The DeafATW / RNID AtW survey - update

19/02/26: Over 300 people filled in the DeafATW / RNID survey, which includes around 10% of all deaf BSL users with AtW. This means we have really strong evidence.

So thank you to everyone who took time to complete the survey and share it with colleagues, friends and networks.

What have DeafATW and RNID done with your survey evidence so far?

(1) All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on deafness:

03/02/26 the APPG had a session on AtW, which Stephen Timms, the Minister for Social Security and Disability attended. One deaf person who has experienced delays, cuts, and restrictions told their story about how it had affected them, and we then showed from the survey data how this is a pattern, not just a single person's experience.

After the meeting we sent the Minister the full details of the case study and our recommendations for what needs to change, including how awards are decided, how AtW communicates with deaf customers, and the impact on people's employment.

(2) Public Accounts Committee inquiry

The National Audit Office (NAO) published its investigation into AtW 06/02/26.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is now examining AtW. DeafATW is sending written evidence to the Committee, using the survey findings alongside the NAO report, to show how operational failures are affecting real people and making recommendations. RNID is sending separate complementary evidence focussed on the survey data.

You can also send evidence directly to the PAC: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/9516/the-access-to-wor...

When will I be able to see what you found in the survey?

We hope to finish analysing the survey data in March, and will share more information with you then. We're not sharing any details now because we don't want to share draft findings that may be changed later.