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Heriot-Watt's School of Management and Languages is proud to announce the appointment of Languages and Intercultural Studies' Professor Jemina Napier to the prestigious Expert Group on Accessibility (Technology and Sign Language Interpretation) for the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD).
WFD is an international non-governmental organisation representing approximately 70 million Deaf people worldwide. It is responsible for protecting and supporting the rights of the Deaf community in both developed and developing countries, promoting deaf education, culture and advocacy. It is recognised by the United Nations (UN) as its official spokes-organisation as part of the UN's commitment to global human rights and equality.
WFD uses special, legal or administrative measures to ensure that Deaf people in every country have the right to preserve their own sign languages, organisations, and cultural and other activities. Most important among WFD priorities are Deaf people in developing countries; the right to sign language; and equal opportunity in all spheres of life, including access to education and information.
As a WFD Expert Member, Professor Napier joins a distinguished panel of highly qualified sign language interpreters, both hearing and deaf, all of whom are fluent in multiple signed and written languages, with experience and understanding of using International Sign in interpreting. Expert Members provide sign language interpretation and translation support for a variety of events, meetings and conferences supporting the work of the WFD, including the Deaflympics, UNICEF, the European Commission, the European Parliament, Office of the High Commission for Human Rights, and the International Disability Allowance. Professor Napier will serve as an Expert Member until 31 December 2019.
As Head of the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies (LINCS) Professor Napier oversees the delivery of LINCS' diverse portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Amongst these are Heriot-Watt's world leading programmes in sign language interpreting and translation, including Scotland's first MA (Hons) British Sign Language (Interpreting, Translating and Applied Language Studies), and our unique MSc Sign Language Interpreting (EUMASLI), which is delivered in partnership with Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and Humak University of Applied Sciences (Finland).