Deaf Awareness Week took place last week, from 04 – 11 May 2025.
The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (‘RNID’) note that “more than 18 million adults in the UK are deaf or have hearing loss”. They state that “Over the last year, two thirds of our communities have experienced negative attitudes from others.”
It is imperative that individuals and organisations work towards creating a more supportive and inclusive community, fostering positive attitudes. Deaf Awareness Week is an annual event which strives towards just that. It aims to raise awareness about the deaf community, break barriers, advocate for accessibility, and celebrate the resilience of the deaf community.
As a starting point, it is important to recognise that those who are deaf or hard of hearing have a number of diverse ways of communicating and what is suitable for one person, may not necessarily be suitable for another.
Organisations must make reasonable adjustments to accommodate for the different communication needs of those with a “disability” (in accordance with the definition contained within the Equality Act 2010).
At Stephensons, we have a number of brand values which encapsulate the way in which we behave and practice. Our brand values include ‘inclusive’ and ‘supportive’, and to demonstrate this, we do what we can to recognise, support and accommodate the different ways that people communicate. We always discuss individual support needs and adjustments with our clients on a case by case basis, where required, so that we can provide a tailored and bespoke service.
An example of some of the ways in which we can support the preferred communication methods of those who are deaf or hard of hearing include:
- Using ‘SignVideo’, a British Sign Language interpreted service.
- Offering face to face or remote video conference appointments with clients (for example if a client’s preference is to lip-readthrough conversation).
- Engaging with clients in writing, only.
It is important to us that we ensure that accessing legal services is as inclusive and easy as possible for everyone, regardless of their specific needs or preferences.
What should you do?
If you believe that you have been discriminated against due to the fact that you are deaf or hard of hearing, or if you are an organisation and have received a complaint of discrimination, or are simply looking to improve your policies and/or consider what is considered ‘reasonable’ to offer to those requiring adjustments, then we may be able to assist.
We are one of the few firms in the country that has a dedicated discrimination law team that assist both claimants and defendants in bringing and defending discrimination claims in both the Employment Tribunal and County Court. Please contact our specialist team for further advice either by telephone on 0161 696 6170 or via the ‘SignVideo’ link on our website, or; in writing using the live chat function on our website.
Comments