To mark Deaf Awareness Week (5 to 11 May), Anna Park reveals just how easy it is to create a deaf-friendly workplace.
From clear communication tips to clever office layout tweaks, small steps can make a huge impact. Inclusion doesn’t have to be hard, and it starts with awareness. #DeafAwarenessWeek2025
One in three adults in the UK are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. This striking statistic underscores a crucial need that businesses and organisations cannot ignore. With this in mind, it is essential that workplaces create a space that is accessible and ultimately a place where everyone has a real sense of belonging. Fostering a deaf-friendly workplace isn’t just about compliance, it is about creating a culture of respect and equal accessibility.
If employers do not prioritise deaf awareness and accessible practices, they risk creating a workplace environment where staff feel isolated and cannot thrive personally and professionally
Ignoring the necessity for deaf awareness training in your organisation will lead to the alienation of employees, leading to barriers in communication and a disjointed workforce. It’s time to change this.
In 2010, the UK government introduced the Equality Act, which protects people with disabilities, including those who are deaf, from discrimination. Accessibility in the workplace is an umbrella term, encompassing a wide range of practices and touching all aspects of work. While businesses are legally obliged under the legislation to provide reasonable adjustments, promoting accessibility goes beyond this.
A 2018 survey conducted by the national hearing loss charity RNID highlighted the lived experience of deaf and hard of hearing employees in the UK. Among the respondents, a large proportion of deaf employees (54%) reported having worked without disclosing their hearing loss, indicating a common belief that they would be misunderstood. Additionally, 42% of respondents said that if they were to request reasonable adjustments, they believed those needs would not be met. Alarmingly, 18% feared losing their job, and a third expressed concern about unfair treatment in the workplace.
These statistics make it clear: if employers do not prioritise deaf awareness and accessible practices, they risk creating a workplace environment where staff feel isolated and cannot thrive personally and professionally.
Practical steps to increase accessibility
There are various ways you can ensure your workplace is one that is accessible and deaf-friendly. Adjustments cannot be surface level; rather, workplaces must embed accessibility practices into every sphere of the business.
Here is a list of ways that your organisation can be a place where all employees feel included:
Reduce background noise
For those employees with hearing loss, background noise can be disruptive as it interferes with an individual’s ability to focus. For example, those with hearing loss who wear hearing aids will struggle with excessive noise as sounds and voices are harder to distinguish between. Therefore, employers should be smart with how they set out their office and offer flexible workplaces that allow employees to choose quieter settings or work remotely. Ultimately, having these options enables employees to feel understood.
Offer visual information
Employees who are deaf or hard of hearing will find it difficult to rely on auditory information, meaning it is important that alternative methods are offered. One key example is a smoke alarm system. It is important that there is a system that doesn’t solely rely on noise, for example, vibrating pagers and flashing lights. These adjustments are small but can make a big difference and will benefit the health and safety of all employees. As an employer, you should discuss where these alarms should be placed for maximum visibility and safety.
Enhance communication practices
It is best to communicate face-to-face in well-lit spaces where the speaker’s face can be seen for lip reading. When speaking to a colleague with a form of hearing loss, make sure to face them when speaking and don’t cover your mouth. Additionally, it is important to provide captioning, interpreters or speech-to-text services for meetings, and always distribute agendas and notes beforehand. Organisations should also embrace platforms with automated live captioning, such as Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams. These small adjustments will greatly increase a deaf colleague’s confidence in their place of work.
Foster a culture of understanding
Organisations should strive to create a space where deaf and hard of hearing employees feel comfortable to disclose their hearing loss. One way to do this is through educating managers and colleagues about deaf awareness. One method is to offer deaf awareness training. Here at Signature, our award-winning course offers the practical knowledge and understanding needed to create a supportive working environment.
A long-term commitment
Creating a deaf-friendly workplace is a journey, rather than a tick-box exercise. It requires commitment from the organisation and a willingness to learn and make adjustments where necessary. By embedding accessible practices into the fabric of your organisation, you demonstrate a true commitment to your employees. From a change in office layout to investing in deaf awareness training, each adjustment brings your organisation to a place where everyone recognises a sense of belonging and, ultimately, feels valued. Deaf awareness training is not just the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do.
Anna Park is Marketing Communications Co-ordinator at Signature
