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Enhancing Employment Opportunities for Deaf/HoH Individuals

Explore how IVRS is dedicated to overcoming barriers to employment for the Deaf and HoH community by providing staff with cultural awareness, assistive technology information, and resources. Discover tips for communication and accommodation strategies.

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Enhancing Employment Opportunities for Deaf/HoH Individuals

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  1. Goal: IVRS is a responsive agency to the needs of all persons with disabilities with a focus on overcoming barriers to employment for persons who are Deaf and have hard of hearing/HH. IVRS Commitment to Serve

  2. How IVRS works with Deaf/HoH • Prepare IVRS staff to be responsive to job candidates who are deaf and/or HH • Provide IVRS staff with information regarding Deaf culture • Provide IVRS staff information regarding current assistive technology used to support job candidates who are deaf and/or HH overcome communication barriers • Provide IVRS staff information regarding resources available to support IVRS staff working with job candidates who are deaf and/or HH

  3. Deaf Culture • A set of learned behaviors and perceptions that set the values and norms of deaf people based on their shared or common experiences.

  4. Deaf Culture • Beliefs • Not disabled, “normal” person experiencing life in a different way • Languages • Signed English • ASL/American Sign Language • Cued speech • Finger spelling • Speech reading/lip reading • Pigeon Signed English

  5. Outreach • Deaf and/or HH persons need to feel • Market that you are learning and want to learn about Deaf and/or HH communities and culture • Go to events and after hours • Learn ASL • Encourage job candidates who are deaf and/or HH to come learn about our services AND link how those services can benefit the person • Put up culturally supportive signs, use vibrant colors and art in the office and waiting areas • Access • Ask the person their preference in communication • Provide free of cost communication supports based on the person’s preference (IVRS required to provide this when requested)

  6. AT Consideration • Keep it simple • Usually least expensive route • Easier to learn • Faster to become second nature/natural process to do things • Usually least intrusive/appear “normal” • Consider safety • User • Others • Environment • Compatibility • Software • User

  7. AT Options • Built-in Accessibility features under system preferences • Vision • Display (provides options for text color and the background color) • Zoom • Media • Captions (when available, subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing/SDH or closed captions will be used instead of standard subtitles) • Hearing • Audio (have the screen flash versus a sound to notify/alert user)

  8. Built-in Apps Available on iOS & Android Devices

  9. AT Options • Note taking • Notability by Ginger Labes(iOS only) • AudioNote by Luminant Software (iOS and Android) • SmartPen by Livescribe

  10. Accommodation Statistics • 15% of accommodations are $0 cost • 51% cost between $1 and $500 • 12% cost between $501 and $1000 • 22% cost more than $1000

  11. Tips for Communication • Meet in quiet setting • Enclosed office • Low to no traffic • Face the person and make eye contact when speaking • Use pictures and visuals whenever possible • Do not yell or mumble • If person prefers lip reading, do not overemphasize words or facial expressions • Be patient and relaxed

  12. Tips For Getting Attention • Tactfully move into the persons visual field • Gently tap the on the person’s shoulder • Flick lights • Slow-medium pace for non emergent request • Fast pace for an emergency • Ask the individual for how his/her preference

  13. Tips For Group Settings • Before meetings or presentations, provide the Deaf or hard of hearing person with an agenda. This will make it easier for him/her to understand and follow the event. • Ensure you have proper communication access service such as an interpreter, CART and/or assistive listening devices. • A note-taker, visual aids and follow up correspondence can allow greater accessibility to information. • Arrange seating so individuals can see each other clearly.

  14. Tips For Group Settings • Upon speaking, raise your hand to signify it is your turn to talk. • Only one person must speak at a time • Avoid loud environment. • Allow more time to communicate. • Ask the person if the site will work.

  15. Communication Options • Interpreter Services • Real-Time captioning services (CART) • Technical Devices • Assistive listening devices (ALD) • Phone Devices: amplifiers, adapters, volume control • TTYs • VCO (Voice Carry Over phones) • Signaling devices • Closed captioning for TV • Reading and writing notes (for short/simple interactions)

  16. Online Resources • IVRS AT Website (http://ivrs/intranet/AssistiveTechnology/SWATTflowcharts.pdfand http://ivrs/intranet/AssistiveTechnology/NewATPage.html) • Job Accommodation Network (www.AskJan.org) • Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology/QIAT ListServe (http://www.qiat.org/) • Georgia Tech Tools for Life (http://www.gatfl.gatech.edu/favorite-search.php) • Google (www.google.com) • YouTube (www.YouTube.com)

  17. Just a call away/Email… • Vienna Hoang, IVRS AT Counselor Specialist, Office (515)725-2072, Cell (515)802-1460, Vienna.Hoang@iowa.gov • Bob Hendrickson, IVRS AT Counselor Specialist, Office (563)880-1350, Robert.Hendrickson@iowa.gov • Lee Ann Russo, IVRS Resource Manager, Office (319)290-4526, leeann.russo@iowa.gov

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