Deaf Awareness in the workplace-7

Tip 7 - Attention 

With Deaf people, you get attention by gently waving your hand in their line of sight, tapping them on the forearm or moving into their field of vision. You can also gain attention by tapping on the desk or table and by flicking the lights on and off quickly. Try not to approach from behind, never touch on the back or head and DO NOT SHOUT!
If you would like more information, please check our website http://www.silent-sounds.co.uk/blog.php or call our office and speak to one of our helpful staff.

Deaf Awareness in the workplace-6

Tip 6 - Speaking 

Some Deaf people´s speech sounds odd to hearing people; however, you should not believe it is an indicator of stupidity. If you had to try to speak a foreign language which you have never heard and when you cannot hear your own voice properly, your speech would sound funny. If you do not understand, be patient and ask for a repetition. If it is still not clear to you, ask the person to write it down.
If you would like more information, please check our website http://www.silent-sounds.co.uk/blog.php or call our office and speak to one of our helpful staff.

Deaf Awareness in the workplace-5

Tip 5 - Lip - reading

Deaf people do not lip-read - actually nobody can lip-read English - because around half of it is invisible on the lips - people who seem to lip-read are mostly using guesswork based on their existing knowledge of English and on the context. When you are with Deaf people it is a good idea to face them and speak directly at normal speed, while they are looking at you. Do not cover your mouth/face with your hands and do not sit with the light behind you (eg with the window at your back) as that casts a shadow on your face. Try to avoid visual distractions like waving a pen or random gestures or looking away. If asked to repeat, do so patiently as it does not indicated lack of attention just that the Deaf person just wants to be sure of what you are saying.
If you would like more information, please check our website http://www.silent-sounds.co.uk/blog.php or call our office and speak to one of our helpful staff.

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Tip 4 - Hearing Loss 

Deaf people have different degrees of hearing loss and that hearing loss can seem to vary from day to day and from situation to situation. Deaf people who don´t turn around when called, are not ignoring you .... even if they seemed to hear better yesterday. Some Deaf people can hear and people who are hard-of hearing will be able to use a hearing aid. Individuals vary - so some people will be able to conduct a conversation through hearing if the surroundings are quiet but not in noisy situations nor where there are groups of people. Generally, you should not rely on their use of a hearing aid - make your communication as visual as possible.
If you would like more information, please check our website http://www.silent-sounds.co.uk/blog.php or call our office and speak to one of our helpful staff.

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Tip 3 -English

Everything that can be said in English can also be signed. It is a recognised language and will serve the purpose of all members of the Deaf community. Some Deaf people can use both languages - English (usually written) and BSL - but they may use the English better in some contexts rather than others - not because Deaf people are unintelligent, but because they have had limited access to education.
If you would like more information, please check our website http://www.silent-sounds.co.uk/blog.php or call our office and speak to one of our helpful staff.

Deaf Awareness in the workplace-2

Deaf Awareness in the workplace-Tip2
Language

Deaf people use sign language - more accurately, British Sign Language or just BSL, which has a different structure to English - it is not English on the hands. Finger-spelling is used to represent specific English words when needed. In fact in BSL, the face, the body and the hands are all equally important; Deaf people watch the face when signing, not the hands. BSL is different to other sign languages (eg American Sign Language and French Sign Language) and has been known to exist for over 400 years in the UK.
If you would like more information, please check our website www.silent-sounds.co.uk or call our office and speak to one of our helpful staff.

Deaf Awareness in the workplace

Deaf awareness in the workplace can be a huge problem.
In order for employers to fully integrate the deaf person into their workforce, it is important that they understand the needs of the deaf person, and make employees aware of the problems that can arise, not all of which are immediately obvious!


Silent Sounds UK Ltd can provide an effective consultancy service to ensure that your workplace is "deaf friendly" and also Deaf Awareness training to ensure that your key staff fully understand how to deal with deaf people in the workplace. 
Over the next 2 weeks we are going to be passing on our top ten tips on Deaf awareness in the workplace.
If you would like more information, please check our website http://www.silent-sounds.co.uk/blog.php or call our office and speak to one of our helpful staff.



1/ First day at work
For everyone, a new job brings a series of anxieties about the unknown. New workmates, new workplace, new rules and expectations. Almost everyone has some uncertainty. For most people, this shows up as not being able to remember anyone´s names - and it takes quite a while to adjust to that. However, for a Deaf person, the first day with new hearing workmates is a much bigger trip into the unknown. Not that Deaf people are not used to dealing with hearing people - they have to do it every day in their lives. But it is just that these hearing people will be there everyday from now on.
It helps if people have name badges; it helps if locations and jobs are well labelled. It helps if things that have to be done are visually labelled.
This includes the need to have some attention to facial expression. A Deaf person probably cannot lip-read you well and so will rely on your facial expression to try to figure out if that was a welcome, an unimportant comment, an instruction or an explanation. Be aware of what your face says - frowns, unhappiness, sulks are very easily read by Deaf people. Make sure your face says what your words are also saying.

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Guardian's special "deaf power" feature

A new mood is taking hold of Britain's deaf people. This growing confidence is summed up by deaf comedian John Smith, who bounds across the stage in a superhero's cape and shouts, "Deaf power!" 
More than 8 million Britons have impaired hearing, ranging from the 6 million older people who are mildly or moderately deaf, to the 700,000 whose deafness is more profound. In a special deaf issue, the Guardian's Life and style supplement, explores how it feels to be part of deaf culture today. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/deaf for the complete feature
Check www.silent-sounds.co.uk/blog.php for other news stories on deaf issues and British sign language.