Words by Cheyanne Bryan
Created by the UK Council on Deafness, Deaf Awareness Week brings visibility to the unique challenges the deaf community face and educates others on how to support them. During this week we want to support those championing diversity and making the world more inclusive, to ensure everyone has access to communication and equal opportunities.
So, let's join in, learn something new, and show our support for a more inclusive world during Deaf Awareness Week!
Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) is a national charity that supports over 12 million people with hearing loss, deafness and tinnitus. They work hard to fight discrimination, fund world-class research and make aid accessible. They have made historical achievements since their founding in 1911 including successfully lobbying the NHS to provide free hearing aids in 1948.
Read more about their research here.
Action Deafness (AD) is a deaf-led charity in the UK that delivers specialist services to people that are deaf, hard of hearing, or dead-blind. Their key ethos is to make sure that people who are deaf are able to access and live fulfilling lives. They offer many services including a thorough interpreting service with sign language and lipreading interpreters.
Discover how you can help here.
With a specific focus on deaf children, the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) provides support and resources to deaf children and their families. No matter the level or type of deafness NDCS gives their service users the support and push to not see their deafness as a hindrance to leading an independent life.
See more of what they offer here.
There are often barriers in place that make accessing health services difficult for the deaf community, however SignHealth tries to dismantle this. Focusing on wellbeing and mainstream health and social care services, such therapy and domestic violence support, SignHealth has made big improvements for deaf people needing to access basic care.
Check out their resources here.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Hearing Link Services. This is a charity that provides a wide range of personalised hearing support services and trains highly skilled hearing dogs. Learn more here.
Deaf Action. This is a charity that supports the diversity of deaf people, including deaf users of British Sign Language (BSL), and those who are deafened, deafblind or hard of hearing. Find out more here.
British Deaf Association. This charity campaigns for the rights of deaf people and provides community support. Support them here.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Good Health and Wellbeing.
