campaigns

Influencing decision-makers

Hearing Concern strives to influence the decision-makers.

Our working groups are made up of volunteers who are concerned individuals or experts in their field. All our volunteers feel strongly about different issues affecting deaf and hard of hearing people and donate their time, energy and skills in order to improve the quality of life for 8.3 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK.

Find out more about our current campaigns:

Telecommunications

Have you ever broken down on the motorway and needed to use the S.O.S. telephone? Hearing Concern's Telecommunications working group was instrumental in ensuring that all these telephones are fitted with inductive couplers ('T' switches).

Broadcasting

The Broadcasting working group lobbies and negotiates with the major broadcasters, the subtitle providers, the industry watchdog, Ofcom, and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, to try and ensure that the needs of deaf and hard of hearing people are taken fully into account.

Lipreading

Our focus is on our current campaign for free lipreading classes and supporting the Association for Teachers of Lipreading to Adults (ATLA) on this campaign.

Lipspeaking

Lipspeaking is a valuable communication skill that enables many hard of hearing people to access services. It acts as a translation medium so that people can lipread a conversation, conference or talk.

Loop systems in public places

Hearing Concern's environmental aids working group has produced 'A Guide to the Installation and Use of Audio Frequency Inductive Loop Systems (AFILS)'. Deaf and hard of hearing people have contacted Hearing Concern about service providers with loop systems: either they do not work or the staff are unable to operate them.