Recently, I had the privilege of taking an international trip to speak to several groups about definitions and descriptions of disabilities. I discussed teaching and learning strategies, as well. Everything that I said to these groups was, of course, communicated through a translator. I am thankful to have had several excellent translators; I appreciate their time, energy, and attention. They would come to each lecture with translated lecture notes and specific questions for me. In their notes, I saw how they had pulled key terms and translated them. This must have taken a great deal of time and work for them to do.

Process

Before or after each lecture, they would talk with me about the challenge of finding the right words in their language for some of the technical and psychological terms I used. They also shared how they had benefited from thinking about the issues that had been raised through the lecture notes.

During the lectures, I had to use short and clear sentences. I generally read what was on the pages I had written beforehand, sometimes omitting certain parts as needed. Sometimes, as I was speaking, it felt like there was a lot of starting and stopping—not the flow of words I was hoping for. The pauses were often due to the fact that a word or concept that I used in English did not have a clear equivalent in the other language. The translator and I would stop while the audience patiently waited, have a brief exchange, and then the translator would offer a fuller explanation. Personally, I wish that I had spent more time editing what I had to say ahead of time to help the translator out, as well as my audience. The more I gave the lecture and thought deeply about the audience experience, the more I thought about what I could say better the next time.

Looking back, I know that I shared some valuable information and ideas to these audiences. Each audience was very positive and appreciative. The experience was a learning moment for me and a time of reflection.

Takeaways

First, I learned how challenging it is to communicate clearly about disability or neurodivergence. The challenge was in how much to share and how detailed to be. Clear definitions and descriptions are much harder to communicate well than I might have thought. That is true in our own language before any translation happens. It is much greater when we think about conveying what we mean to another language and culture.

Second, in this trip abroad, I noticed that the people I interacted with wanted categories to describe the issues and challenges their child was going through. They also wanted practical strategies for school and home. Yet they also wanted their child or adolescent to be thought of as a person and to be included in every part of life and society and faith. They were eager to learn more.

Finally, something else became evident. I was reminded that we are always interacting with  teachers or parents who are at the very beginning stages of understanding and interacting with disability, special challenges, and neurodivergence. They desire more information and understanding. It was a privilege to share with the audiences on this trip what I have learned and experienced. At the same time, I thought about the challenge of sharing too much. Being translated helped that.  

Ultimately, I am very grateful for this experience, and I am glad for the lessons that came from working with a translator.

About the Author 

Stephen Byrd is an Associate Professor of Education at Elon University, where he also coordinates the special education program and mentors undergraduate research. He serves as a research seminar leader for the 2024–2026 cohort Affirming and Inclusive Engaged Learning for Neurodivergent Students. His scholarship focuses on families’ perspectives on disability, information, and special education services, and he regularly shares this work at local, state, and national conferences.

How to Cite This Post 

Byrd, Stephen. 2025. “A Translator: For Understanding and Clarity.” Center for Engaged Learning (blog), Elon University. July 1, 2025. https://www.centerforengagedlearning.org/a-translator-for-understanding-and-clarity.