Download Workshop Handout - Deaf Society of NSW

Workshop Handout
Communication Modes
Every deaf person is different and will possess different skills and limitations in communicating with hearing
people. Deaf people will usually either speak and lipread, use pen and paper, use gesture and visual aids,
use sign language or a combination of any or all of these modes when communicating with hearing people.
When communicating with a deaf person, it is important to allow
them to choose the mode(s) of communication used and respect
their choice.
Speech

Some deaf people do not use speech to communicate.

A deaf person’s speech, if they speak at all, will vary
depending on the level of their deafness, the age of onset of
deafness, their education and training in speech, their
confidence in using speech and the familiarity of the subject
matter of the conversation.
Lipreading

Hearing people tend to want deaf people to lipread as it
allows them to communicate in the mode most comfortable
to them but, in fact, not all deaf people lipread.

Lipreading is a tool that may be useful in communication in
certain situations. It is not the equivalent of a language or a
direct replacement of listening to speech.

Many sounds that are made with the voice look similar to each other on the lips and some sounds
are not visible at all as they are made at the back of the throat for example. Accents, facial hair, and
unclear mouth movements make lipreading even more difficult. Understanding a conversation by
lipreading, therefore, is only about 30% effective.1

Deaf people use context clues, the process of elimination, guesswork and other strategies to
understand speech when lipreading.
Writing
1

Some deaf people will choose to write and read messages on paper as their way of communicating
with hearing people.

Some deaf people are fluent in English. For some deaf people, though, Auslan is their first language
and English is their secondary language. Like other non-native English users, some deaf people
therefore, are not completely fluent in English.

The grammar and structure of sign language is very different to that of English, therefore, deaf
people who are not fluent in English may write English in a sequence similar to Auslan.

Because deaf people have limited access to the English language, some English words and
expressions, even common ones, may be unfamiliar to a deaf person.
Gallaudet University http://careercenter.gallaudet.edu/index.asp?ID=4664
© 2016 The Deaf Society
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Gesture/ Visual Aids

For simple messages, some deaf people will communicate their message visually either by pointing
to something or using their hands and/or body to show you what they want to say.
Auslan

Auslan stands for AUstralian Sign LANguage and is the
predominant language of the adult Deaf Community. It is a
legitimate, rich and comprehensive language that consists of
signs, body movement, facial expression and fingerspelling.
Auslan has its own rules, grammar and structure. Auslan is a
visual language and does not have a written component.

Deaf people may use some of the more obviously visual signs
when communicating with hearing people who do not sign or
use simple signs and fingerspelling to people learning Auslan or
who know minimal sign language.
Technology

Some deaf people rely on technology such as hearing aids to assist their communication. Hearing
aids amplify sounds but do not make them clearer. Sometimes deaf people wear hearing aids to
enable them to be aware of environmental noises but the hearing aids do not actually assist them
in communication due to their type of hearing loss.

Deaf people also use other forms of technology like a TTY (Teletypewriter- a special text telephone
for deaf people), computers and text mobile phones. These types of technology can be limiting
though due to the amount of time and level of written language skills required for their use.
© 2016 The Deaf Society
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Deafness within the Community
People may be born deaf or lose their hearing for genetic reasons, as a result of ageing, or through accident
or illness. Many people do not know the cause of their hearing loss.
Did you know that one in five Australians - over three million people - have a significant hearing loss?2 In
Australia, 20 children per 10,000 live births will be born with a congenital sensorineural hearing loss.3
Whilst all people are individuals, people with a hearing loss can generally be classified as either ‘deaf’ or
‘hard of hearing’.
The Deaf Community consists of about 15 000 people in Australia, although this number is considered
controversial and may be substantially more or less.4
Deaf people are generally people who:

use sign language as their primary and preferred means of communication;

may or may not speak and/or lipread;

participate and/or socialise within the Deaf Community;

do not necessarily value hearing or want to be able to hear.

like to be called “Deaf”;

focus on the cultural aspect of their deafness;

feel proud of their language, culture and community.
Hard of hearing people are generally people who:

communicate by speaking, listening and lipreading with the use of technology such as hearing aids;

participate and socialise within the hearing community;
2
Australian Hearing Services - http://www.hearing.com.au
Australian Hearing Services - http://www.hearing.com.au
4
Johnson, T., W(h)ither the deaf community? Population, genetics and the future of Auslan (Australian Sign Language)
3
© 2016 The Deaf Society
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
value and use the hearing that they do have to the best of their ability;

may be embarrassed about their hearing loss;

see deafness as a disability that limits them.

focus on the physical aspect of their Deafness.
Whether a person with a hearing loss comes to identify as an adult with the deaf group or the hard of
hearing group will depend on a number of factors including:
 level of deafness (mild, moderate, severe, profound)

age of onset of deafness (pre or post lingual)

how they were raised (communication used within the family, type of school chosen for them,
parents perception of deafness)
Most hearing parents, upon discovering that their child is deaf, feel distraught and seek ways to remedy
this and make the child fit into their world- the hearing world. The medical profession, whom the parents
turn to at this time for advice, often supports this perception about deafness and fosters this path.
© 2016 The Deaf Society
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Australian Fingerspelling Alphabet
For “H” and “J” the right hand only moves
in the direction of the arrow.
Left handers reverse all formations.
© 2016 The Deaf Society
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Australian Auslan Numbers
© 2016 The Deaf Society
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Communication Tips
Consider the Communication Environment

Arrange the room so that the speaker’s face and body can be
easily seen.

