Awareness days, weeks and months are a great way to start conversations, share important messages and bring people together. But too often, deaf and deafblind people can be left out because information is not available in British Sign Language (BSL).
The good news is that making your awareness campaigns more accessible does not have to be complicated. A few simple changes can make a big difference and help more people understand, engage with and benefit from your work.
Why BSL Accessibility Matters
For many deaf people, BSL is their first or preferred language. Written English may not always be the easiest way to access information, especially when messages are complex or full of jargon.
When organisations include BSL in their campaigns, they:
- Reach more people
- Show they value inclusion
- Build trust with deaf communities
- Make important information easier to understand
- Create opportunities for everyone to take part
Most importantly, accessibility helps people feel seen, valued and included.
Start Thinking About Accessibility Early
The best time to think about accessibility is at the beginning of the planning process, not just before a campaign launches.
When planning an awareness date, ask yourself:
- Will deaf people be able to access this information?
- Are we creating barriers without realising it?
- Do we need BSL translation?
- Have we included accessibility in our budget?
Making accessibility part of your planning from day one saves time and creates a better experience for everyone.
Simple Ways to Make Awareness Campaigns More Accessible
Use BSL Videos
A short BSL video can often be more effective than a long document.
Consider creating BSL videos for:
- Key campaign messages
- Event invitations
- Important announcements
- Frequently asked questions
- Calls to action
Even a one-minute video can make information much more accessible.
Always Add Captions
Captions benefit many people, including deaf and deafblind people, people with hearing loss and those watching videos without sound.
Make sure captions are:
- Accurate
- Clear to read with block font and contrast background
- Checked before publishing
Make Events Inclusive
If you are running an event, webinar or workshop:
- Provide qualified BSL interpreters and deafblind interpreters
- Share information in advance
- Allow people to request communication support
- Ensure presentations are clear and visual
- Include BSL interpretation in recordings
These simple adjustments can help everyone take part with confidence.
Awareness Dates to Consider
Every awareness campaign should be accessible, but some key dates include:
- Deaf Awareness Week
- Sign Language Week
- Mental Health Awareness Week
- Disability History Month
- Learning Disability Week
- Pride Month
- Black History Month
- Carers Week
- Volunteers’ Week
- International Women’s Day
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities
These campaigns are all about inclusion, so it is important that deaf communities can fully participate.
Include Lived Experience
One of the best ways to improve accessibility is to involve deaf people in your planning.
Ask for feedback. Work with deaf ambassadors, staff members, volunteers or community groups. Their lived experience can help you create campaigns that are genuinely inclusive rather than making assumptions about what people need.
The phrase “Nothing about us without us” is a good reminder that the people affected by a campaign should have a voice in shaping it.
A Quick Accessibility Check
Before launching your next awareness campaign, ask:
- Do we have BSL content?
- Are all videos captioned?
- Is our language clear and easy to understand?
- Have deaf people helped shape the campaign?
- Can deaf people fully participate in our events?
If you can answer yes to these questions, you are already making a positive difference.
Final Thoughts
Accessibility is not about doing something extra. It is about making sure everyone has the same opportunity to access information and take part.
By including British Sign Language in awareness campaigns, organisations can connect with more people, strengthen relationships with deaf communities and create campaigns that genuinely leave no one behind.
When accessibility is built in from the start, awareness becomes understanding and understanding leads to inclusion.
Get in touch to find out how we can help make your awareness campaigns more inclusive, accessible and impactful for deaf audiences.
