Making It Happen: Fostering Success in the Workplace for Deaf Employees

2. Making It Happen: Fostering Success in the Workplace for Deaf Employees Rochester Institute of Technology National Technical Institute for the Deaf June 10, 2014

3. NTID Center on Employment John Macko, Director Dawn Lucas, Associate Director

4. NTID at a Glance NTID is celebrating 45 years of providing career education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students from around the country and around the world. NTID was established by an Act of Congress in 1965 at RIT due to emphasis on cooperative education program.

5. NTID 70 students were admitted to RIT in 1968 Currently, RIT/NTID enrolls nearly 1,300 students annually NTID is funded by the U.S. Department of Education

6. Where Our Students Come From? RIT deaf and hard-of-hearing students hail from all across the U.S., and 16 different countries. 21 12 Other Countries Represented: Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Cameroon, Canada, China, Ghana, Hungary, India, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Pakistan, Tanzania, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe 1 1 5 24 1 386 10 RIT 72 7 39 1 2 39 35 1 67 5 86 10 6 49 23 2 105 Maryland 58 39 0 3 33 9 D.C. 2 13 12 18 99 6 7 5 6 13 4 27 8 4 2 7 4 46 35

7. What Do These Employers Have In Common? • IBM • NAVAIR • NAVSEA • University of Michigan • Tiffany & Co • U.S. Army – Tobyhanna • Walt Disney BNY Mellon Central Intelligence Agency Dow Chemical Co General Electric – Aviation Google

8. NTID Career Paths Business/Computer • (BS and AS Levels) • Accountant • Accounting Technician • Administrative Assistant • Computer Technician • Financial Analyst • HR Assistant • Marketing Specialist • Network Technician • Programmer Science/Engineering • (BS and AS Levels) • Biologist • CAD Technician • Civil Engineer/Technician • Computer Engineer • Electrical Engineer/Technician • Laboratory Technician • Machinist • Manufacturing Engineer • Mechanical Engineer

9. NTID Career Paths Visual Communication • (BS and AS Levels) • Computer Graphic Artist • Digital Prepress Technician • Graphic Designer • Image Preparation Technician • Industrial Designer • Layout Artist • Multi-Media Specialist • Photographer • Print Production Assistant • Video Editor • Web Designer Liberal Arts/Hospitality • (BS and AS Levels) • Banquet Manager • Events Coordinator • Front Desk Associate • Journalist/Writer/Editor • Marketing & Advertising Professional • Public Relations Specialist • Researcher

10. What are employer’s top 3 concerns related to working with someone who is deaf? • Communication – How? • Safety • Accommodations – Cost?

11. Working Together Program • Goal - to build bridges of understanding between deaf and hearing employees so that the most productive and mutually beneficial work relationships can be developed • Agenda • Understanding Hearing Loss • Communication Essentials • Integrating and Accommodating Deaf Employees

12. Consultations/Online Resources • Available by phone, videophone, e-mail…etc. • Check out the employer section at http://www.ntid.rit.edu/nce/employers

13. True or False • Most deaf people can speech read everything that’s spoken to them. • At best, 30 percent of speech is even visible from the lips. • Our training offers interactive exercises that allow hearing participants to experience simulated hearing loss and speech reading.

14. True or False • If a deaf person doesn’t understand your speech, writing is an acceptable way to communicate. • Writing • Mobile device: Tablet (iPad) or iPhone • Laptop

15. True or False • When communicating in person, it’s important to maintain eye-contact with the deaf person you’re talking with.

16. What would YOU do? • As a boss you’re setting up an interview to meet a candidate you know is deaf due to information on the resume. What would you do to ensure a successful interview?

17. What would YOU do? • The Boss has requested a mandatory meeting at the last minute and there is no time to request a sign language interpreter. What strategies could you use to facilitate the meeting to make sure the deaf employees can fully participate in the meeting?

18. Multiple Choice • In general, how do deaf people with a profound hearing loss prefer to communicate? • Sign language • Oral/aural communication • Total communication • Interactive writing • Preferred communication may differ depending on the person and the situation

19. General Communication Strategies • Maintain eye contact when speaking • State the topic of discussion and speak slowly and clearly • Use open-ended questions • Use gestures, body language, and facial expression to help communication • Choose an environment that is conducive to communication

20. Group Communication Strategies • Provide agenda and use visual aids during meeting • Consider the layout of the room to provide good communication • Avoid speaking when writing on board • Make sure the deaf person does not miss vital information • Have minutes or notes taken for later reference

21. NTID Center on Employment Serviceswww.ntid.rit.edu/nce/ • Assists deaf and hard-of-hearing NTID/RIT students with job searches • Offers orientation and training programs for employers • Arranges for employers to recruit on-campus, post jobs, and request resumes • Makes staff available for consultation before, during, and after the hire • Coordinates faculty and staff visits to selected co-op students and their employers

22. Recruiting Events • Job Postings • Resume Packages • On-campus Interviewing • Distance Interviewing • NTID Job Fair – October 29, 2014 www.ntid.rit.edu/nce/employers/job-fair

23. Contact Information: John Macko – Director jrmned@rit.edu – 585-475-6726 Dawn Lucas – Associate Director delnce@rit.edu – 585-475-7654