Download Deaf People and Employment - The Department of Education

Statewide Specialist Services, Department of Education and Training
Information in this booklet has been sourced from Deaf Education Network (NSW)
and WA Deaf Society.
53 Curtin Avenue, COTTESLOE W.A. 6011. Tel. 9286 7000 Fax. 9383 4404 TTY. 9384 6106
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Deaf People and Employment
These fact sheets are part of an information kit for Employers and Employment
Service Providers. They answer a variety of common questions about Deaf and
Hard of Hearing people, as well as providing specific workplace tips and advice.
The fact sheet topics are:
1. Deafness and Hearing Loss
2. Communication Methods used by Deaf people
3. Cross – Cultural Issues
4. Workplace Communication Tips
5. Technological Communication Solutions
6. Working with an Interpreter
7. Occupational Health and Safety Issues
8. Anti – Discrimination Rights and Responsibilities
9. Assistance for Employers
NOTE: “DHH” (Deaf and Hard of Hearing) is used here when referring to a person
who is culturally deaf and whose native tongue is AUSLAN (Australian Sign
Language) or is hard of hearing.
53 Curtin Avenue, COTTESLOE W.A. 6011. Tel. 9286 7000 Fax. 9383 4404 TTY. 9384 6106
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Deafness and Hearing Loss
It is estimated that 10% of Australians have a hearing loss; the main impact of that
hearing loss is on communication. Communication choices and options depend on a
combination of the following factors:
How much hearing loss?
Hearing loss is measured in decibels (loudness) and frequencies (pitch). Hearing
tests (audiograms) show the softest sound levels a person can hear, as well as the
range of sounds at the level.
Human speech is around 60dB, so you can see that if someone has more than a mild
or moderate hearing loss, it’s difficult for them to hear and understand other people’s
voices. Hearing aids can help some people, but unlike glasses which can correct
vision, hearing aids only amplify whatever sounds they can already hear. Unclear
sounds remain unclear; they’re just louder.
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Communication Methods Used by Deaf People
Generally, the more hearing a person has, the more they will speak. However, each
individual has particular communication preferences and capabilities; often related to
the choices their parents made about communication at home, and the policy of the
school they attended. Other than written communication, the main face – to – face
methods deaf people use include:
Oral Communication
This is where Hard of hearing person speaks and reads the lip patterns of the other
person. However lip – reading is not a natural or easy thing to do for many reasons:
Lip – reading relies on being able to see the words you’re trying to guess at, and
many people do not speak clearly, or have beards, or accents, or look away when
they talk, or are in a badly lit environment. 60% of the time they lip-read inaccurately.
(See “Workplace Communication Tips”).
Australian Sign Language (AUSLAN)
AUSLAN is the language used by the Australian Deaf Community. Just as hearing
communities have evolved different spoken languages around the world, Deaf
communities have also developed different sign languages in different places.
AUSLAN was derived form British Sign Language.
AUSLAN is a visual language, comprised of; a vocabulary of signs, facial expression,
body language and finger – spelling. Just like any other language, it has complex
grammatical rules and can convey a full range of meaning. AUSLAN was formally
recognised as an Australian Community Language in 1987.
Different communication behaviours
Getting a Deaf or hard of hearing person’s eye contact and attention is an important
part of communication and a way of letting them know you want to talk to them. It is
appropriate at times to slightly tap a Deaf or Hard of Hearing person’s shoulder to get
their attention. They may also use taps on arms or shoulders to get your attention.
Things Deaf people may not know about
Apart from sounds, deaf people can’t overhear things that we hear incidentally:

In the afternoon tea break everyone starts discussing their favourite
performer. The deaf colleague doesn’t even know who Kylie is…

Deaf people cannot fully hear announcements over the PA system. So, if
everyone is rushing to get their free muffin from the cafeteria after an
announcement, the deaf person is going to wonder what is happening….

