Leeds Deafblind Hub

Community and Social

Room to Join In: A Venue Guide for Deafblind-Friendly Meetups in Leeds

A coffee morning can be welcoming in spirit and unusable in practice. This venue guide sets out the decisions that matter when organising a meetup for deafblind people in Leeds: lighting, acoustics, tactile wayfinding, interpreter booking, a genuine quiet space and clear joining instructions. It ends with a short checklist organisers can take to any café, community hall or charity room.

Nov 8, 2026

Health Access

Readable by Right: Why Leeds Health Appointments Need Accessible Formats as Standard

A standard-print letter or an automated phone reminder can quietly erase an appointment for a deafblind patient in Leeds. This article explains what the Accessible Information Standard requires, where the routine breaks down between GP practices and hospitals, and the low-cost fixes that make accessible formats the default rather than a favour. It closes with a checklist patients can use when registering an access need.

Nov 8, 2026

Retail Accessibility

After the Quiet Hour: What Deafblind Shoppers Still Need in Leeds Stores

Quiet hours reduce some sensory pressure, but they do not make a supermarket accessible. This practical audit looks at lighting, layout, tactile signage and staff communication in Leeds stores, with a checklist shoppers can use and clear steps for managers.

Nov 8, 2026

Transport and Accessibility

Ramps Are Not the Whole Story: A Deafblind Accessibility Pledge for Leeds

Leeds accessibility debates often stop at step-free access, leaving deafblind residents without the information, wayfinding and communication they need. This manifesto sets out five commitments for venues, businesses and the council, and invites readers to support a local pledge.

Nov 8, 2026

Transport and Accessibility

Beyond the Sticker: What ‘Deafblind Friendly’ Should Mean in Leeds

An editorial assessment of venues in Leeds that claim to be accessible, testing those claims against real deafblind needs such as tactile menus, guiding assistance and trained staff. It proposes a simple Leeds Deafblind Hub checklist and invites readers to nominate businesses for praise or a polite rethink.

Nov 8, 2026

Health Access

A Calm Route Through Hospital: Deafblind Access at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s

A practical guide for deafblind patients attending Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s University Hospital, from requesting tactile BSL interpreting to finding departments and raising concerns. It sets out realistic workarounds where hospital accessibility still falls short.

Nov 8, 2026

Assistive Technology

Six Pieces of Kit That Genuinely Earn Their Place in Leeds Deafblind Households

Not a catalogue and not a sponsored round-up: this is the technology that people with combined sight and hearing loss in Leeds tell us they actually use, including the price tags, the repair headaches and the workarounds. Each entry is anchored in a local experience, and we finish with where to get a trial, advice and funding in the city.

Nov 7, 2026

Transport and Accessibility

What Deafblind Passengers Need Written Into West Yorkshire's Bus Franchise

West Yorkshire's move to a franchised bus network is the biggest change to local public transport in a generation — and the detail of the contracts will decide whether deafblind passengers gain or lose. We examine the accessibility commitments so far, explain how franchising differs from the present system, and set out what we are asking of the Mayor's office and operators.

Nov 7, 2026