Course Teacher:
Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting, Diploma in Sign Language Translation
Languages:
British Sign Language, English
Qualifications:
- BA (Honours) Education and Training, University of Greenwich
- Certificate in Education, University of Greenwich
- Registered Sign Language Interpreter
- Registered Sign Language Translator
- A1 Assessor
- Internal Quality Assurer
- External Quality Assurer
Bio:
Alan was born Deaf and is a BSL user. He started his career in law at Gray’s Inn, later becoming a management accountant before embarking on a new career in further education as the manager of a BSL unit, later becoming Head of Additional Learning Support and then the lead disability coordinator for four campuses in west London. His last employment before retirement was CEO of a user-led disability organisation.
A highly experienced BSL teacher, assessor and verifier, with over 35 years in the field, Alan is a qualified Interlingual Interpreter and Translator, also holds the OCR External Quality Assurer Award, City & Guilds D34 Internal Verifier and D32/D33 Assessor qualifications, and a Certificate in Education. Furthermore, Alan is a Fellow of Chartered Management Institute and Institute of Financial Accountants.
Alan led the development of the BDA Sign Language Policy 1999-2001 and was a part of the team that raised the profile of BSL, leading to 18 March 2003 acceptance of BSL.
Outside of the world of teaching, Alan has served on the Boards of several influential Deaf organisations and received the British Deaf Association Medal of Honour. Alan is currently on the board of deafPlus and NRCPD.
In addition, he is a BSL Guide at the British Museum, Foundling Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Old Royal Naval College, Tate Britain and English Heritage.