Sara Scanlon's Story

Sara Scanlon Sara has been working as a lipspeaker for over ten years. Her award as Communication Professional of the Year recognises over a decade of work with deaf people and acknowledges the continued contribution to lipspeaking she makes throughout the UK.

Qualified as a lipspeaker since 1996, and a notetaker since 1998, Sara was encouraged to become a communication professional whilst undertaking a post-graduate Diploma in Deaf Studies and Sign Communication at Reading University.

"A lipspeaker came to talk to us about her profession and I realised that it was something that I might be able to do," recalled Sara. "I had been at University with a profoundly deaf student and he had always said that I was very easy to lipread. I decided to train as a lipspeaker, primarily to work in education, as I thought that someone with both lipspeaking and notetaking skills might be able to provide useful communication support for deaf students at University."

Since qualifying as a lipspeaker Sara has played an important part in the continued development of her profession. She has worked with Signature, RNID and other organisations including the Association of Lipspeakers, where she is an Honorary Secretary and was also Chair. Sara has worked to establish courses to train new lipspeakers and has become a mentor to others gaining their qualifications.

However it is her lipspeaking services which keep her the busiest. Sara has worked in many different situations including the courts and in the workplace. She has also travelled abroad to provide communication support for Hearing Concern Link holidays.

"It is hugely satisfying to be able to facilitate communication between deaf and hearing people," says Sara. "I love the variety of the job; I am likely to be doing something different each day and I have met some really inspirational people".

Sara is one of only a handful of lipspeakers in the UK. Her work to develop the profession however is helping new people gain the skills and experience they need. Sara remains confident about the future of the profession.

Click here to read about the other winners at the 2009 Signature Annual Awards.