By Wayne Johnson, Coordinator of Client Services, Salinas
As I work with clients to find employment, it continues to amaze me how the same old myths keep surfacing amongst employers.
We can’t hire Deaf because of safety issues!
When an employer tells me this, I ask them did you know that drivers who are deaf have equal or better driving record than hearing drivers. Deaf are much more visually alert. This means that if something is falling off a shelf in a store room, a Deaf employee is more likely to see it, get out of the way and possibly pull a hearing employee out of the way.
If we hire a Deaf or Hard of Hearing employee then we have to hire an interpreter to be with them all day and that means we’re hiring two people to do the job of one.
An interpreter is only required for training, staff meetings and one-on-one meetings with employee. Hiring an interpreter is a tax deductible expense in most cases, plus it is the law, if that is the effective communications accommodation the employee requires. There are ways that can be used to communicate everyday things such as the one below. If you or your employer needs assistance with finding ways to communicate on the job, contact your local DHHSC office.
How can I contact a deaf employee? I can’t use the PA and I don’t have time to go searching for him/her.
Simple, text them.
But, what if a customer wants to ask the employee where something is or if we have what they are looking for?
Use recipe cards that have been laminated. Customer can write the question or the name of the item on card with a black dry erase marker. Once the employee reads the question, he can wipe it off (similar to a white board) and write the answer or show them where the item is located. These are much thinner to carry around and don’t need to be thrown away or replaced like a paper notepad.
A note for our clients:
If you are a client of the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), they can assist with on the job training and interpreters for job interviews. This can make a difference in getting a job, if the employer knows DOR will provide these resources. Not a client of DOR? Contact your local DOR office for information on becoming a client.
We also encourage you to check out the Employment Development Department in your area. EDD has fantastic services and resources you can benefit from, and currently DHHSC has one staffperson working in the EDD office in Fresno, who can serve clients that live in Fresno, Visalia, Merced, and surrounding areas.
The Deaf Bee 