli AGM

2014

Trainers seminar

2015 2016 2016 2017

efsli AGM efsli AGM Trainers seminar efsli AGM

Hosting organisation ÖGSDV Karl-Franzens University Graz Co-Organizer: gesdo, Linz ZTZJS BVGT

Country Austria Austria

Slovenia Belgium – Flanders Lessius Hogeschool, Antwerpen Belgium – Flanders STPJM Poland SDENG Greece Greece AFILS France

Confirmed Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

efsli Research Fund (eRF) In 2011-12 the previous committee has continued ensuring that education institutions were reminded of the eRF. A call for eRF applications was sent out across Europe but with no applications an extension was given with two applications by the deadline of June 1st. The committee is currently reviewing the applications to rate. This should be completed by the end of June ready for a report to be submitted with recommendations for Page 21 of 22 © efsli annual activity report 2011/2012

the efsli board to consider. After being processed any successful applicant will be informed. The eRF managed to collect some funding during this year. The fund is still modest and it is felt that we should target students and those wishing to undertake small research projects. The eRF is keen to attract new members and the current coordinator of the committee (Christopher Stone) will be stepping down from the co-ordination role at the AGM. Please do contact the eRF committee if you are interested in joining.

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