Deaf Awareness Week 2024

News - 3 May 2024

This year, Deaf Awareness Week will take place from the 6th to the 12th of May, with the theme of Celebrating Love and Trust. The aim of the week is to shed light on the challenges that the deaf community face and educate others on how they can support them.
Two people communicating using sign language

In the UK, approximately 11 million people are deaf or have hearing loss. The impacts of hearing loss can range from losing the ability to communicate with others to delayed language development in children, both of which can lead to social isolation, loneliness and frustration, particularly among older people with hearing loss. These obstacles can be overcome through hearing therapy, lipreading classes and learning sign language.

What is Deaf Awareness Week?

The UK Council on Deafness created Deaf Awareness Week to celebrate deaf identity, learn about their experiences and advocate for equal access to communication and services for the deaf and hard of hearing.

This year, the theme focuses on celebrating the resilience, love and trust that brings this community together. Additionally, the week encompasses not only individuals who communicate through British Sign Language (BSL) but also non-BSL users who often make up a significant portion of the deaf population. It is vital to have greater inclusivity for all individuals within the deaf community, regardless of their preferred mode of communication.

Ways to support deaf people

Read below about some of the different ways you can support your deaf peers. To find out more, see this resource.

Educate yourself

Familiarise yourself with the different types and causes of deafness and find out how you can make adjustments to reduce stress and improve wellbeing for members of the deaf community.

Ask what helps 

Deaf people have different communication approaches, and some may use combined methods like hearing aids and lipreading. Ask how they communicate and what you can do to help.

Tips for speaking to someone who is deaf

There are several things you can do to improve communication with deaf people. Try the tips below:

  • Don’t say it doesn’t matter
  • Speak one at a time
  • Don’t speak too slowly or quickly
  • Smile and relax
  • Keep your mouth on show
  • Speak clearly without shouting
  • Face towards the person while you’re speaking
  • Repeat if you need to do so

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