Deaf awareness

12 million adults in the UK are deaf or have hearing loss. We can all play our part to be more deaf aware, both at work and in daily life.

If you are deaf or have hearing loss, we have some tips you can use to help people better understand your communication needs.

Becoming deaf aware

Communication tips

Invite everyone to the conversation! These communication tips are shared from people with lived experience.

Being more deaf aware at work

As an employer, colleague or friend, help to make your workplace more accessible with these tips and training opportunities.

Learn British Sign Language

There are thousands of people in the UK who use British Sign Language (BSL) as their first language – why not have a go?

Fundraise and raise awareness

Help change public perceptions and misconceptions around deafness and hearing loss by raising awareness and supporting RNID.

Make your venue accessible

If you run an in-person business, like a shop, restaurant or gym, we have some ways you can make your site accessible to people who are deaf or have hearing loss.

Being deaf aware this festive season

A lot of us spend more time with families and friends over the festive season. Help everyone feel welcome by being more deaf aware.

Five ways to be deaf aware this Christmas

We asked our supporters for their top tips of how family and friends can make communication easier at Christmas.

Learn some festive fingerspelling and signing!

We’ve put together some British Sign Language (BSL) fingerspelling challenges and signed phrases for you to learn this Christmas.

Communication tools for people with hearing loss

If hearing loss is new to you then these tips are designed to make people aware and your preferred communication style.

Tips for people with hearing loss

Here are some ways you can get hearing people onboard with your communication needs and style.

Create a communication card

Make and download your own communication card to share your communication needs with hearing people.

Help us fight the stigma

“I really hope there’s a time when we relate to each other by our similarities rather than our differences” – Rachel. £50 could help provide a workplace assessment for someone with hearing loss. Can you help us fight the stigma?

Donate to RNID

Stay informed

One of the best ways to stay inclusive is to stay informed of what’s going on in the world for deaf people and those with hearing loss. Sign up to our newsletter for news and stories on developments in politics and campaigning, research and support opportunities.