Deaf Cityscape: Community experiences of access and inclusion in Nottingham City
Project lead: Dominic Thompson
The Deaf Cityscape project explored how Deaf people experience the city of Nottingham, focusing on access, navigation, and welcomingness. The project aimed to understand where the city does well in supporting Deaf people and where there are still barriers, as well as to make recommendations for shop and service staff on making improvements. Surveys and interviews captured the experiences of a diverse range of Deaf participants across the city.
A few places were praised for their deaf awareness and welcoming environments, notably the Nottinghamshire Deaf Society, Deaf-focused social events, and some city‑centre cafes. However, respondents more often highlighted places with poor access, particularly the City Council, various healthcare settings, transport hubs, and formal places such as banks and solicitors. Frequently, issues arose due to complex language, lack of interpreters, lack of communication tools, poor signage, or reliance on audio announcements. Many respondents also described feeling unwelcome due to staff anxiety, lack of Deaf Awareness, or dismissive attitudes.
The project has produced a detailed series of recommendations driven by the experiences of the Deaf community. These emphasise the need for better Deaf Awareness training, basic BSL skills for staff, clearer visual information, improved communication options, and more reliable access to interpreters. Respondents also stressed the importance of visibility and representation, expressing a desire to be recognised as capable members of society. These recommendations will be used to seek changes from service providers, and to create advice for shop and service staff, all of which will improve Deaf people's experiences of their city.
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