In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend and colleague Pearl Clinton — a proud CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), powerhouse businesswoman, and lifelong advocate for Deaf rights. Pearl is also the heart behind Sign Life, which highlights the importance of Deaf Support Workers and lived experience in supporting the Deaf community.
This is an honest and emotional conversation where Pearl shares her journey, including the loss of her father and the expectation she faced as a child to interpret during that traumatic time. We also dive into the challenges of entering the sign language interpreting profession, the realities of learning and using British Sign Language (BSL), and the joys and struggles of working in this world we’ve both been part of for so long.
It’s informal, heartfelt, and perfectly timed for International Week of Deaf People / International Sign Language Week. Pearl has encouraged me throughout my whole career, and I admire her greatly — so this conversation means the world to me.
If you care about Deaf advocacy, CODA stories, BSL, and the power of friendship and lived experience, this episode is for you.
A heartfelt conversation with CODA and Deaf rights advocate Pearl Clinton on loss, lived experience, and the challenges and joys of the BSL interpreting world.
💜 New Episode Alert 💜
This week on The Adequate Mother Podcast I sit down with one of my dearest friends, Pearl Clinton — a proud CODA, powerhouse businesswoman, and lifelong advocate for Deaf rights.
Our chat is raw, honest, and emotional. Pearl opens up about the loss of her father and the expectation she faced to interpret as a child during that painful time. We also dive into:
🤟 The challenges of becoming a BSL interpreter
🤟 Why lived experience matters in Deaf advocacy
🤟 The story behind Sign Life and its incredible impact
🤟 The joys & struggles of working in the sign language world
This conversation means the world to me — Pearl has encouraged me throughout my whole career, and I admire her deeply. ✨
🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.
🎥 BSL interpreted version available on YouTube.
#DeafAwareness #CODAStories #BritishSignLanguage #DeafRights #InternationalSignLanguageWeek