RNID partners with Motability Foundation to study public transport accessibility for deaf people
RNID, the national charity for people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus, has launched a major new research project – funded by the Motability Foundation – aimed at understanding the barriers faced by people from these communities when using public transport.
The 18-month study will gather in-depth insights from people across the UK who are deaf or have hearing loss with the aim of developing new ideas and technology to improve accessibility in travel.
To help inform the work, RNID will conduct a national survey and use focus groups to understand real-life travel experiences. The project will be shaped by an advisory board made up of people with lived experience, ensuring the voices of people who are deaf or have hearing loss are at the heart of the research.
Victoria Boelman, Director of Insight and Policy at RNID, said: “Public transport plays a crucial role in enabling independence, for getting to school or work, attending important health appointments, or meeting up with family and friends.
“It should be accessible to everyone – but right now, that’s not the reality for many people who are deaf or have hearing loss. Everyday journeys can be difficult and extremely stressful.
“Inaccessible audio announcements, limited deaf awareness among transport staff, and a lack of British Sign Language (BSL) resources are just some of the challenges that can make travel stressful, disempowering, or unsafe.
“This research will give us the robust evidence we need to push for real, lasting improvements. We’ll use the findings to work with transport providers, policymakers and tech companies to help create a more inclusive future.”
RNID recently collaborated with Sonos, to help the company develop a first-of-its-kind speech enhancement feature for home cinema users.
