Support for deaf people

Citizens Advice North Somerset

We have closed our face to face service but you can still get advice from Citizens Advice North Somerset:

• Online - www.citizensadvice.org.uk
• Phone - Text relay - 03444 111445 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) - available for people with hearing loss and/or speech impairment to access the phone system
• Email - advice@nscab.org.uk (please allow 5 working days for response)

Health access

The deaf health charity, SignHealth and online interpreting company InterpreterNow, have together launched ‘BSLHealthAccess’ which enables the provision of immediate, on demand access to British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters for communication with Deaf people in health settings free of charge during the current Coronavirus situation.

Users can download an app onto their mobile phone or computer so that they can contact a GP, hospital or care home in BSL.

There is a video about BSL Health available here.

Clear masks

Masks are becoming available with a clear screen to aid lip reading. We are aware of two products, both are suitable for day to day communication but are not for use in medical settings:

• https://shop.irishdeaf.com/clear-face-mask  - a transparent face mask (€99 for a pack of 24)
• https://www.just-smile.uk  - this is a fabric mask with a clear panel (£5 each)

Action on Hearing Loss have designed ‘exemption cards’ for people with a hearing loss and for people communicating with someone who has a hearing loss. Also a clear guide to face covering regulations.

Domestic abuse - North Somerset

Next Link now provides domestic abuse support in North Somerset.

They can be contacted via:

0800 4700 280

Text Relay is also available for callers who are deaf or hearing impaired. If using a textphone, prefix the helpline number by 18001.

Domestic abuse 

Universal Credit