Today there is an important staff meeting, however there has been a huge
deluge overnight and many major roads are flooded. Morning radio bulletins
advise commuters about the road closures and suggest alternate routes.
Everyone else manages to get to work on time, but the deaf employee is 2
hours late….
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Workplace Communication Tips
When speaking to a deaf person, remember to:
1. Check the environment
 Ensure that you are in good light and not shadowed by a bright light behind
you (including the sun).
 If the person wears a hearing aid, background noise can be very distracting,
so you may need to find a quieter environment.
2. Get their attention
 Make sure the deaf person is looking at you before you start, otherwise they
won’t realise that you have begun a conversation with them. You can get
their attention by touching them on the arm or signalling to them.
 Look directly at them so that they can see your lips and facial expression.
 Be aware that if you look away or look down, your message may get distorted
(Never talk from behind).
 Use your normal pace and volume of speech – there is no need to
exaggerate or shout.
.
3. Be flexible
 If you feel that you are not being understood, be patient, try and re-phrase the
sentence, rather than repeating the same words over and over or more
loudly. Some words are harder to lip – read than others (see
“Communication Methods”)
 Although lip-reading is not 100 percent reliable, deaf people do rely on lippatterns and facial expressions to help them understand the conversation.
Moustaches and beards that cover one’s lips do hinder the deaf person’s
ability to understand.
 Although it’s not usual for most people to maintain constant eye contact with
each other in a conversation, don’t be put off by the deaf person needing to
constantly watch your face and lips.
 Don’t expect the person to be able to watch you and write things down at the
same time.
Generally – think visual
When trying to get your message across, try to…….





