From survey to Parliament: how your AtW evidence is being used

Over 300 people filled in the DeafATW/RNID survey, which is around 10% of all deaf BSL users with AtW. That's a really strong evidence base. Thank you to everyone who took the 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?

All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on deafness, 3 February 2026

The APPG held 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 AtW had affected them. We then showed from the survey data that this is a pattern, not just one person's experience. After the meeting we sent the Minister the full details of the case study and our recommendations for change, covering how awards are decided, how AtW communicates with deaf customers, and the impact on people's employment.

National Audit Office investigation, 6 February 2026

The National Audit Office published its investigation into AtW, providing an assessment of how the scheme is operating.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) inquiry, 26 February 2026

DeafATW submitted written evidence to the PAC, using the survey findings alongside the NAO report to show how operational failures are affecting real people, and making recommendations for change. RNID submitted separate complementary evidence focused on the survey data.

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

We're hoping to finish analysing the data in early April 2026 and will share more with you then. We're not sharing details yet because we don't want to put out findings that might still change before publication.