Writing is a powerful tool for communicating with a Deaf audience. It enables more meaningful connection and allows us to express our thoughts and ideas without relying on lip patterns, facial expressions or hearing aids.
But – and it is a big but – it can be challenging and requires special considerations.
Clear communication is important for all audiences, but it is especially important when communicating with a Deaf audience through writing.
This is because Deaf individuals may have limited access to spoken language, and written text is often their primary means of receiving information. So, not writing in a way that’s clear and easy to digest can result in misunderstandings and a failure to convey important information effectively.
Many Deaf people, particularly children, find it difficult to process written text because it’s technically a whole different language to British Sign Language (BSL). By using clear and accessible language in everything you write, you can ensure that your message is received and understood by everyone, especially your Deaf audience.
Why do some Deaf people find written English challenging?
Many members of the Deaf community, particularly those who have been Deaf from birth, don’t have access to spoken English.
So, because they don’t hear, they can’t learn the vocabulary and linguistic patterns of that language or develop their phonics and decoding skills. This may lead to difficulties in comprehending written language and literacy development. Additionally, some Deaf individuals may have had limited access to the same education opportunities that hearing people take for granted, which can impact their ability to understand written text.
Often when hearing people read or write, they use their ‘inner voice’ to interpret words.
But, for a Deaf person this is difficult as often their ‘inner voice’ is not sound-based, but sign language based.
How to effectively communicate in writing with Deaf people
Deaf people who use BSL have a different grammatical structure to their communication. For example, a hearing person might say “Steve and I went swimming yesterday’, whereas a Deaf person would sign this as “Swimming, yesterday with Steve’. So, it’s important to consider that what you understand in writing, a Deaf person may not, simply because of the way you structure a sentence.
Three top tips for better written communication with Deaf people
Writing is a great way to communicate with Deaf people, but there are certain tips and tricks that you should keep in mind when doing so.
Having a sign language interpreter or lip reader on hand can be incredibly helpful when communicating with Deaf people, as they can help interpret written messages as well as spoken dialogue and provide visual feedback.
To communicate more effectively in writing with a Deaf audience, it’s important to use clear and concise language and to avoid complex sentences or unnecessary jargon.
Including visual aids, such as images or videos, can also help convey information.
For those with limited literacy skills, using simple text with large font sizes and high-contrast colours can make the text more accessible. Infographics are a visual & clear written method.
Additionally, providing written captions or transcripts for videos, live shows for example, the theatre or audio content can make the information more accessible to Deaf individuals. For the written aspect itself, try to follow these three tips:
Bullet points
Succinct points with double spacing allows for a better understanding and interpretation of words. Too much jargon can be confusing to anyone, especially a member of the Deaf community who uses British Sign Language as their first language.
Clarity
Avoid using too many words when just one or two can get a point across just as well. BSL is a direct language with little to no ‘waffle’. The clearer you can be, the better.
Diagrams
British Sign Language is all about visuals, including facial expressions and that doesn’t have to just apply to the signs themselves. Diagrams and drawings to express or explain a point may be much easier for a Deaf person to understand.
How Sign Solutions can help
It’s important to understand how to effectively communicate with your Deaf employees in order to ensure that the message is being conveyed and understood accurately.
Ideally, to start with you would get reasonable adjustments put into place prior to the staff starting their job role after discussing with them what their needs are because they vary and this makes the transition for everyone smoother and inclusive.
If you’re struggling to communicate with a Deaf employee and need additional support to provide a better work environment for your staff, we can help. With access to face-to-face and video interpreting, Deaf Awareness training, publication & video BSL translations and more, we can help you and your business become a more accessible and inclusive place to work.
To find out more about how we can help, contact us today on 0121 447 9620 or visit our contact page.
