Policy, Governance & Assurance

What We Offer

We help to redesign the rules organisations run on — so Deaf people are not excluded by default.

Every organisation operates through rules about safety, communication, information, and responsibility. Most of those rules quietly assume hearing. This service exists to change that.

We work with organisations to ensure Deaf inclusion is built into how rules are written, how decisions are made, and how responsibility is checked over time — so inclusion doesn’t depend on individuals, memory, or good intentions.

Support operates at the level where rules shape everything else, from targeted checks of key policies through to full redesign of how inclusion is governed and assured. Where systems are complex, we design bespoke support.

  • Do your rules still work when sound isn’t available?

    A practical review of the rules your organisation relies on, to find where Deaf people are unintentionally blocked or put at risk.

    Typically includes

    • Policies that rely on spoken briefings, verbal updates, or meetings

    • Rules that assume people hear announcements, alarms, or instructions

    • Gaps between what a policy says and what actually happens in practice

    • Clear, practical changes so rules work for everyone, not just hearing staff or users

    Best for

    • Organisations updating or relying heavily on written policies

    • Teams tired of exceptions and workarounds

    • Leaders who want problems prevented, not patched

  • Who notices — and who is responsible?

    We look at how decisions are made and who is expected to catch access issues — then fix the gaps.

    Typically includes

    • Clarifying who is responsible when access fails

    • Making Deaf inclusion part of sign-off, approval, or go-live decisions

    • Removing reliance on “someone should flag it” or informal fixes

    • Ensuring access is considered before decisions are locked in

    Best for

    • Leadership and management teams

    • Organisations going through change or growth

    • Systems where one decision affects many people

  • How do you know this is actually working?

    Simple, defensible ways to check that Deaf inclusion hasn’t quietly dropped out over time.

    Typically includes

    • Agreeing what “working properly” actually looks like

    • Identifying early signs when access or communication breaks down

    • Making it clear who checks, how often, and what happens next

    • Giving leaders confidence without needing constant firefighting

    Best for

    • Leaders accountable for outcomes

    • Organisations under scrutiny or pressure

    • Teams who want confidence, not guesswork

  • Designed around how your organisation actually runs.

    Where decision-making, accountability, or oversight is complex, we tailor this work to fit reality — not ideal charts or templates.

Our Approach

Start with reality

If something only works when heard, it doesn’t work.

Design for scale

Rules must hold as organisations grow, change, and come under pressure.

Remove guesswork

Inclusion shouldn’t depend on who happens to be in the room.

Deliver with consequence

This work produces clarity leaders can act on — and stand behind.

Take responsibility

Deaf-led insight must sit inside the rules, not outside them.

  • “If your rules assume hearing, exclusion is already policy.”