Sweden – STTF
Sweden has a population of 9 million people , of which approximately 10.000 are Deaf (stated by the National Association of Deaf (NAD), Sveriges Dövas Riksförbund).
Sweden has a size of 449. 964 sq.km (173,746 sq.mi) , which gives a population density of 1/21 sq.km, but with a considerably higher density in the southern part of the country. As for the Deaf part of the population is somehow concentrated to larger towns as well as to the capital, Stockholm, although Deaf people is living here and there around the country.
As for the number of Sign Language-interpreters, there is unfortunately no exact number of that, as we are lacking a register of any kind stating this number. A good guess could although give at hand that it should be around 600 up to date, some do say the number should be larger but again, we don’t know. However, we do know as a fact that 99 of these interpreters have been authorized as Sign Language interpreters by the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency (Kammarkollegiet) which have the authority to certify translators and interpreters, and more.
The Swedish Sign Language Interpreters Association was founded in 1969, by initiative of the persons who had the opportunity to participate in the very first interpreters training program given in Sweden. As for today we have 312 members.
The interpreters training program is in general altogether a four years training program, given at seven Folk High schools as for now, adult educational centres, around the country. Special eligible requirement for the students are that they should have a good proficiency in Swedish, corresponding to the level B of the upper secondary school course (Swedish B/Swedish as a second language B), or equivalent.
The first two years stresses on Sign Language, and some translation exercises. The later two years focus will be gradually shifted towards interpreting. The training program also consists of civics, social-psychology, Deaf culture.
There are however some differences between the different Folk High schools, as the schools are at liberty to set their own curriculum within some given norms as this is the general idea of the Folk High schooling system in all.
At the moment, one school is running a training program by distance studies, one other has a special class for CODAs. Interpreting for deaf and blind persons are included in all the training but the amount differs.
The most important event for the Swedish association is of course our celebration of reaching 40 years, as this took place in Stockholm in connection with our AGM, as well as arranging a two-day conference with lectures. And, for the first time, we as an association had a co-operation together with the association of the managers at the interpreters centres that are run by the county councils.(Talför ) i.e., in governmental rule. As this co-operation was fruitful, from both sides, we are setting our hopes for more and on-going co-operations to come.
The situation for Sign Language interpreters in Sweden has changed, from being a constant lack of interpreters now we are experiences that trained interpreters lack employment and/or assignments as the number of interpreters has increased quite rapidly the last years. Furthermore, the government has not increased the number of job opportunities as in the interpreters centres run by the county councils, or in any other way given financial support or funding to enable this.
The situation in the county in Stockholm is that by 31th of October 2009, the council will no longer have any interpreters among their staff, as the political council has made a decision of out-sourcing this branch of their undertakings within the public and official service to the citizens in the county of Stockholm.
How, and in which way this will affect the interpreters service given to Deaf citizens, and as well in what way it will affect the working conditions for the interpreters, is yet to be seen.
Also, if the county of Stockholm will be taken as a role model for the rest of the county councils in Sweden are unknown.
Our goals, and aims of the coming activity year is to increase the number of members in the interpreters association, for one, and also launch a working co-operation together with the NAD and the NAD of the Deaf and blind. There is a working title for this co-operation," Vision 2010 ".