Foreword... 5
Summary... 7
List of respondents... 8
Introduction... 9

Part 1 – Organizations... 11
1.1. Establishment of sign language interpreter organizations... 12
1.2. National organizations...13
1.3. Names of the organizations...14
1.4. Countries without an independent national interpreter organization...15
1.5. Percentage of interpreters who are member of their national organization...15
1.6. Membership numbers over the years ... 17
1.7. Percentage female and male members... 19
1.8. Deaf interpreters as a member... 20
1.9 . Membership requirements... 23
1.10 Aim of the organization & membership benefits…23
1.11 Collaboration with the deaf organization…25
1.12 Membership fees... 26
1.13 Non-interpreter membership... 30

Part 2 – Quality control... 31
2.1 Quality control... 32
2.2 Regulation of the sign language interpreter profession... 33
2.3 Registry of interpreters... 35
2.4 Complaints procedure... 40

Part 3 – Education... 45
3.1 Educational Programs... 45
3.2 Countries and regions without a program... 48
3.3 Past & new programs... 50
3.4 Deaf interpreters training… 55
3.5 Deaf interpreters developments… 57
3.6 Interpreting for deafblind persons…58
3.7 Interpreting degree as prerequisite to work… 60
3.8 Continuing education... 62
3.9 Mentoring… 67

Part 4 – Employment... 71
4.1 Interpreters currently working... 72
4.2 Part-time versus full-time…75
4.3 Interpreting for deafblind persons…77
4.4 Lack of interpreters… 78
4.5 Number of working interpreters… 2001 - 2020
4.6 Deaf sign language users…80
4.7 Deaf sign language users per interpreter... 80
4.8 The right to an interpreter... 84
4.9  Requesting interpreting services... 89
4.10 Party responsible for the payment of interpreting services... 94
4.11 Recognition of sign language... 101
4.12 Sign language recognition & funding of interpreting services... 102
4.13 Interpreters: forms of employment… 104
4.14 Freelance interpreting fees... 105
4.15 Interpreting for deafblind persons… 111
4.16 Reasonable pay... 115
4.17 Budget limitations... 118
4.18 Employed interpreters... 119
4.19 Development of the profession… 120

Appendices... 123
Appendix 1 – Organizations of sign language interpreter in Europe... 124
Appendix 2 – Regulation of the profession… 126
Appendix 3 – Registry of interpreters... 129
Appendix 4 – Complaint procedures... 131
Appendix 5 – Right to an interpreter... 135
Appendix 6 – Employment... 139
Appendix 7 – Survey sign language interpreting in Europe... 145
Appendix 8 – Overview of facts by country... 152
Appendix 9 – Overview of all tables and figures... 167

Index... 169