Use visual references wherever possible (e.g. pointing at your watch when
talking about time, pointing to the person that you are talking about, showing
the person the documents you are discussing).
Use a pen and paper to write things down when something isn’t understood
eg list of things to do, instructions etc.
Where appropriate, demonstrate something rather than just talking about it as
it would help them understand better (e.g. demonstrate how to operate a
piece of equipment). You can also gesture, mime or act things out.
Provide written copies of anything that has been discussed and is important
(eg minutes of meetings, diagrams, etc).
Discuss with the deaf person the best ways to communicate and you might
need to try a few different options.
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Technological Communication Solutions
There are a number of technological devices and systems which help deaf and
hearing people ‘connect’. Some of these have been specifically developed with deaf
people in mind, and others are just a reflection of our changing communication
practices generally;
NRS
The National Relay Service is an Australia – wide telephone service available 24
hours every day at no extra call charge. Telephone calls via the NRS involve 3
people; the caller, the person they are calling, and a central relay operator (who has
both a TTY and a regular voice phone). So for example; when a deaf person wants
to call a hearing colleague who doesn’t have a TTY (or vice versa) the caller rings the
NRS first. The relay operator then connects them to the other party and passes on
the information between them, by reading out what’s typed, and typing out what’s
spoken. The NRS phone number is 133677 for TTY/voice.
Flashing Lights: Flashing lights can be used instead of sound based signals eg;
instead of a telephone ring, in addition to an alarm siren, as a visual doorbell etc.
Fax
The fax machine is a reliable and easy way to send and receive information in written
(ie visual) form.
E – Mail
Deaf people are just likely to be on – line as everyone else. E – Mail is a standard
part of many work environments, and again its visual nature means it’s an easy
alternative to a phone call.
SMS
Short messaging service (SMS) is an increasingly convenient way of contacting
someone quickly.
Audio loop systems and hearing aids
Often you will notice that meeting rooms or auditoriums have signs indicating they
are fitted with an audio loop. This allows people who wear hearing aids, to ‘tune in’
to the amplified sound in the room. For example, if someone is speaking at a
microphone, the deaf person can use a switch on their hearing aid to focus on that
sound, without the usual background noise interference.
Video and TV Captioning
Many television programs are subtitled or captioned for deaf and hard of hearing
people. This enables them to read what’s being said, rather than guess what’s going
on from occasional glimpses of the speaker’s lips on the screen. As videos are often
used in workplace training sessions, the information they contain can be made more
accessible to deaf employees by adding captioning. For advice about captioning,
contacts the Media Access Australia (08) 63802895 or visit www.auscap.com.au
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Working with an interpreter
Why use an interpreter?
A number of Deaf people use Auslan as their primary communication method (see
“Communication Methods Used by Deaf People”). Most employers don’t know
Auslan, so day to day communication is usually done in some form of written English.
However in some situations it’s critical for both sides to fully understand each other
and be confident in expressing themselves in their first language. These situations
include interviews (recruitment, promotion, performance appraisal), training sessions
and important meetings. This is where an interpreter can assist;
The interpreter’s role
Qualified interpreters are fluent in Auslan and English, and understand the cultural
and social differences between the 2 groups. Their role is to enable both sides to
fully understand each other and they follow a code of practice/ethics to ensure that
this is done fairly, eg: interpreters must maintain confidentiality, remain impartial and
not influence the situation, and ensure that their interpretation is accurate.
What do they need to know beforehand?
 The names of the clients (deaf and hearing) and the organisation
 Type of assignment (e.g. interview, training, meeting etc)
 Date, time, and duration of assignment
 Exact location details
 Any information that will help them do their job as an outsider to the
organisation (e.g. meeting agenda, training handouts, specific jargon etc)
How does it work?
Usually the interpreter will arrive approx 15 mins early, to familiarise themselves with
the deaf person’s communication style, and to be briefed by the employer about the
assignment.
The deaf client and interpreter can advise on the best seating or standing positions,
in relation to lighting and eye – lines. Often the interpreter sits next to whoever is the
main speaker; so that the deaf person can watch them both at the same time.
The interpreter will negotiate break times depending on the type and length of the
assignment (often this will be a short break every hour to avoid Occupational
Overuse Syndrome and fatigue).
Once the assignment has started, both sides talk to each other directly (as if the
interpreter wasn’t there) eg:
 Use the first person; “Please tell me about your…” (rather than “ask them to
tell me about their …”)
 Try to maintain eye contact (although the deaf person will often need to watch
the interpreter while the other person is speaking).
 Speak / sign at a normal pace (the interpreter will ask if they need you to slow
down or repeat information).
 Try to make sure that only one person speaks at a time
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Common Occupational Health and Safety Issues
Sometimes employers are concerned that deaf employees may represent higher
safety risks than other employees.
Can deaf people drive?
Deaf people can and do obtain licenses for all classes of vehicles, as well as qualify
for a forklift ticket.
Do deaf employees have more accidents than other workers?
There is no evidence to suggest that deaf people have more accidents than people
who can hear.
Is any special safety equipment required?
This depends on the work environment and the job. For example in some
workplaces, there may be a danger of not seeing approaching vehicles or
pedestrians coming around corners, so installing a convex mirror would help.
Another common device is a flashing alarm (for fire or other warning). These not
only help deaf employees but also make it safer for other workers who may be
wearing earmuffs or headphones and do not hear the existing alarm.
Can deaf people obtain a senior first aid certificate?
Many deaf people have successfully completed senior first aid certificate courses.
They go through the same training as other workers (using an interpreter if
necessary) and must pass the same tests. So there is no reason that they can’t be
considered for first aid officer roles in the workplace.
Generally
Both employers and employees have obligation under the Occupational Health and
Safety Act to ensure that they maintain a safe working environment, regardless of
whether they are deaf or can hear. If you have any safety concerns about a deaf
employee, the best place to start is by asking them about ways to address it. This
approach also minimises discrimination complaints, because it focuses on the
individual worker’s skills, rather than making general uninformed assumptions about
the ability of deaf people to cope with the situation. Deafinite Employment Services
will provide information and support regarding safety in the workplace. They are a
WA based organisation and can be contacted on 08-9441 2677.
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Anti – Discrimination Rights and Responsibilities
State and Commonwealth Anti – Discrimination laws affect employers and
employees. In all states, it is against the law to discriminate against someone just
because they have a physical disability. Deaf people are included in this category.
Employment is one of the areas by discrimination law, and includes:
 Applying for a job
 The selection process
 Terms and conditions of employment
 Harassment
 Training and promotion opportunities
 Disciplinary procedures
 And termination of employment
If a deaf person applies for a job or promotion, and can show that they have the
essential skills required then they should be considered for that job. If they are the
best applicant, based on their skills, then they should be given the job.
Sometimes people with a disability need extra support or assistance in the
workplace. For example a deaf employee might need a TTY (teletypewriter phone)
or to swap telephone tasks for other duties or to have a training video captioned.
The discrimination laws call this ‘accommodation’ of the disability. Employers are
expected to provide ‘reasonable accommodation’, taking into account that some
adjustments in the workplace are easier to provide than others. Sometimes this just
requires some creative thinking and willingness to try new ways of doing things.
What’s ‘reasonable’ depends on the individual circumstances. Where the costs are
too great or the changes required have negative impact on the organisation,
employers can claim ‘unjustifiable hardship’.
CONTACT
For more information, please contact the following:
Brent Levitzke 0420 923 580
Mel Pereira 0410 543 021
WA Institute for Deaf Education
53 Curtin Avenue
Cottesloe WA 6011
Tel: 9286 700
Fax: 9383 4404
TTY: 9384 6106
SMS: 0420 304 293
53 Curtin Avenue, COTTESLOE W.A. 6011. Tel. 9286 7000 Fax. 9383 4404 TTY. 9384 6106
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