Deaf Awareness Week 2026: Right to understand — Together, we break barriers
This week, 4–10 May, is Deaf Awareness Week — and this year’s theme speaks directly to why groups like ours matter.
“Right to understand — Together, we break barriers” is the message from the UK Council on Deafness for 2026. It’s a call to action for everyone — not just those living with hearing loss, but families, colleagues, communities, and services that interact with them every day.
Around 18 million adults in the UK are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing. For many, the barriers aren’t just about sound — they’re about confidence, connection, and being able to participate fully in daily life. A missed conversation at the GP surgery. A family gathering that leaves you exhausted from concentration. The feeling that it’s easier to withdraw than to keep asking people to repeat themselves.
That’s exactly why the Guildford Hard of Hearing Support Group exists.
We bring people together — to share experiences, exchange practical tips, and simply to be understood by others who get it. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, have been managing hearing loss for years, or are supporting a family member, you’ll find a warm welcome here.
What does “Breaking Barriers” look like in practice?
The good news is that many barriers can be reduced with simple, practical changes. Here are a few that make a real difference:
• Face the person you’re speaking to — many of us rely on lip patterns and facial expressions
• Reduce background noise where possible — turn down the TV, step away from the crowd
• Don’t shout — speak clearly and at a natural pace
• Be patient — if something isn’t heard, rephrase rather than simply repeat
• Ask how someone prefers to communicate — everyone’s hearing loss is different
Assistive technology like hearing aids, loop systems and captioning apps are also making a real difference. And for those who use British Sign Language, greater visibility and provision of BSL services is something we continue to champion.
Walking for hearing loss charities — 17 May 2026
GHOHSG will be taking part in The Big Charity Fundraising Walk on 17 May, raising money for three charities supporting people with hearing loss: GHOHSG itself, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, and the National Deaf Children’s Society.
We’re also raising funds for Elmo — a Hearing Dog in training sponsored by GHOHSG through Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. Elmo will one day transform life for a deaf person living alone, alerting them to sounds they can’t hear. If you’d like to sponsor our walkers, we’d be enormously grateful.
Find out more or get involved
If you’re living with hearing loss in the Guildford area and looking for support, or if you’d simply like to know more about what we do, we’d love to hear from you.
• Website: www.guildfordhoh.org.uk
• Email: askghoh@hotmail.com
• Text: 07761 000549
Deaf Awareness Week is one week a year. But at GHOHSG, breaking barriers is something we work on every month.