Be aware of lighting. Good lighting on the face of the speaker is
important. It allows the hard of hearing person to monitor the
facial expressions, gestures, lip and body movements that
provide communication clues.

Try to reduce any competing or background noises. They
hinder communication.
When talking to the deaf or hard of hearing person:

Wait until the person can see you before speaking. If necessary, touch the person to get attention.

Never speak directly into the person’s ear. This may distort your message and hide all visual clues,
such as your facial expression.

Position yourself at a normal speaking distance from the hard of hearing person.

Speak slightly louder than normal, but don’t shout. Remember that shouting won’t make your
message any clearer, and may distort it.

Speak at your normal rate, maintaining the normal inflections and the up and down rhythms of
your speech.

Don’t exaggerate lip movements. This distorts the message and makes it hard to “read” visual cues
from your facial expression.

Avoid chewing, eating or covering your mouth with your hand(s) while speaking.

Clue the hard of hearing into the conversation topic whenever possible.

If you suspect you are not being understood, rephrase your statement into shorter, simpler
sentences. Don’t keep repeating the same statement that’s not getting through.

Use body movements, gestures, visual clues and cues when you can.

Try not to hide your eyes under sunglasses as your eyes support your message.

Trim your moustache if you have one so your lips are easily visible
© 2016 The Deaf Society
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Cultural Tips

When you need their attention, don’t use your hand to turn their face towards you.

It’s OK to tap on the arm or shoulder to gain a person’s attention. Don’t poke your finger into their
arm, shoulder, etc.

Distance between the people having a conversation is important. More space than usual is
generally required to allow free use of hand/arm space, body language and to see everything that is
taking place.

It’s OK to walk between two people signing to each other. They will usually just lift up their hands
to continue their conversation. There is really no need to bow down to avoid blocking their view.
Just be quick.

Be careful with your eye contact. It is important to maintain good eye contact during conversation,
avoid staring, but acknowledge you are still “tuned in”.

Physical contact is greater with deaf people. It’s part and parcel of the culture.

Be aware of long goodbyes. Make an attempt to quickly wave goodbye to those you have been
talking to before leaving. Don’t just shout out “Bye!” then leave. Your absence will be noticed.

Make sure there is good light when conversing. Be responsive to the deaf person asking you to
move to be in better light. You will usually find groups talking in the best-lit room (e.g. kitchen).
There are many, many more which cannot be covered on paper. You will pick them up as you have more
contact with the Deaf Community.
© 2016 The Deaf Society
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Working with an Auslan Interpreter
Background Information

Interpreting is not a direct sign for word or a word for sign translation but, rather, a translation of
meaning.

Because the interpreter must first understand the message before it can be interpreted into the
other language, there will be a slight time delay.

Some deaf people are very used to and confident when working with an Auslan interpreter while
others have rarely used them and/or may know very little about working with an interpreter.

The interpreter may sometimes need to interrupt the conversation to ask for further information
such as the spelling of a name or the clarification of the meaning of a term or phrase.

The arrangements of the room for an interpreting situation are important including the lighting and
seating/standing positions of those involved.

Interpreters should follow a professional Code of Ethics. The ASLIA Code of Ethics5 are:
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Australian Sign Language Interpreters (hereinafter called ‘Interpreters’) shall be unobtrusive, but firm and
dignified at all times. All participants in the interpreted setting shall be considered clients of the Interpreter.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Interpreters shall keep all assignment related information confidential.
COMPETENCE
Interpreters shall accept assignments using discretion with regard to skill, setting and clients involved.
IMPARTIALITY
Interpreters shall not counsel, advise or interject personal opinions.
5
Australian Sign Language Interpreters Association http://www.aslia.com.au
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ACCURACY
Interpreters shall render the message faithfully, always conveying the content of the message and the spirit
of the speaker, using language most readily understood by the person(s) whom they serve.
EMPLOYMENT
Interpreters shall request compensation for services in a professional and judicious manner.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Interpreters shall continually strive to maintain and further their knowledge, skill and professional
competence.
PROFESSIONAL SOLIDARITY
Interpreters shall support and further the interests of their profession and colleagues by fostering trust and
mutual respect.
PROFESSIONAL INDEPENDENCE
When making public statements Interpreters shall clarify if speaking as a private individual or an authorised
representative of the Australian Sign Language Interpreters’ Association.
Tips When Working with an Auslan Interpreter

Do not direct questions or comments to the interpreter during the assignment.

Look directly at and speak in first person directly to the deaf
person rather than saying to the interpreter “tell him...” or
“ask her...”

