Explore local resources and support for the hard of hearing

International Week of Deaf People, which runs from Monday 23 to Sunday 29 September, aims to raise awareness about the deaf community and advocate for equal access to communication and services for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Approximately 11 million people in the UK are deaf or have hearing loss. As an invisible disability, it often goes unnoticed, making it easier for those living with hearing loss to be ignored or forgotten. It is important to recognise the signs of deafness in ourselves, in our friends and family, and to understand that support is available if we need it.

Find out more about our Disability Champion, Councillor Margaret Dane's priorities for supporting the deaf community.

International Week of Deaf People 2024, themed ‘Sign up for Sign Language Rights’, promotes the rights of deaf people and highlights the available resources and information to not only help improve their daily lives and wellbeing, but to equip all people with the knowledge necessary to create more inclusive communities for everyone. As part of this, we worked with founder of AMB Deaf Accessibility, Feras Al-Moubayed, to learn some common signs. Watch his video below!

Local support for the hard of hearing

If you or someone you know are aware that they “can’t hear as well as they used to”, we recommend you get in touch with our Sensory Team for an assessment. Our qualified workers partner with social workers in providing assessments to residents with deafness. This also includes the provision of specialist equipment and providing guidance to service providers and Social Care teams.

For more details, contact us via the phone on 020 8891 7971, via SMS on 07860 034792 or via email on sensoryservicesduty@richmond.gov.uk.

If you are a British Sign Language user, you can use SignLive to contact an online professional BSL interpreter from your own device. Find out more about SignLive.

RAD (Royal Association for Deaf People) provide a range of support. Find out more about Royal Association for Deaf people.

NHS support to those affected by hearing loss and deafness. Find out more about NHS hearing loss support.

Support for young people aged 0 to 25 with sensory loss

In Richmond upon Thames, we offer education and audiology support to children and young people aged 0 to 25 affected by hearing, vision or multi-sensory losses.

Our ESSI team aims to give all children and young people with sensory impairment every chance to achieve their full potential and to minimise the educational, social and emotional impacts of their sensory impairment. Through partnering with families, schools and settings, and health services, the team’s qualified specialist teachers promote and provide independence and participation, a raised awareness of sensory issues, effective assessments and interventions, appropriate specialist resources and professional information and advice.

Initial assessment and advice are provided free of charge to all settings. Ongoing advice and support for local authority schools is provided without charge. Find out more about Educational Service for Sensory Impairment (ESSI).

The Hounslow and Richmond Community Health Centre aims to provide prompt specialist intervention, multi professional and educational support for children and young people.

The team provides hearing screening for newborn babies and school entry level children, patient focused rehabilitation, aetiological investigation, and family friendly support.

To improve and develop their services, the team has established two local children’s hearing services working groups, actively led by parents, involving multi-professional and voluntary agencies.

Find out more about NHS audiology support for children.