Deaf Awareness Week
Each year, the week brings awareness to the isolation that deaf people can experience, whilst promoting social inclusion of those with hearing loss. The week also generates awareness of British Sign Language, spreading the form of communication to make society a more accessible place for people with hearing loss.
How Can I Support Deaf Awareness Week?
There are many ways to create a network of support for the deaf community, with one of the biggest ways of supporting them being communicating correctly with them. The top tips for communicating with deaf people are as follows:?
- Always face the person
- Speak clearly, slowly and steadily
- Don’t cover your mouth- so the person can lip read
- Repeat and rephrase if necessary
Additionally, you can do the following to support Deaf Awareness Week:
- Deaf awareness training
- Sign up for the Disability Confidence scheme
- Join the #WeSupportDeafAwareness campaign
- Review your technology – eg. Hearing loop systems and instant video relay services
- Hold a Deaf Awareness Week event & book a deaf awareness speaker
Useful links
Deaf Awareness Week I National Deaf Children’s Society (ndcs.org.uk)
