Lipspeaker UK

11/06/2026

Disabled students, graduates, universities, support professionals, family members and allies; your voice matters.

The Government is currently consulting on proposed changes to Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA), including proposals relating to specialist assistive technology funding.

If you have experience of DSA, disability support in education, or assistive technology, now is the time to have your say.

Consultations help shape future policy, but only if people affected by those decisions take part.

Link to consultation in the comments.

The consultation closes at 11:59pm on 18 June 2026.

We encourage our community to read the proposals, consider how they may affect disabled students, and submit a response with their views.

Every response counts.

For more information, visit the Department for Education consultation and explore the resources being shared by organisations across the disability and assistive technology sectors.

10/06/2026

When people think about communication support, a construction site probably isn't the first place that comes to mind.

But accessibility matters wherever people are learning, training and developing their careers.

These photos were taken during a client training session on a construction site. They are a great reminder of the wide range of environments where communication support can make a difference.

From workplace inductions and health and safety training to professional qualifications and career development, reasonable adjustments help ensure deaf people can access the same opportunities as everyone else.

Accessibility is not just about doing the job. It is also about having equal access to training, progression and new opportunities.

📷 Photos shared with the full consent of the client.

Alt: Three photographs from a construction site training session. Participants wearing high visibility clothing, safety helmets and safety harnesses take part in practical working at height training on and around scaffolding. One image shows trainees on a scaffold platform, another shows a trainer delivering instructions to the group, and the third shows a trainee descending a ladder as part of the exercise. The images demonstrate accessible professional training taking place in a real workplace environment.

09/06/2026

Every event has its frequently asked questions.

Ours usually involve communication support, funding, university, spare pens, and occasionally tracking down Lesley.

Take a look through some of the questions we hear most often when we're out and about at events.

Did we miss one?

Alt text: A carousel of Frequently Asked Questions about Lipspeaker UK. The slides answer common questions about BSL Interpreters, Access to Work support, Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) for university students, UK-wide coverage, and why the organisation is often able to help with urgent or last minute communication support requests. The carousel ends with two light-hearted event FAQs: whether visitors can have another pen, and the popular question, "Where is Lesley?", featuring a humorous explanation that she spoke to one person and now seems to know everyone in the building. The design uses Lipspeaker UK's red and white branding with photographs representing communication support, education, travel, events, and team members.

08/06/2026

Can you spot the travelling around themed phrases in this month's lipreading challenge?

This challenge focuses on directional language; the sort of phrases you might hear when asking for directions, travelling on public transport, or finding your way somewhere new.

The challenge this month highlights a common lipreading difficulty: multiple small words spoken quickly together.

How many did you get right? Let us know in the comments.

*This lipreading challenge is a simplified educational example designed to highlight specific lipreading skills. It does not reflect the full complexity of everyday lipreading. Not all deaf people lipread, not all deaf people sign, and not all deaf people use hearing technology. Communication preferences and access needs vary from person to person.

Video Description: Six short phrases lipspoken by a woman with short blonde hair against a blue background. She is lipspeaking travel and direction related phrases. The challenge highlights the difficulty of lipreading multiple small words spoken quickly.

05/06/2026

Cool and the gang? Maybe. The committed gang? Definitely. 😄

A quick catch up with part of the Lipspeaker UK team this week as we continue planning for the months ahead.

Whether we're preparing for events like Norfolk Deaf Festival, developing new training opportunities, or finding ways to improve our services, regular conversations like these help keep us connected and moving in the same direction.

The best ideas often come from simply taking the time to check in, share updates, and have a laugh together along the way.

We're looking forward to a busy summer ahead.

Image description: Screenshot of a virtual team meeting with five members of the Lipspeaker UK team and a communication support professional, smiling at their webcams during an online catch up.

03/06/2026

POV: You use a Lipspeaker at work for the first time.

For many deaf people who use spoken English and lipreading, communication support can make a huge difference to the working day.

A Lipspeaker is a trained communication professional who repeats speech clearly and naturally, using techniques designed to make lipreading easier.

The result?

• Less listening fatigue
• Better access to information
• More confidence in meetings
• Stronger workplace relationships
• More energy left at the end of the day

Not all deaf people use BSL. Not all deaf people lipread. Not all deaf people use hearing technology.

Different people need different communication support.

Could a Lipspeaker make your workday easier?

Visit our website to find out more: Lipspeaker.co.uk.



Video description: A reel showing a workplace meeting scene with text overlay explaining the benefits of using a Lipspeaker at work for the first time. The reel highlights reduced fatigue, improved access to information, increased confidence, better workplace relationships and having more energy at the end of the day. The final screen asks whether a Lipspeaker could make the viewer’s workday easier and directs them to learn more.

02/06/2026

Something exciting is coming this autumn…

We are busy behind the scenes planning the next LiteBites CPD series for Language Service Professionals:

Maternity in Practice

This new series will explore communication support within maternity services, bringing together professional knowledge, lived experience, and practical insights to help you feel more confident supporting deaf parents and families.

We’re aiming to launch at the end of September and can’t wait to share more details soon.

If you’d like to be the first to hear when booking opens, join our interest list today.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1oLjvNnMz2dfHN3JM25b3C0H5hVSwFaRQ6v_MgP6rOmk/viewform?edit_requested=true

Alt: Promotional graphic for the LiteBites CPD Series. A pregnant person rests their hands on their baby bump. Text reads: “Coming This Autumn. Maternity in Practice. For Language Service Professionals. Register Your Interest.”

01/06/2026

Could you be part of the team behind a major TV drama?

The production team behind *Code of Silence* is recruiting for Series 2 and is welcoming applications from deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people across all departments, including trainee positions.

Whether you're already working in television or looking for a trainee opportunity to start your career, this could be your chance to get involved.

An Access Coordinator will be part of the production team to help ensure access requirements are met throughout the project.

📍 Mill Hill & Hertfordshire
📅 July to October 2026

To apply, send your CV and the department you'd like to work in to:

[email protected]

Know someone who might be interested? Share this post with them.

Alt: Red graphic with white text reading: "Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent? Production crew opportunities for Code of Silence." Lipspeaker UK logo appears at the top of the graphic, with the website address and social media icons at the bottom.

01/06/2026

Happy Pride Month. 🌈

We are proud to celebrate the diversity that makes our communities stronger and richer.

Wishing everyone celebrating a happy and positive Pride Month.

Alt: Pride Month graphic featuring the Lipspeaker UK logo, a Progress Pride flag, and the words “Happy Pride Month” on a light grey background with rainbow coloured bands along the bottom.

29/05/2026

September might still feel far away but many future university students are already accepting offers, applying for DSA, arranging accommodation, and starting to think about what university life will actually look like.

For deaf students, that transition can come with extra layers that are not always talked about enough.

Fast moving lectures. Group discussions. Communication fatigue. Noisy social environments. Accessibility barriers. Trying to figure out support systems while also preparing for a huge life change.

We’ve created a new article exploring some of the real experiences deaf students may face at university and practical ways to prepare for them.

Whether you are a BSL user, lipreader, use hearing technology, captions, or a mix of communication methods, we hope this helps students feel more prepared.

Read here 👇

Starting university as a deaf student can feel overwhelming. Explore practical advice on DSA, accessibility and communication support.