[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hello. My name is Erin McCluskey. \NThis is a Wee BSL Blethers video on role models.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You will see I have somebody with me. \NCould you introduce yourself please?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My name is Margaret McLean.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Marvellous! Do you have a sign name, Margaret?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just MML.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I’ll call you this sign name today if \Nthat’s alright? Okay. So I am going to
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,interview Margaret about her childhood. \NFind out what it was like for her growing up,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,getting her first job and so on. \NI’m really looking forward to finding out more.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Margaret, firstly, can I ask what it \Nwas like for you growing up?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well I come from a Deaf family so BSL \Nwas used every day at home.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I only have a ran into issues outside \Nof home, with hearing people.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It did make me a bit reluctant to mix.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So growing up things were pretty easy \Nand comfortable in terms of accessible
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,communication, at home at least?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Easy, yes. Everybody signed every day \Nwithin my family so there were no issues at all.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So your family were all Deaf then?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yes.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Parents? Your siblings?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yes, all Deaf.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And were you all close?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yes, we were a close family I would \Nsay, because of BSL. I was closest to
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my father because he would tell me \Na lot of stuff. I think he was my
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,role model growing up.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How lovely. Your dad was your role model.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yes.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He encouraged and supported you growing up?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yes.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Marvellous. And that’s a perfect link into \Nwhat I want to ask you about next
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I want to talk about school. \NWhen you first went to school, what was it like?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I first went to a local school. One I could\Nwalk to from home. I think it was only about
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,five minutes away. My parents wanted \Nme to go there so I was nearby.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They did not want to send me away \Nto boarding school.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Unfortunately, the focus was very much \Non speaking and listening so my parents
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,eventually decided to send me to a \Nschool in Glasgow where they used sign language.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Makes sense. So your parents decided \Nto remove you from that local school
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it did not suit you and they \Nhad to send you away.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Were you happy at your school in Glasgow?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was okay. They used sign language \Nthere, but the teachers couldn’t really
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sign very well. They would speak and \Nthrow in a few signs here in there, but not many.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And at that time I guess sign language was \Nvery much seen as undesirable, am I right?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yes. It was a long time ago now and there \Nwere very old-fashioned views.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was no real awareness of the \Nlanguage or its importance.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think things are very different now of course.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yes.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, thinking about school, what was your \Nfavourite topic and what did
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you really hate learning about?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I really loved arithmetic. Nobody calls it \Nthat anymore. It’s become maths hasn’t it.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But we used to call it arithmetic.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Oh really! So you were good \Nat that and enjoyed it?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yes. I loved arithmetic. I was okay at \NEnglish. The subject I really hated was sewing.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Really! Why?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yes! I always used to mess it up and \Nget it wrong. I found it really frustrating.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe you lacked \Nconfidence in that subject.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think you’re right.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So you progressed through your schooling \Nand eventually left school. Did you have any
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,support to help you find a job. \NDid you go to college or university?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was nothing really back then.\NI do remember meeting with the
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Careers Advisor and telling them \NI wanted to become a Teacher of the Deaf.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They told me I could not do that because \NI was Deaf myself. What a discriminatory attitude!
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I decided to ask the social worker \Nabout it and told them the same thing,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I wanted to become a Teacher of \Nthe Deaf. They also told me that I could
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not do that job and suggested that \NI become a machinist. I refused and they
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,said I would have to go \Nto the DHSS in that case.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What is the DHSS?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It’s what’s known as the DWP these days.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Oh I see.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Similar to the job centre now. So I went \Nalong, and they suggested I try for office
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,work, which sounded okay, but it meant \NI had to go to college. They helped me fill
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the application forms and I sent \Nthem off. I soon heard that I’d been
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,offered a place which was great. \NI went to college to learn how to be a secretary,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I found it really difficult \Nbecause I did not have an interpreter.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How did you get on?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I managed the best I could. I kept asking \Nthe lady sat next to me what we were
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,supposed to be doing. I think she \Nfound it a bit frustrating.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She was fed up that I was taking up \Nher time. I tried my best though and
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I did get through the course and \Nluckily, straight out to work.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you got your certificate? Did you \Ngo off and work in an office then?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yes that’s right. The course was a year \Nand then after that I got a job in an office.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was there for seven years, \Nthen I left to start a family.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So when you became pregnant, you left \Nyour job and focused on raising your family.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Did you take on any other work after that?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I did a few little jobs, but nothing \Ninteresting until I saw an advert for a
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,BSL role model essentially. At that time, \Nthe role was known as an auxiliary.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It’s changed now. I was not successful \Nthe first time I applied for one of these roles.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It wasn’t until my third attempt \Nthat I finally got a job.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do you know why you were unsuccessful \Nthe first two times you tried?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don’t know. I think it was because the \Norganisation at that time was maybe not
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,aware of what BSL was and were not \Nexpecting a Deaf person to apply for the role.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The families they wanted someone to work \Nwith were hearing, so perhaps they assumed
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it would be better to have a hearing person\Nin post. I don’t know that for sure though.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So you were finally successful on your \Nthird attempt. What did your work as a
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,BSL advocate involved?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well really, I just helped the parents. \NI taught them sign language.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I supported nursery staff and primary \Nschool staff and even secondary
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,school staff too, advising them how \Nto support their Deaf students.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So you must have had to travel \Naround a lot for your job?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yes, I travelled all over the place. \NI had a lot of work to do.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And did you teach sign language \Nas part of your role?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I did, yes.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Did you cover Deaf identity, \Nculture and so on as well?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yes, I did, but my role was really more \Nfocused around supporting the young person.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, I would read a book with \Nthem and explain the meaning of particular
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,words to try and increase their sign \Nvocabulary. I would do the same for numbers.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sounds like a great job. Okay, let’s move\Non a little to our connection.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I was little, you taught me\NBSL didn’t you Margaret?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I did.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I remember Margaret working with me. \NShe was my role model.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She gave me the most wonderful gift, \Nthe gift of British Sign Language.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I feel incredibly lucky to have had the \Nopportunity to learn BSL from Margaret.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Without her, I don’t know what my life \Nwould be like now. I don’t think I would
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,be where I am now. It didn’t just stop \Nwith me though. I have been able to share
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this beautiful language with my parents too. \NThis makes our family connections so much easier.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So Margaret, you really are my role model. \NWhen I was little, you used to come out
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to my nursery. I still have some photos from \Nthat time which I’d love to share with our viewers:
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How sweet! Would you like to share any \Nmemories of that time, Margaret?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don’t really remember anything much \Nbecause I was so very young, but maybe you can.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yes, I can remember very clearly. \NI remember I started working with you
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you were about 1 ½. When I first \Narrived, you ran off and hid under the table.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You did this every single time I visited, \Nfor weeks, and I visited twice a week.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your mum would try to encourage you to \Ncome out and finally you did, and we
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,started to form a bond. \NAfter that, things got better.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think I was probably just really thrown \Nbecause you were using sign language and
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,although my parents signed a little, \Nit was the first time I had met anybody
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who was fluent in BSL. I just panicked. \NOnce I realised you were okay, things improved,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I learned so much from you.