Equipment for Accessibility: Enhancing Communication for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People
At Deaf Umbrella, we believe that accessibility is about people and technology working together. We provide expert British Sign Language support to ensure that Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users can participate fully in educational and workplace environments.
Through our collaboration with Connevans and Hearing Products International Ltd., we are able to bring cutting-edge assistive technology to enhance communication and accessibility for Deaf employees, students, and individuals alike.
This page serves as a resource to help employers, educational institutions, and Deaf or hard of hearing individuals understand the wide variety of equipment available to improve communication, support inclusion, and make environments more accessible. From advanced audio technology to simple communication aids, there are solutions out there that make all the difference.
The Power of Technology in Accessibility
Connevans
Connevans has been a trusted name in assistive technology for over 50 years, providing solutions that help Deaf and hard of hearing individuals navigate their world with ease. Whether you're an employer looking to improve your workplace accessibility, a college offering support for Deaf students, or a Deaf person seeking tools to enhance your day-to-day life, Connevans offers a wide range of products that can make communication smoother, more effective, and inclusive.
Personal FM Systems
Transmits clear audio to hearing aids or cochlear implants, amplifying speech without background noise.
How It Helps: Ideal for classrooms, meetings, and group activities, ensuring full engagement.
Who It Benefits: Deaf and hard of hearing employees and students, especially in noisy environments.
Loop Systems
Broadcasts sound directly to hearing aids with T-coils for clear hearing without interference.
How It Helps: Enhances speech intelligibility in lecture halls, classrooms, and meetings.
Who It Benefits: Useful in group settings like public events, school assemblies, and workplaces.
Visual Alert Systems
Uses flashing lights or vibrations to notify of sounds, like doorbells or fire alarms.
How It Helps: Increases safety by alerting Deaf and hard of hearing individuals to important sounds.
Who It Benefits: Essential for Deaf employees, students, and anyone needing auditory notifications.
School Soundfield Systems
Amplifies sound across a classroom for even hearing distribution.
How It Helps: Ensures all students hear clearly, reducing teacher voice strain.
Who It Benefits: Ideal for all students, particularly those with learning difficulties or hearing variations.
Assistive Telephone Equipment
Amplifiers and hearing aid-compatible headsets for clearer phone communication.
How It Helps: Enhances workplace communication for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
Who It Benefits: Suitable for both workplace and home settings.
Speech-to-Text and Captioning Systems
Captures speech and transcribes it into real-time text.
How It Helps: Makes conversations and presentations accessible, ensuring full participation.
Who It Benefits: Perfect for schools, workplaces, and public events requiring real-time communication.
Connevans is a leading provider of assistive technology designed to make environments more inclusive and accessible for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
By offering a wide range of high-quality products and providing expert advice and support, Connevans ensures that both employers and educational institutions can implement the best solutions for their specific needs.
Expert Support: Connevans works closely with employers, educators, and individuals to find the best equipment.
Comprehensive Solutions: From classroom sound systems to workplace aids, Connevans offers a range of products for a fully accessible environment.
Free Trials: UK schools can try Connevans' soundfield systems for free to experience the benefits.
Training and Guidance: Connevans provides on-site training to ensure effective use of the equipment.
Hearing Products International Ltd.
Hearing Products International Limited is the UK’s premium supplier of “own brand” hearing loops, induction loop systems, personal listeners, wireless television listeners, voice amplifiers, and home safety alert systems.
With over 33 years of experience, supplying equipment and support to Social Services/ Occupational Therapists/ Sensory Teams/ Technical Officers/ Technicians and installers across the UK and overseas, offering quality sound and attractive design at affordable prices.
MiniTech-T Personal Listener
This portable personal listener that can be used with either a headset or neck loop and gives excellent sound amplification in meetings, out and about or television listening at home, removing the microphone will also activate the telecoil system which will enable the use of loop systems in multiple establishments.
RadioLink 2.4G 2in1 TV & Personal Listener
Echo® Radiolink 2.4G is a wireless TV and personal listener in one device. No need to purchase separate equipment to hear TV and conversation. Our new Echo Radiolink 2.4G has it all. Hear TV at home or in any social environment.
Echo® Bone Conduction Headphones (wired)
Echo® Bone conduction headphones are a different type of headphones where the sound waves are transmitted using vibration through skull bone to your inner ear. In this case your ear canal can be free which is especially important for people with hearing impairment, hearing loss or hearing disability.
EchoAlert® Wireless Home Alert System (Smoke Alarm System)
Our Brand NEW EchoAlert® is a full wireless alerting system with the connection range up to 100 metres (up to 50 meters range for Bell Push) to help keep your home safe. It discovers smoke and smouldering fire at an early stage and sends radio signal direct to powerful vibrating pager which can be placed under the pillow or on the bed table during the nighttime or attached to the belt clip during the daytime.
Echo® PowerWake V2 Vibrating Alarm Clock 95dB
The Brand-New Echo® PowerWake V2 is a stylish and sturdy alarm clock featuring a powerful bed shaker, audible sound and flashing digits and is designed to wake you up from deepest of sleeps.
Echo ® MegaLoop Pro ™ with Remote Control
The BRAND NEW MegaLoop Pro ™ allows easy connection to most modern digital Television sets and now comes with REMOTE CONTROL.
The MegaLoop Pro ™ System features an integrated Digital Audio Converter to connect to modern televisions using the digital optical output socket on the TV. And it is simple to install using the Toslink Cable provided.
Chargeable Vibrating Pager Receiver Alert and Bell Push
The vibrating receiver (pager) alert is a portable, rechargeable device that will alert you with a strong vibration, sound, and light (LED), when the transmitter (bell push or other) is pressed/triggered. The pager alert is ideal for people who require a portable device to alert them to the door or as a person-to-person pager. Optionally can be used with Vibrating Pad to alert you at the nighttime.
Take a look at their catalogue of products. here: Hear4U_Catalogue-2025-26_A5-48pp_Interactive.pdf
Access to Work: Funding Support for Employers
Access to Work (AtW) is a UK government scheme that helps employers cover the costs of making reasonable adjustments for Deaf and hard of hearing employees. Through this scheme, employers can receive financial support to pay for equipment, training, and other services that make the workplace more accessible.
How Access to Work Can Help:
Grants for Equipment
The scheme can help cover the costs of assistive technology such as personal FM systems, loop systems, and visual alert devices.
Training and Support
Employers can also receive funding for training on how to use the equipment effectively.
Ongoing Support
Access to Work also provides funding for communication support professionals, enabling ongoing support for Deaf employees.
For more details, and to see how AtW can help your organisation, download our eBook FAQ about Access to Work here.
Or sign in and download a range of free resources from our Freebies page: https://www.deafumbrella.com/freebies . These include:
– How to hire a Deaf person
– Workplace accommodations
– Our Inclusive Workplace Toolkit to support Deaf employees
Accessibility for Employers and Educational Institutions
Employers and educational institutions have a duty to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that Deaf and hard of hearing employees or students can access equal opportunities. By integrating assistive technology into your workplace or classroom, you can improve productivity, engagement, and inclusivity for all.
If you're unsure of what solutions would work best for your needs, Deaf Umbrella, Connevans, and Hear4You are here to help. Our expert team can work with you to assess your needs and recommend the best equipment to support your Deaf or hard of hearing staff or students.
Get in Touch for More Information
If you’re interested in learning more about how assistive technology can improve accessibility and communication in your workplace or educational setting, contact Conevans or contact Hearing Products International Ltd. today. We’re here to help you find the right solutions and support for your specific needs.