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Abstract This paper aims to discuss the new profile of sign language translators/interpreters that is taking shape in Brazil since the implementation of policies stimulating the training of these professionals. We qualitatively analyzed answers to a semi-open questionary given by undergraduate students from a BA course in translation and interpretation in Brazilian sign language/Portuguese. Our results show that the ones to seek for this area are not, as it used to be, the ones who have some relation with the deaf community and/or need some kind of certification for their activity as a sign language interpreter. Actually, the students’ choice for the course in discussion had to do with their score in a unified profession selection system (SISU). This contrasts with the 1980, 1990, 2000 sign language interpreter’s profile. As Brazilian Sign Language has become more popular, people search for a university degree have started to see sign language translation/interpreting as an interesting option for their career. So, we discuss here the need to take into account the need to provide students who cannot sign with the necessary pedagogical means to learn the language, which will promote the accessibility of Brazilian deaf communities. Author Biographies Vanessa Regina de Oliveira Martins, Universidade Federal de São Carlos - UFSCar Doutora e Mestre em Educação pela Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Pedagoga com habilitação em Educação Especial pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas. Atualmente é Professora Assistente do Departamento de Psicologia no curso de Bacharelado em Tradução e Interpretação em Libras e Língua Portuguesa da Universidade Federal de São Carlos. São Carlos, São Paulo, Brasil. E-mail: [email protected]

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