Employers and public service providers should provide professional communication support if you need it.
You can get communication support for situations like:
- job interviews
- work meetings
- medical appointments
- university or college lectures
- meetings with bank managers, solicitors and government officials
If you’re deafblind, you can also get communication support to help you with your daily routine.
Types of communication support
There are different types of communication support you can book depending on your communication needs:
- sign language interpreters translate spoken conversations in real time
- speech-to-text reporters type out everything that’s being said so you can read it on a screen
- notetakers type a summary of what’s being said so you can read it on a screen
- lipspeakers repeat every word that’s said without using their voice, so you can lipread them easily
There are also specialist interpreters for people who are deafblind.
Paying for communication support
At work
By law, your employer must pay for communication support you need to work.
The government’s Access to Work scheme can help your employer to cover the cost of any communication support and specialist equipment that you need to do your job.
You can also apply to the Access to Work scheme if you need communication support while looking for work, for example, at job interviews.
Learn more about your rights at work.
In education
Schools or colleges are responsible for communication support until you finish further education, which includes A-levels and vocational courses.
If you’re in higher education, which includes undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, you’ll need to apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) to help cover the cost of any communication support you need.
When using public services
Public service providers, like GP practices, care homes, and government services, have a responsibility to pay for communication support if you need it.
Learn more about your rights when accessing health and social care services.
In other situations
If you need communication support in everyday life, there are disability benefits that could help cover the costs.
Learn more about Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Adult Disability Payment (ADP).
Choosing a registered communication professional
It’s important to always choose a registered professional so you can be confident that they have the relevant qualifications, knowledge and skills.
To check if a communication professional is registered, use the National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPD).
In Scotland, you can also check the Scottish Association of Sign Language Interpreters (SASLI).
If you’re an employer or service provider
You’re responsible for providing communication support for your employees or service users that need it.
Learn more about providing communication support.