Every year, Deaf Awareness Week raises awareness for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community in the UK. In 2025, it runs from 5 to 11 May, with the theme: "Beyond Silence." This message challenges us to move beyond surface-level inclusion and to truly engage and uplift Deaf voices in meaningful ways.
But what exactly is Deaf Awareness Week? Why does it matter, and how can we be part of it?
Why Deaf Awareness Matters
In the UK, more than 12 million people are deaf or have hearing loss. That’s approximately 1 in 5 adults. Despite this, hearing loss remains one of the most misunderstood and under-supported disabilities in public life.
Being Deaf isn’t simply a medical condition; it’s an experience tied to language, identity, and culture. Yet Deaf individuals often face daily challenges such as:
- Being excluded from conversations
- A lack of subtitles or sign language interpreters
- Poor Deaf awareness in healthcare and education
- Assumptions and stigma about what it means to be Deaf or hard of hearing
These challenges are social and structural, and they can be changed starting with awareness.
"Beyond Silence": The Theme for 2025
This year’s theme, “Beyond Silence,” is a call to action. It reminds us that Deaf people are not defined by silence, they have vibrant cultures, complex identities, and powerful voices.
To go beyond silence means:
- Moving past tokenism to create real inclusion
- Listening to what Deaf people need, not assuming
- Valuing BSL (British Sign Language) as a legitimate, rich, and expressive language
- Championing Deaf leadership in education, politics, and the arts
- Supporting rights to communication access in every part of life
Deaf Awareness at King’s College London
Here at King’s, we are lucky to be part of a diverse community, and Deaf Awareness Week offers a powerful opportunity to learn and grow together.
King’s offers multiple ways to begin learning or deepening your BSL skills:
Whether you’re curious about learning BSL for personal growth or as part of a professional goal (such as teaching, medicine, or public service), these resources are a brilliant place to start.
Build Inclusive Habits
You don’t need to be fluent in BSL to be Deaf aware. Here are some simple, impactful steps you can take every day:
- Always face someone when speaking
- Don’t cover your mouth when talking
- Use subtitles and captions where available
- Don’t shout, speak clearly and at a normal pace
- Be patient and never say “it doesn’t matter” if asked to repeat yourself
- Learn the basics of fingerspelling or key BSL signs
If you’ve been wanting to take that first step in learning BSL, now’s your moment. If you’ve been curious about Deaf culture, now’s your chance to explore. If you’ve never thought about the daily challenges faced by Deaf students, now’s the time to learn and be part of the change. Your awareness can be someone else’s access.