Accessing university education: perceptions, preferences, and expectations for interpreting by deaf students

Area of Science:

• Deaf Studies
• Linguistics
• Education

Background:

• Overview of deaf education in Australia, Australian Sign Language (Auslan), and Auslan interpreting.
• Exploration of the history and current state of sign language interpreting services in higher education.

Observation:

• A panel of deaf university students evaluated two interpreting styles: predominantly free and predominantly literal.
• Students provided feedback on their preferences and expectations regarding Auslan interpreters in university lectures.

Findings:

• Deaf students favored a combined approach, where interpreters switch between literal and free styles as needed.
• This hybrid method allows access to lecture content in Auslan while incorporating English for specialized terminology.
• Students strongly recommended university-level qualifications for interpreters in academic environments.

Implications:

• Findings suggest a need for adaptable interpreting strategies to enhance educational access for deaf students.
• The study highlights the importance of interpreter qualifications and training for effective communication in universities.
• Despite improvements, current interpreting services may not fully meet the complex communication needs of deaf students in higher education.