Why Your Workplace Should Support Deaf Awareness Week

Deaf Awareness Week is a national celebration of communication, inclusion and understanding that takes place each year in the first full week of May. For employers, it's also an opportunity to improve how people connect at work - not just for one week, but long term.

With more than 18 million people living with hearing loss in the UK, many workplaces already include employees who face daily communication barriers - often without disclosing them. Engaging with Deaf Awareness Week helps organisations create more open conversations, reduce those barriers, and turn inclusion into action.

Why Deaf Awareness at Work Matters:

Hearing loss is often invisible - but its impact isn't

Many employees don't feel comfortable disclosing hearing loss, which means difficulties in various workplace situations can go unnoticed. Support Deaf Awareness Week helps normalise conversations about communication needs and signals that your workplace welcomes openness.

Better communication benefits the whole business

Simple, inclusive communication habits such as clearer speech, better meeting habits, thoughtful use of technology - can all improve understanding for everyone in the business, not just those with hearing loss.

Inclusion supports wellbeing, retention and progression

When employees feel understood and supported, they're more likely to stay, participate confidently and progress. Inclusive workplaces create a stronger, healthier environment.

It strengthens your brand as an employer

Demonstrating meaningful inclusion shows current and future employees that accessibility isn't just a statement - it's part of how you work.

How to Support Deaf Awareness Week - and make it meaningful

You don't need a huge budget or dedicated DEI team - small, practical actions can make a real difference.

Encourage picking up new everyday habits such as:

Always facing the person you're speaking to
Ensuring good lighting in meetings
Speaking clearly (not loudly)
Avoiding covering your mouth or turning away
Use captions wherever possible

These adjustments require minimal effort, but instantly improve accessibility.

Host a short awareness session

A lunchtime talk, team briefing or webinar can prompt reflection on communication styles and spark meaningful discussion that can benefit the whole team.

Review recruitment and HR processes

Invite candidates to share communication needs, offer alternative contact methods, and ensure interviews are accessible.

Audit your environments

Use the week to spend time finding easy improvements in meetings rooms, open-plan offices and hybrid setups - from reducing background noise to moving employees with hearing loss away from noisy machinery, there's lots that can be done!

Consider assistive technology

For many employees, the right tools make the biggest difference - enabling confident participation rather than workarounds.

Turn Awareness Into Action With Assistive Technology

Deaf Awareness Week is about more than awareness, it's about enabling inclusion every day.

Wireless microphones and hearing aid compatible solutions can significantly improve access in:

Meetings and group discussions
Training sessions and briefings
Hybrid and remote meetings
Noisy or echoey workplaces
One-to-one conversations in busy environments

Solutions such as the Phonak Roger range transmit clear speech directly to hearing aids or receivers, reducing the impact of distance and background noise. For many employees, this isn't a 'nice to have', it's transformative for confidence, engagement and performance.

Make Deaf Awareness Week Count

Whether you start small or make Deaf Awareness Week a key moment in your calendar, every step helps create a more accessible, connected workplace.

For more ideas, our Workplace Inclusion Guide helps employers build on awareness with practical, long-term action, from information on funding and support, to guidance on inclusive meeting and communication practices. Visit our workplace inclusion page for more information.