Ask the deaf person and the interpreter to decide on the best
room arrangements to ensure the communication can
happen effectively.

Relax, speak at your normal pace and act as naturally as
possible.

Provide the interpreter with any notes, handouts or agenda
items before the appointment.

Interpreters are human and cannot be expected to interpret all day – adequate rest breaks are
essential. Occupational Health and Safety procedures need to be followed – check with the booking
agency or interpreter for more information.
For more information visit:
www.deafsocietynsw.org.au/interpreting/working_with_interpreters.html
© 2016 The Deaf Society
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NRS Training Information
National Relay Service
Do you want to make sure that your business or agency can contact customers who are deaf, hard of
hearing or speech-impaired?
Do you have deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired friends or family?
Then the National Relay Service (NRS) can help you! Depending on your particular needs you can choose
one of the following relay call options:
 Internet relay which is text based using the internet

Captioned relay for people who can’t hear but can speak

SMS relay if you want to use a mobile phone

Video relay – prefer to make calls using Auslan

Type and Read – can’t hear and don’t use my voice

Speak and Read – I can’t hear but can speak

Type and Listen - I can’t speak but can hear

Speak and Listen – I’m hard to understand on the phone

Calling an NRS user – I want to call someone with a hearing or speech impairment
The National Relay Service is a phone solution for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired,
and the people who want to contact them.
Equipment
What you need to make a relay call depends on your particular requirements. You need to work out which
relay call option is most appropriate for your circumstances. You can make these calls from a desktop
computer, laptop. Tablet or smartphone with a working internet connection. Some deaf, hard of hearing or
speech-impaired people still use a special phone called a TTY (telephone typewriter).
You can use just a regular phone or the NRS app to make or receive NRS calls.
Confidentiality and costs
All conversations are protected by privacy laws. The person making the call pays about the same as a local
call, and there is no cost to the person receiving the call.
Want to know more?
Call the NRS Helpdesk today! We can provide you with:
 Help to make sure your organisation is comfortable using the NRS with customers who are deaf,
hard of hearing or speech-impaired

Materials such as posters, brochures and fact sheets for both staff and customers

Free information sessions
© 2016 The Deaf Society
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Contact the National Relay Service Helpdesk
Voice: 1800 555 660 (free from landlines)
TTY: 1800 555 630 (free)
Fax:
1800 555 690 (free)
SMS: 0416 001 350
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.relayservice.com.au.
Mail: Level 2, 10 Mallett St Camperdown NSW 2050
On 4 July 2014, relayservice.gov.au conforms to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA
conformance.
Follow NRS on Facebook
Follow NRS on Twitter
© 2016 The Deaf Society
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Employment Assistance Fund (EAF)
The Employment Assistance Fund provides government funding to assist employers of people with
disability or a mental health condition to purchase a range of work-related modifications and services for
those staff. The fund is administered by JobAccess. The funding can include access to workplace training
and interpreting to encourage employment of deaf and hard of hearing staff.
This DAT training provides knowledge and strategies for improving the interaction between deaf, hard of
hearing and hearing people in the workplace.
The EAF is also available to existing employees if they have had a change in duties, career progression,
change in disability and/or a new modification becomes available that would increase their productivity.
Some deaf and hard of hearing employees may benefit greatly by using communication devices (such as
smart phones and tablets), deaf friendly workplace and personal visual alarms, “telephones”, pagers, or any
other identified needs, which are free of cost to the employer.
JobAccess advisors are a team of friendly professionals who provide advice on all matters relating to the
employment of people with disability.
The Employment Assistance Fund Guidelines are available from the JobAccess website:
www.jobaccess.gov.au or contact JobAccess on 1800 464 800.
© 2016 The Deaf Society
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Equity for deaf people
The Deaf Society has been providing specialist support services and programs for people who are
deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing, and their families since 1913.
Services include individual support and referral, independent living skills training, Auslan (Australian
Sign Language) interpreting, courses delivered in Auslan, Auslan courses, employment service, deaffriendly families program, deaf awareness training, translation service, deaf community
development and support, advocacy and outreach to regional NSW.
We are a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and Disability Employment Service (DES) provider.
We provide services across NSW, with offices located in Parramatta, Newcastle, Niagara Park
(Central Coast), Boambee (Coffs Harbour), Lismore, Tamworth and Albion Park Rail (South Coast).
We also provide services regularly in Nowra, Orange, Pt Macquarie and Tweed Heads.
TTY:
Fax:
Tel:
Email:
Web:
(02) 8833 3691
(02) 8833 3699
(02) 8833 3600
[email protected]
www.deafsocietynsw.org.au
Auslan Courses
The education department of the Deaf Society offers community and accredited Auslan courses,
including Certificates II, III, and IV in Auslan and the Diploma of Auslan.
For more information email [email protected] or go to
www.deafsocietynsw.org.au/courses.
For more Deaf Awareness Training
The Deaf Society offers a range of informative and practical Deaf Awareness Training programs
designed to improve understanding of communication within workplaces and provides an awareness
of the Deaf community, language and its culture.
To find out more, email [email protected].
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