Tim Scannell, Accessibility Consultant:

Enhancing Access for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by Focusing on Sign Language, Digital Accessibility, and Information Access for Everyone.

We are  Deaf sports fans  who pay full subscription prices for  @DiscoveryPlusUK ,  @TNTSports , and  @AmazonUK  — yet for over a year,  live football and rugby have been broadcast without subtitles or audio description. 📅  Saturday 1st November 2025  –  live rugby and football on TNT Sports (via Discovery+ / Amazon Prime Video) 📅  Saturday 8th November 2025  –  Spurs v Manchester United on TNT Sports 1 👉 Both broadcasts had  no subtitles and no audio description .🎥 I’ve

Accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing is changing fast. Older technologies such as TTY in the USA and Typetalk in the UK are no longer the main ways people communicate. These systems were once essential for bridging communication gaps, but now they are largely replaced by modern, more inclusive options. Old Minicom (1990s) The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the USA has stated that “the use of TTYs by the deaf and hard of hearing community has declined

Deaf people face delays in workplaces, healthcare, and public services because accessibility is treated as a “nice-to-have,” not a legal obligation. Access to Work delays: Many Deaf employees wait weeks or months for approval to book interpreters. Healthcare appointments: Booking an appointment often requires extra layers of bureaucracy, rather than allowing direct access to freelance interpreters. Corporate “minimum compliance”: Companies often focus on big profits and ta

I’ve been reflecting on a frustrating reality: even after decades of progress, Deaf people are still left behind in media and accessibility. Since before 2020, I’ve used tools like Google Glass with closed captions to keep up with TV programmes. In 2020, we saw small steps forward— Strictly Come Dancing raised awareness with sign language interpreters, and films like The Silent Child and CODA gained recognition and awards. Google searches for learning BSL even spiked by 3,