Access to Employment

Our research shows that we face barriers in all areas of our lives such as education, housing and employment. And this has an impact on our health, wellbeing and life chances. We know we must work towards equity in all areas of our life. But this is a big task, so where do we start?

Based on our research and feedback from our advisory group, we decided to start with a focus on employment. We created a survey to find out more about your experiences in the workplace and when trying to get a job. Now, we are analysing the results of the survey so we can share what we learnt with you and how we’re going to use this in 2025. 

If you aren’t already signed up to our mailing list, join today to make sure you don’t miss the results: deaftogether.org.uk/joinus/

Together, we can make sure deaf people can get the information and support they need to access employment, and thrive at work.

Your stories

Chelsea

Access to Work itself is not accessible. It is very English based. We can’t access it in BSL and explain our needs in our first language. Emails are delayed.

As deaf staff there is an extra burden of administration and additional work to apply to and claim access to work.

Leanne

At the job centre they sit you in front of phones and tell you to apply. I can’t do that. They told me to bring my mum to the job centre to call jobs for me!

It is infantalising! I want for deaf people to live independently and for an interpreter to be provided.

Jess

When I was looking for a job, on my CV, I would put BSL user and deaf. But, I was never successful in getting an interview. I decided to take off BSL user and deaf.

Once I took it off, I started getting through to the interview stage. But after interviews I would never hear from them again