The 4th Meeting of Sign Language Interpreters in Asia was held during the 22nd World Federation of the Deaf Regional Secretariat in Asia and the Pacific Representatives Meeting last Nov. 26 and 27, 2010 at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) in Tagaytay City, Philippines.
Present during the WASLI meeting were delegates from Japan: Emiko Ichikawa, WASLI Asian Representative, NRASLI; Etsuko Umemoto, Chair, NRASLI; Eiko Ogura, JASLI; Tomoki Hayashi, recorder, JASLI; Masafumi Kawazoe and Chikae Nagasaki, J/E interpreter, NRASLI, South Korea: Beo Do Won, Won Tae-yeon and Kim Kun Youn, K/E interpreter, Hong Kong: Mindy Lai Man Chung and Leung Pui-Sum, Macau: Nerissa Lau Sutman, Indonesia: Pingkan C. R. Warouw, Nepal: Laxmi Devkota, Philippines: Michael S. Potian and Alfredo D. Celada, Jr. and Malaysia: Goh Soo Leng.
Being one of the founding members of the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI), PAIDE was fortunate to have our very own Chief Executive Officer, Alfredo “JUN” Celada, Jr. and our Sign Language Training Officer, Michael “MIKE” Potian to join the WASLI group as panelists representing the Philippines.
Emiko Ichikawa gave her opening remarks and presented her report on WASLI Board Meeting. She acknowledged all the delegates and observers in the session hall. Delegates of each country took turns in introducing themselves and proceeded with their report on the situation of sign language interpreters in their country.
Sir Jun reported the following:
- Accreditation of sign language interpreters
- Sign Language being used in the Philippines
- Country’s spoken language
- Magna Carta for Disabled Persons
- Interpreter Training Program in the Philippines
- Testing and Accreditation system for qualified sign language interpreters
- Standard Rates for Sign Language Interpreting service
- Association of Sign Language Interpreters
- Full-time Sign Language Interpreters
Before the 1st session (Nov. 26) ended, the country representatives had their election for WASLI Asian Representative and luckily, Japan won its seat again.
A workshop on “Respect for Initiatives of Deaf People” was facilitated by Masafumi Kawazoe, J/E interpreter, NRASLI on the 27th.
The World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI) encouraged all Asian countries to do the following:
WASLI encouraged all Asian countries to establish an organization of sign language interpreters and network with other sign language interpreters.
By Mikechel S. Potian