Reasonable Adjustments and Legal Duties

A reasonable adjustment is a practical change that removes or reduces a barrier for a disabled person. For Deaf and hard-of-hearing patients this often means changing how staff communicate, how appointments are arranged, or how information is provided. Examples include alternative contact methods, clearer written information, visual alerts, assistive listening, access to interpreters, quieter spaces and longer appointment times.

Dental nurses may not set every policy, but they are well placed to observe whether adjustments are used effectively. A policy stating "interpreter available" is pointless if no one knows how to arrange one. A hearing loop sign is unhelpful if the loop is switched off, untested, or staff cannot explain where it works.

Examples of reasonable adjustments

• Offering SMS, email, or online contact instead of telephone-only communication.
• Booking extra time where communication will take longer.
• Providing written key points, large print, captions, or visual diagrams.
• Using a BSL interpreter or speech-to-text support when needed.
• Making sure hearing loops and visual calling systems are usable.

Whether an adjustment is reasonable depends on the circumstances, but services should anticipate common barriers. If the team repeatedly cancels because no interpreter was booked, or repeatedly phones a patient who cannot use the telephone, the system is at fault and needs fixing.

Equality law and country differences

A reasonable adjustment only helps if the team can deliver it. Dental nurses can help turn access needs into visible, practical, and repeatable actions.