BERMUDA has a serious shortage of skilled sign language interpreters, according to American sign language translator Thomas Baldridge.

Mr. Baldridge has been on the island acting as sign language and voice interpreter for a leading US deaf rights activist, Dr. Roslyn Rosen. He and Dr. Rosen were in Bermuda as part of Access 2003, an annual special week designed to raise awareness of the needs of the disabled.

This year the National Office for Seniors & Physically Challenged, which organises the week, teamed up with the Bermuda Islands Association for the Deaf (BIAD) to highlight the issues of the deaf and hard of hearing in Bermuda.

"There would never be enough interpreters unless there was one for every deaf person alive," said Mr. Baldridge. "But there is an extreme shortage of skilled interpreters in Bermuda. There are very few. Interpreters come in all shapes, sizes and skill levels. There are a lot of people who want to help out, but it is a profession that requires skill and commitment."

Mr. Baldridge is an associate professor of business at Gallaudet University for the deaf in Washington, DC. In his spare time he freelances as an interpreter. The Mid-Ocean News spoke to Mr. Baldridge about his role as interpreter after Dr. Rosen addressed the Hamilton Lions Club on Wednesday.

"Dr. Rosen highlighted some of the priorities," said Mr. Baldridge. "One of the priorities in any deaf community is the communication liaison between hearing and the deaf community. Not that many hearing people learn sign language for themselves and they need a go-between. The electronic media, e-mail, and text messaging provides the visual communication link in a great many circumstances, but it is not everything."

Mr. Baldridge began interpreting as a child for his parents who are both deaf.

"My parents were pretty independent," he said. "My father taught at a school for the deaf for 40 years and my mother also taught once we children were in school. I'd usually interpret for them if a phone call needed to be made. Until I was older, and could understand the circumstances, they would write things down on paper if they were talking to a hearing person in person."

His father became deaf at the age of eight because of spinal meningitis. His mother was deaf from birth and the cause is not known.

"Since my father used to be able to hear, he can still speak. My mother has been deaf her whole life and her speech is more challenging, although I have no trouble understanding her."

He belongs to an organisation called Children of Deaf Adults (CODA) which has members from many parts of the world.

"It is a pretty diverse group," he said, "but many of us feel we grew up faster than other children. We did have some responsibilities. There were times I had to speak for my parents and I wouldn't know what we were talking about. I could sense it was an important business negotiation.

"Fortunately, I never had to tell my parents about a death or an accident. Sometimes children have to tell their parents about grieving situations that are tough for adults to deal with. Some deaf people who aren't very educated, and their children often have to make up the deficit.

"My parents were college educated so I didn't have to grow up fast in that respect. But you are always aware that your parents don't hear. You do function as their ears. Children of deaf parents often feel responsible for them."

Mr. Baldridge, one of five children, said he never had any problems with his own speech.

"The teacher wrote on my report card that I visited too much which was an old-fashioned way of saying I talked too much. I've never met any hearing person, unless they had their own hearing difficulties, that had speech problems. They wouldn't mimic their parents."

He said the parallel between children of deaf parents and children of first generation immigrants is very striking. Both sets of children are often called upon to speak for their parents.

"I have noticed a real kinship with people whose parents are from another culture or background," he said.