Welcome to this page for young people!
This page aims to help you navigate some of the extra help that is available to you as you move into adulthood. This includes advice on further education, jobs, apprenticeships and extra services you can access.
If at anytime you would like further information or would like to discuss anything with an audiologist, please do not hesitate to contact one of our team, or discuss it with us at your next appointment.
You can do this by email:
or by calling our general enquiries line on 0113 3922484.
I need help finding a job or apprenticeship
If you need help finding a job, Jobcentre Plus can help you to find work and access training courses and work experience schemes. You can also ask Jobcentre Plus to provide you with an interpreter or any extra communication support when you use their services. They can also provide extra advice on Access to Work which can help you with extra help in your job. Click on the links below for information on these services.
Getting help from Job Centre Plus Access to WorkGetting Started
Sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start when finding a new job, including how to write a CV and preparing for an interview. Barclays LifeSkills and The Prince’s Trust can help you to develop your work skills and can help give you extra advice when applying for a job.
If you are looking at starting an apprenticeship, the government gives some good advice on how to get started.
The National Deaf Children’s Society also can give advice on apprenticeships.
What extra help can I get for my new job?
When you are about to start a new job, your new workplace has a legal duty to you to provide you with extra help to ensure you can do your job to the best of your ability. The government and the Equality and Human Rights Commission also give some advice.
Equality & Human Rights Commission advice
There is also a scheme called Access to Work which helps to cover the cost of extra help needed in the workplace, and for support at interviews. The funding is available for disabled people in paid employment, those who are self-employed, on apprenticeships, trainee schemes and supported internships. Young people may need help with this as they may be asked to justify their support and provide quotes.
I want to go to University, what support can I get?
You can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) to cover some of the extra costs you may have due to your hearing loss or any other learning difficulty/health problems.
Extra information and support can be found at UCAS, the website used to apply for University.
The National Deaf Children’s Society also provide some extra information and support for young deaf people wanting to access higher education.
Where do I get information on discounted travel or disability driving instructors?
Public Transport and Travel
There are several different passes available for discounted travel on public transport.
Find information on disabled bus passes
Find information on disabled railcards
This allows you and one other person to have a third off of rail travel. Ages 16 to 25 railcards are also available that also save a third off of rail tickets.
Find information about young person’s coach cards
Driving Instructors
If you want to find a driving instructor who is deaf aware or is fluent in British Sign Language (BSL) this website can help you find the right instructor.
Is there any support out there for me?
Leeds Hearing and Sight Loss Service can provide support to young people, living in Leeds who are deaf, hard of hearing, sight impaired or deaf blind.
There services include:
- Supporting mental health concerns
- Information, advice and guidance
- Assistive technology in the home or workplace
- Hearing aid advice and repairs
- Social work for deaf adults
- Support for young people leaving school
They are located at:
Gallery House, 5th Floor, 123-131, The Headrow, Leeds, LS1
Leeds City Council also provide SignVideo BSL Live services to help users of British Sign Language to use Council services.
The National Deaf Children’s Society provides a lot of wide ranging additional information for children and young people with hearing loss.
The Buzz is a website dedicated to help Deaf and hearing impaired young people find extra information and advice.
Are you a young man aged 16 to 24?
Are you interested in building positive relationships? Would you like to understand more about your behaviour in relationships, then download our flyer for more information.