Deaf Awareness Week is an annual event run by the UK Council on Deafness, and this year it will be taking place between Monday 2nd and Friday 8th May 2022. The theme this year is deaf inclusion.
Deafness and hearing loss can mean different things to different people. People use various words and terms to describe how they view their own deafness or hearing loss. The aim of this campaign is to highlight the impact of hearing loss on everyday life and increase the visibility and inclusion of deaf people. There is also an emphasis on mental health, as well as a focus on pertinent issues of deafness that are overlooked in education, health settings and the workplace.
“In the UK, there are an estimated 12 million adults living with some form of hearing loss, and they all face different communication challenges that can lead to frustration and loneliness”
NICS Well
Deaf Awareness Week aims to promote the positive aspects of living with deafness, whilst also increasing the public understanding of the isolation that deaf people can experience. The week also has a focus on British Sign Language, to spread the form of communication to make society a more inclusive and accessible place.
You can find out more about the week on the UK Council on Deafness website.