Jeff: We help in situations which would otherwise be challenging
Jeff McConnell (46), from Carrickfergus, was a bricklayer, who retrained to become a sign language interpreter 16 years ago. Jeff ’s parents are both profoundly deaf, so he grew up with signing as his first language and English as his second. Married to nursery school teacher Roisin, he is a father of two boys, Ben (15) and Ethan (12). Even though signing was second nature to Jeff, when he decided to change careers, he had to study sign language up to level three and do a two-year interpreting course in England before he could qualify.
He says: “It is a bit like doing a driving test after 30 years of driving, you have to unlearn all of your bad habits. I had signed since I was a boy, but that didn’t qualify me to interpret.
“Basically, I had got bored with working as a bricklayer and decided to become an interpreter because of my parents. Nowadays at work, no two days are the same and every day is rewarding.”
Growing up with deaf parents, Jeff is all too aware of the many obstacles facing deaf people in society if they don’t have the benefit of someone to interpret.
It was brought home many times to him as a boy, but one incident in particular, which left his mother traumatised, is still sadly one that many deaf people face today.
He explains: “It was about 35 years ago when mum was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital with a brain tumour.
“There were no interpreters at all then and even though her consultant was very good, she knew she was very ill, but had no idea of the extent.
“She spent 40 hours in theatre and if you can imagine being taken into hospital with severe headaches with no idea why and then suddenly you are being operated on. She was traumatised.
“The consultant tried to relay as much as he could through my granny, but she only finger spelt, so was very limited in what she could explain. It was very, very difficult. Thankfully, mum did get over it.”
Jeff also points out another major barrier for deaf people which hearing people often wouldn’t consider — while the doctor tried to explain his mum’s condition by writing it down, he says like many deaf people, her English is also limited, creating challenges for communicating in this way.
He says: “From an early age, as a hearing person, you are hearing words all the time and taking them in subconsciously and you don’t even think about it. It could be listening to the radio, TV or other people’s conversations.
“Deaf people don’t have that, so their English can be quite limited. It’s not that they can’t read or write, but there will be a lot of words they haven’t heard.
“Of course, everyone is different, depending on where and how they were educated, but for some it can be quite frustrating in many ways. For example, even when it comes to dealing with letters from the bank, there may be words they don’t know.”
As Jeff goes on to outline more illustrations of the challenges facing deaf people, he also gives an indication of the demand for his services — and the lack of interpreters. Indeed, in the week we are talking, Jeff had to turn down up to 30 bookings. One booking is usually a two-hour period of his time.
Most interpreters will develop a speciality and for Jeff that is working in the court system with the police and in the area of mental health.
He says: “I could be faced with anything from the cradle to the grave, but most interpreters will develop their skills in different areas over time.
“Hearing people don’t hold the monopoly on going to court and I would cover family court, magistrates and high court and it could be because a deaf person is a witness or a defendant or maybe going through a divorce.
“Being able to provide assistance is very rewarding and every day we are able to help in situations which would otherwise be challenging for a deaf person.
“I could be in a hospital setting with someone getting results. You are there to provide access for a deaf person to information they need, which a hearing person can access 24-7.”
While Jeff has personal reasons for wanting to do the job he does, he believes that it is a career with a lot to offer in terms of satisfaction and job security.
He adds: “I do it because I have seen the issues my own parents have faced, but I could never understand why it is not promoted as a career option.
“It is very satisfying and we are kept very busy. We are all freelance and I’ve been at it 16 years now. Of course, there have been days when I haven’t been busy, but I have never been out of work.”