In the UK today, more than 11 million people live with some form of hearing loss.
Educating yourself and your staff will help break down any barriers or misconceptions about the Deaf community and empower your Deaf employees in a way that’s inclusive for all.
There are many barriers for Deaf and hard of hearing people in the workplace. They often face discrimination and exclusion in their workplaces. Employers can do a lot to empower their Deaf employees. This is not just the right thing to do from a moral perspective, it also makes good business sense.
It can be challenging to empower Deaf individuals in the workplace when they are not given an opportunity to work in their preferred environment. This can be due to a lack of awareness, knowledge, skills and tools available. Many misconceptions cause this problem.
One of the most important things that an employer can do is to provide accessibility tools for Deaf people, such as captioning or interpreter services, so they can communicate with colleagues and customers without any obstacles.
Employers should also give opportunities to Deaf employees so that they can showcase their skills and talents in the workplace.
Here, we look at some of the issues and some of the things you can do to empower your Deaf and hard of hearing employees.
How to create a more accessible work environment
There are many reasons why it is vital for companies to make their workplaces accessible for everyone. Perhaps one of the most crucial is it improves customer service by making employees more effective at communicating with all customers.
A study by the RNID found that seven in ten Deaf people said that their colleagues had not communicated effectively with them, and 60% had retired early, with 56% of those people saying their retirement was related to their hearing loss.
Employers must work harder to be more welcoming and accepting of members of the Deaf and hard of hearing communities.
By making small yet significant changes within your business, you can work towards creating a more inclusive workforce. Here are some of the simple things you and your team can do:
Have good body language
When communicating with a Deaf colleague or employee, ensure you’re face to face so they can see your facial expressions, lips, as well as your body language.
Learn BSL
Learning British Sign Language (BSL) or sending your employees on a BSL course will only benefit your business. With a working knowledge of basic signs and the BSL alphabet, the communication between Deaf and hearing employees will only be improved and will prove to be a more empowering form of communication within your team.
Have access to a BSL Interpreter
Regularly using a sign language interpreter or translator within your business will send out a clear message that you take inclusion and accessibility seriously, care about all your staff and customers, and strive to treat them all with the same level of respect.
Ask what their preferred form of communication is
Open the doors of communication by asking your Deaf employees their preferred way of communicating. This allows them to have more control of how they communicate and prevents wrong assumptions about your employee, which may lead to incorrect information being passed between you.
How ‘Deaf Gain’ can benefit your business
‘Deaf Gain’ is a concept developed by H-Dirksen Bauman and Joseph Murray that aims to counter and challenge the idea that being Deaf is a loss or weakness and instead encourage people to see Deafness as a strength. The term refers to the economic and social gains that Deaf people can bring to an organisation when they are empowered and encouraged to communicate in their own language, which, in the UK, is most likely BSL.
The term Deaf Gain is often used in the context of Deaf or disability studies and is considered to be a positive example of linguistic inclusion.
When given the right opportunities and tools, Deaf employees can become invaluable to a business. Hearing loss does not mean a person is any less capable of doing a job than someone without a hearing loss.
Some benefits of hiring a Deaf employee include their adaptability, attention to detail, and ability to see things from a different perspective.
By empowering Deaf employees from recruitment right through to hiring, you set yourself and your business at a higher standard by ensuring inclusivity and accessibility are at the forefront. Encouraging better communication throughout your workforce empowers all employees and improves staff retention, the working environment and overall employee satisfaction.
You can make a difference and create a more inclusive work environment with Deaf awareness training.
Sign Solutions can help ensure your recruitment, training, and employment processes are as accessible and inclusive as possible. They have a package of support to guide you through the process of accessing diverse talent.
To find out more about our recruitment support services, give us a call on 0843 178 0773, email bookings@signsolutions.uk.com or contact us via a BSL video interpreter.
