Reflecting on Catherine King, Donna Jewell and Katy Smillie-Wilcox’s session about collaboration, comedy and professional learning Three interpreters arrive at a comedy venue. One has nearly 30 years of experience interpreting stand-up but has begun to feel disconnected from the work. Another is preparing to interpret live comedy for the first time. The third does not yet feel ready to take the stage but wants to observe, contribute and understand how comedy can move successf

Reflecting on Dr Joseph Musabyimana and Ibrahim Ndagijimana’s session about Rwanda’s interpreting community What happens when a community needs interpreters, but the formal structures normally associated with a profession are still being developed? There may be no established training route, national register or consistent system of professional standards. The number of experienced practitioners may be small, while the need for communication access stretches across education,

Reflecting on Dr Emma Ferguson-Coleman’s session about communication with Deaf people living with dementia Content note: This article discusses dementia, changes in communication and the emotional effect on individuals, families and professionals. An interpreter is sitting with a Deaf person who has dementia. The person begins to sign, but the information does not form a clear account. The signs may refer to different periods of their life, use unfamiliar vocabulary or move b

Reflecting on Professor Jemina Napier’s research into domestic violence, Deaf and hearing families, and trauma-informed interpreting Content note: This article discusses domestic abuse, trauma, children and the professional impact of working in high-risk situations. Please read it at a time and in a way that feels manageable for you. A Deaf woman is trying to explain an experience of domestic abuse. She is distressed, the information is difficult to organise and several profe

Reflecting on Dr Russell Aldersson’s session on translanguaging and community interpreting Imagine being asked to explain what has happened inside someone’s shoulder. The medical professional uses accurate terminology. The interpreter understands the words and signs. The Deaf patient is watching carefully. Technically, the information could be interpreted from one language into another. But would a signed explanation alone be the clearest way to communicate something that nob

The final session may have ended, the recordings may have closed and the certificates may have been sent, but the conversations from The Together Conference 2026 are far from finished. This year’s theme, Pick It Up, Pass It On, began with a simple idea. None of us becomes the professional we are alone. We learn from tutors, colleagues, Deaf communities, research, experience, mistakes, feedback and the people who have supported us along the way. We then pass those things on, s