Lipspeaker UK

10/11/2026

It’s Captioning Awareness Week! (9–15 November 2026)

Captions play an important role in making arts and culture accessible to deaf and hard of hearing audiences.

From theatre performances and comedy shows to museum tours and live events, captioning allows more people to follow, engage with and enjoy what’s happening.

Accessibility should be part of planning an event from the outset, rather than something considered afterwards.

This week, we’re supporting Captioning Awareness Week, an annual campaign led by Stagetext , a deaf-led charity working to improve access to arts and culture.

It’s a great opportunity to recognise the importance of captioning and the work being done to make arts and cultural experiences more accessible.

Find out more at www.stagetext.org

06/11/2026

When booking a communication professional, how do you know they meet the standards expected of them?

Professional registers, such as the National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPD), provide an important level of reassurance.

Registered professionals must meet recognised standards, follow a code of conduct and maintain their professional development. There is also a formal complaints process if concerns arise.

For deaf people using communication support in healthcare, education, employment or legal settings, these safeguards matter.

You can check whether a communication professional is registered at www.nrcpd.org.uk.

05/11/2026

A familiar sight for our lipspeakers! 👮

We’ve been working with Hampshire Constabulary for many years, providing communication support for deaf people in police settings.

It’s lovely to have such a longstanding working relationship, and it looks like someone has even made a little police friend along the way!

We couldn’t resist sharing this rather cute crocheted police officer, complete with high-vis jacket!

03/11/2026

We often hear people talk about treating everyone equally, but treating everyone the same doesn't always mean treating them fairly.

Think about a workplace meeting. Everyone has been invited, everyone has received the agenda and everyone has the opportunity to contribute. On the surface, that seems fair enough.

If someone is deaf and can't follow what's being said, are they really being given the same opportunity as everyone else?

This is where the difference between equality and equity becomes important.

Equality is about having the same rights and opportunities, while equity recognises that people don't all face the same barriers.

For some deaf people, this might mean having access to professional communication support. For others, it could involve providing written information in advance, enabling live captions, ensuring good lighting for lipreading or making sure only one person speaks at a time during meetings.

These adjustments might seem small, but they can make a significant difference between simply being present and being able to participate fully.

It isn't special treatment. It's about making sure that opportunities which are available to everyone are genuinely accessible to everyone.

30/10/2026

Halloween is the one time of year when hiding behind a mask, turning down the lights and filling a room with fog is all part of the fun 🎃

Deaf people love Halloween too but it can throw us some challenges. Imagine trying to lipread someone dressed as a zombie, or follow a BSL conversation when the room is full of smoke.

Not quite so much fun.

We love a bit of Halloween creativity, but it's worth remembering that some of the things we do to create a spooky atmosphere can also make communication more difficult for deaf people.

And no, the answer isn't to expect someone to take themselves off to a quieter corner🤦‍♀️

Our 5 top tips explore some of these Halloween hazards and the simple things we can do to make sure everyone gets to enjoy the occasion.

Happy Halloween from Lipspeaker UK!

29/10/2026

Have YOU got what it takes to be the next Star Baker?

Love Productions are looking for a new batch of bakers for the next series of The Great British Bake Off and they want to hear from you!

If you or someone you know is a talented home baker, then apply now:

www.applyforbakeoff.co.uk
[email protected]
0117 456 8530

Closing date for applications is 1pm on Friday 11th December 2026.”

We’re looking for the next batch of bakers for the 18th series of The Great British Bake Off.

27/10/2026

Our teaching team are busy preparing for our next Deaf Awareness Training session!

One of the things we value about our training is that it is delivered by deaf trainers, bringing their own experiences and perspectives into the conversation.

Deaf awareness is about more than knowing a few communication tips. It's about understanding different experiences of deafness, challenging assumptions and recognising how small changes can make everyday communication more accessible.

At Lipspeaker UK, we provide Deaf Awareness Training for organisations and teams looking to build their knowledge and confidence.

We've also put together a free Deaf Awareness Basics guide, which you can download from our website alongside more information about our training.

Neil Mason Deaf Awareness Trainer (in BSL) Lesley Weatherson Deaf Awareness Trainer (in English) Want to Know the Answers to some of Those Difficult Questions? Lipspeaker UK offers deaf awareness training for businesses and government departments to improve their knowledge and give insight into work...

26/10/2026

We hope everyone stayed safe and well over the weekend, particularly with the wild weather we've had!

As we start another week, just a little reminder that our team is here if you have any questions about our services, bookings or upcoming training.

You can get in touch at:

📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.lipspeaker.co.uk

Wishing everyone a good week ahead!

22/10/2026

The finalists for the Deaf Sports Personality of the Year have been announced, and now it's time to get voting!

The awards celebrate the achievements of deaf athletes and their contributions to sport, recognising talent, dedication and sporting success across a range of disciplines.

Recognition matters. Deaf athletes deserve the same visibility and celebration as their hearing counterparts, and these awards provide an important opportunity to shine a spotlight on their achievements.

Take a look at this year's shortlisted athletes and cast your vote!

20/10/2026

The invisible work of having an invisible disability.

Living with an invisible disability can involve more than managing the disability itself. Sometimes, it means managing other people's reactions to it.

Explaining why you need an adjustment. Reassuring someone who feels awkward. Answering questions about your health that you would rather keep private. Feeling you need to prove that your needs are genuine.

These interactions might seem small individually, but the effort can add up.

During Invisible Disabilities Week, perhaps we should think about something that receives less attention.

How much responsibility do we place on disabled people to make everyone else feel comfortable?

Awareness isn't just about recognising that a disability may not be visible. It's also about recognising when our own expectations create additional work for someone else.