Deaf Access Bedfordshire

Making Bedfordshire a place where deaf and hard-of-hearing people can live, work, study, and relax without barriers.

Thank you for requesting an appointment. PLEASE WAIT for a text message or email to confirm your booking. Please ensure you bring all of your paperwork and ID with you to your appointment. PLEASE let us know if you are unable walkup or down the stairs.

This is our free Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) service with access to BSL communicators and Registered BSL interpreters.​If you have hearing loss we can help you with a wide range of personal and private matters, from finances, legal matters and medical issues, to divorce and funeral arrangements. This service is by appointment only.

A safe and welcoming place for BSL and SSE users to meet, chat and feel included.

The Place Theatre

Welcome to DEAFinately Awesome Kids Family BSL Course! We are delighted to be able to offer this fun, friendly and practical course to the parents of deaf children COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE! This six week 'Baby Signing Basics(TM)' Course provides a gentle introduction to using BSL with your deaf baby. The classes build, week on week to give you and your little one all of the skills and knoweldge you both need to communicate clearly and confidently. Our welcoming classes support you to learn how to sign with your baby, how to recognise their non-verbal communication cues with you, and how to support their speech, language and literacy development -with or without a hearing aid or implant. The classes, delivered by our deaf BSL tutor, help you and your little one normalise wearing hearing aid, and using your hands to communicate. We offer a safe, judgement-free place to explore how you and your family might fit into the deaf world, to ask questions and to build your network of families who understand your world. The course has been created by the award winning, CPD accredited<a href="https://www.littlesignersclub.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Little Signers Club</a>, who have over a decade's experience in working with hearing families to support them to learn BSL with their little ones. Specially adapted, using input from our BSL tutor and the latest, internationally renowned research on deaf children's language and reading development&nbsp;by the <a href="https://ladder-lab.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 14, 1);">Ladder Lab </a>(Literacy and Deafness Development Research Lab), the course is designed to meet you and your deaf little one - and your whole family - where you are, with kindness, encouragment and support. Whilst the course is aimed at children aged 3-12 months, we know how important it is for your baby to have access to signing as early as possible and we welcome new parents and babies from birth - just as soon as you are ready. This course has been funded by the amazing team at<a href="https://www.makesomenoise.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Global's Make Some Noise</a>, and we are working with <a href="https://www.bbpcf.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum</a> to bring it to you in a comfortable and safe environment and we are hugely thankful to both organisations for their help in making this possible. We can't wait to meet you and your little ones and join you on your signing adventure!

Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum SEND Network Event – Shaping the Future of Short Breaks

Child Development Centre Kempston

Our Deaf Coffee Morning is a safe and welcoming place for BSL and SSE users to meet, chat and feel included. Tea, coffee, cold drinks and snacks available to buy at the bar, please feel&nbsp;free to&nbsp;bring your own lunch.​Meeting Dates ~ Autumn / Winter 2025:3rd October17th October31st October 14th November28th November12th December We will be back on:9th January​​LOTS of free parking.​Please be aware&nbsp;- we do not guarantee there will be BSL interpreters or communicators at this activity as it is not a teaching or practice session.

Thank you for your booking. We look forward to seeing you in January!Our training team will contact you before the course start date with further details.Questions? Contact us: info@accessbedford.org.uk

Do You Want To:<ul><li>Learn a new language?</li><li>Explore a career working in the Deaf Community?</li><li>Make your workplace, home, or educational setting more deaf-inclusive?</li><li>Communicate with Deaf friends, family, colleagues or customers?</li><li>Access an entry-level priced course, taught by an experienced Deaf tutor?</li><li>Discover a fun, friendly, supportive introduction to BSL?</li></ul>Then join our next BSL Foundation Course! This 6-week course will teach you basic conversational British Sign Language, as well as giving some insight into deaf history and culture. Together, we will explore the barriers faced by people with hearing loss and how we can come together to break those barriers down. Classes run every Wednesday evening from 6:30pm - 8:30pmStart Date: Wednesday 7th January 2026End Date: Wednesday 11th February 2026 Cost: £48.00 total Terms and Conditions of Course AGE:This course is for adults aged 16+If you have a child who is interested in learning to sign, please contact info@accessbedford.org.uk and we will be happy to talk about other course options. ACCESS:This course takes place on the first floor of the building. If you have reduced mobility or struggle with stairs, please contact us before you book: info@accessbedford.org.uk REFUNDS:7 days notice or less - No refund available8-14 days notice - 50% refund available15 days or more - 90% refund available

BSL Cafe! Where? The Place Theatre (Lobby)Bradgate RoadBedfordMK40 3DE when? 09.30 to 11.00am We run a regular meet-up for all BSL users, from complete beginners to&nbsp;native signers and interpreters. The group, which is hosted and 'guided' by one of our qualified BSL tutors, is open to anyone with an interest - no experience necessary.&nbsp;This safe, welcoming and inclusive space gives our deaf friends a welcoming place to catch up and socialise and provides our hearing allies with the opportunity to practice their BSL and get to know the deaf community. The Café creates links and friendships across communities. Drinks and snacks will be available to purchase, however please bring lunch with you. Children are welcome as long as they have a responsible adult with them at all times.

BSL Cafe! Where? The Place Theatre (Lobby)Bradgate RoadBedfordMK40 3DE when? 09.30 to 11.00am We run a regular meet-up for all BSL users, from complete beginners to&nbsp;native signers and interpreters. The group, which is hosted and 'guided' by one of our qualified BSL tutors, is open to anyone with an interest - no experience necessary.&nbsp;This safe, welcoming and inclusive space gives our deaf friends a welcoming place to catch up and socialise and provides our hearing allies with the opportunity to practice their BSL and get to know the deaf community. The Café creates links and friendships across communities. Drinks and snacks will be available to purchase, however please bring lunch with you. Children are welcome as long as they have a responsible adult with them at all times.

Deaf Access Bedfordshire

Deaf Space - Information Service

6-Week Family BSL Course

Deaf Coffee Morning

BSL Foundation Course - Spring Term

BSL Cafe

BSL Cafe

6-Week Family BSL

BSL Cafe

BSL Cafe