From their teens onwards, young people in general are increasingly expected to take control of their own lives and manage their own affairs. As well as being a time during which they are starting training or work and developing their social lives and relationships (both dealt with in other parts of this book), they are becoming increasingly independent in the areas of shopping, housing, banking, travel, medical care. Young people usually get support in this from their families and their peer group as well as information from the media and from schools and colleges.

Developing independence requires increasing interaction with institutions and organisations within the hearing world. However, this world is by and large ill-equipped to respond to deaf young people. Few hearing people are aware of the implications of deafness and BSL is still not recognised as an official language in this country, although it is recognised by the European Parliament.