Context/background of the projectDeaf people working as sign language interpreters is a relatively new professional field. Deaf Interpreters are typically used as relay interpreters to interpret for consumers with special linguistic needs, or as interpreters between two signed languages or between one sign language and international signs. The need for deaf interpreters is growing, but the provision of training and education specifically designed for deaf interpreters have not kept pace with the growing demand. In recent years only a few deaf Interpreter training programs have been set up in Europe, research into the area is scarce, and we still lack appropriate assessment tools for assessing the skills of deaf interpreters. ObjectivesThe main objective of the project was to enhance the quality, relevance and provision of deaf interpreter training. Not only the partners’ own training programs were expected to improve, as a result of this project, but the project was also (on a long term basis) aiming to influence training options in other educational Institutions in Europe. Access to a model curriculum, which has been produced by the project, is expected to encourage and inspire educators and educational institutions to initiate this kind of training and/or improve the quality of already existing training programs. The long term objective of the project was also to contribute to removing barriers at the labour market for deaf interpreters. Major obstacles for deaf interpreters are lack of official training options and lack of recognition of the profession. Giving (future) deaf interpreters access to high quality training and certification will go a long way towards recognition of the profession, but also the findings of the research are expected to contribute to a better understanding and definition of the specific competences of deaf interpreters. Number and profile of participating partnersWe were a cross sectorial partnership, consisting of five partners, representing Higher Educational Institutions undertaking deaf interpreter training, as well as national and European NGO’s in the field: Hamburg University, Coimbra Polytechnic Institute (IPC), HUMAK University of Applied Sciences, European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters (EFSLI), and Danish Deaf Association (DDA). Each partner has contributed to the project with their key staff members in this area of competence (primarily teachers and researchers within linguistics and sociology). Description of undertaken main activitiesThe partnership have in cooperation undertaken three intellectual outputs: a comprehensive European survey, 9 studies and articles into deaf interpreting, and recommendations for a curriculum. Thus we have produced an extensive survey of the situation of deaf interpreters in Europe, which deals with educational background, working conditions, organisation and recognition of the profession and covers the situation in 30 countries. Based on nine studies of the profession from various angles: primarily sociological and linguistic, nine articles have been produced, eight of which were published as a book and distributed during the project's conference in Hamburg. Furthermore partners have developed a set of joint recommendations for a deaf interpreter curriculum that is applicable at various levels of education throughout Europe. Finally we have produced a guide for educators training deaf interpreters. We have set up a project website and a facebook group and sent out regular newsletters to stakeholders. We have had 6 partner meetings and 2 multiplier events. We have undertaken 4 impact exploring surveys. Results and impact attainedThe primary results of the project, the 3 intellectual outputs, have all been accomplished, published, presented to a large audience, evaluated, and later translated and uploaded to the project website. Impact exploring among partner organisations shows that we as organisations have gained a lot from the project, so at this level, the project has attained the expected impact. The project has definitely also created awareness about the situation of deaf interpreting beyond partner organisations. The number of people from all over Europe to take an interest in the project has exceeded our expectations.The long term impact - to contribute to a positive development in other countries in Europe (primarily by influencing the quality, relevance and provision of deaf interpreter training) is yet to be seen. But as our impact exploring survey shows, testamonies from participants indicate that progress has taken place in 9 European (and 2 non European) countries within this period, and although the project can not take credit for all of it, the survey does show that the project was found relevant by syakeholders, and - at least in some countries - the project has contributed to creating more awareness of the situation.

- INTRODUCTION- There is a direct link between early education, attainment of professional and/or educational qualifications, advancement into the labour market and social inclusion. Apart from financial autonomy, work and paid employment serves to develop a sense of belonging with positive mental health benefits and identification with the wider community (National Disability Authority, 2005). However, Deaf people in Ireland, as well as throughout the world, continue to face barriers in education, employment and access to services such in healthcare, legal and social welfare settings. In a report on poverty in the Deaf community, Conama and Grehan (2001) stated that Deaf people experience higher rates of poverty, social exclusion and employment. Factors such leaving school with no examination nor qualifications, inadequate support for Irish Sign Language has resulted in a worrying picture and 80% of Deaf adults have literacy problems compared to 25% of the population as a whole. (Irish Deaf Society, 2007). Research and data on unemployment is under reported and inaccurate. “Deafness and hearing loss” is often used to report data, and sign language users who are Deaf is under-researched. The World Federation of the Deaf also reports that figures on (un)employment are inaccurate and difficult to quantify (Hauland, H & C. Allen, (2009), Deaf People and Human Rights, WFD). EUD remains concerned about the high unemployment rates of deaf persons and deaf youth, in comparison with other population groups in the European Union. EUD on multiple occasions recommended for the European Commission to take an effective action to measure the employment levels of deaf persons in the open labour market by collecting data disaggregated by disability type. Such recommendations were delivered to the European Commission during strategic dialogue meetings with the representatives at DG EMPL. EUD also acknowledges that EU funds and funding programs play a significant role in increasing levels of employment of deaf adults and deaf youth. Therefore EUD continues its advocacy on the new Erasmus+, European Social Fund+, and Common Provision Regulation proposals and together with the European Disability Forum propose changes in some areas, such as accessibility, supporting services, funding and involvement of organisations of persons with disabilities. In particular, EUD aims at ensuring that the new Erasmus+ is meaningfully inclusive of deaf youth.- OBJECTIVES- The DESIGNS project aims to bring together 7 partners from 4 EU countries who are renowned experts in the fields of Education and Training, Employment, Sign Language Interpreting and Deaf Community Advocacy. The overall aim of the project is to create VET and CPD training resources and exchange best practices across Europe to facilitate greater participation of Deaf sign language users in employment.- This was achieved by:- Creating training resources Deaf job seeking graduates from higher education who are reported to be underemployed and who have a lower propensity to get a job;- Creating training resources for employers to increase their awareness of deaf job applicants and job candidates to so that Deaf job applicants have a better chance in succeeding in employment;- Creating CPD training resources for sign language interpreters to understand the nature of interpreting in workplace (pre-employment/during employment) settings.- PARTNERS - Interesource Group (Ireland) Limited (COORDINATOR) - European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters (efsli) - European Union of the Deaf - Humbolt Universitat zu Berlin - Trinity College Dublin - AHEAD - Heriot Watt University- KEY ACTIVITIES- The project team undertook research across the EU to get an overview of the status of Deaf employment and the experiences of Deaf sign language users in the context of employment settings. This research culminated in the publication of an extensive evidence-based report. Training resources such as employer guides; online course content; web-based tool-kits and videos were produced to support training. As part of the project, 15 milestones events took place across Europe (excluding academic conferences): this included specialist training sessions (multiplier events); international training; Town Hall Community events; Live streamed social media panel discussions and vlogs. The impact achieved has been wide and varied. On the back of the passing of the ISL Act in Ireland, public and private sector employers have taken a keen interest in ongoing collaboration to improve their HR approach. The research is being fed back into EU policy and the training resource are being widely adapted and rolled-out. The format of the ME will continue to be rolled out across European non-partner countries. Content is easy to scale, further translate and adapt to other territories.