Grant Laird, Jr. Blog

WORKING IN HEARING WORLD

24 01 2005

Deaf logo Over years I had opportunity to meet many deaf and hard of hearing (d/hh) people from all over United States at conference, expo, workshop, and other events. It is good to know that many d/hh people have good job locally whether they have college degree or not. There?s also large numbers of d/hh that has no job for years.

Also, I’ve noticed that there are high numbers of Deaf people with A.A. or B.S. degree(s) are in “Special Education,” or related. It’s alright - it’s just that thousands of them ended up working at deaf school, deaf university, deaf education program, deaf-related nonprofit organization and others. I think it is wonderful ? I have no problem with it.

Another large numbers of Deaf people working in federal such as US Post Services (USPS), IRS, and many other department. There’s numbers of Deaf people working for state-level departments especially in capital of each state. For example, there are many deaf people working for state in Austin which is capital for Texas.

Today, I still see low numbers of deaf people enter challenge field such as web designer, engineering, server administrator, video developer, and all other technology related out there. Also, there are big void in financial, medical and legal field too. I am sure there’s more out there but I can’t think of one right now.

Among other thing, many deaf people still depends on Social Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) for years but that’s another story.

MY EXPERIENCE

I am telling you that those fields are much more exciting and challenge. Sure, it can be difficult for some people no matter what. Personally, I work for Texas Instruments (semiconductor division) for 15+ years now and I never regret working for them. Sure, it can be isolated for me sometime but I am not alone ? many hearing employee are isolated sometime too.

Why should you work for technologies or financial/medical/legal companies?

1. Better pay & more opportunity and promotion
2. Better benefits, pension & long term investment (401k, etc.)
3. More challenge & more exciting (less gossip)
4. Learn new things daily
5. Make you understand better about A.D.A.
6. Impact hearing community in short & long term
7. Participate diversity initiative
8. Possibly help their product to be more deaf-friendly
9. Better networking (Finding new job, looks good on resume, etc.)
10. Much more!

TIME TO CHALLENGE

I challenge you to rethink what you want to do in your future job. I am very proud that deaf & hard of hearing people already work for private and/or corporate sectors. We still have a lot to go but hopefully we are getting there in few years ? who know?

Did you know that federal & state aren?t aggressively in hiring deaf & hard of hearing people like they used to be? Yes, it?s been proved that it?s been declined in past few years. That?s why they formed an organization that oversees this challenge. Again, you can?t wait for them to fix the problem. You got get rolling and jump wherever they open job

THINK DIFFERENT

I?ve spoken with several people and including my sister who graduated and received B.S. degree in accounting at Gallaudet University. (Deaf university in Washington D.C.) She is hard of hearing but she raise by deaf family just like me and she can hear / talk well on phone. Anyway, she got job at hospital and working there for few years. She?s not happy with it because she wants to see / social more deaf people even they have few another deaf employees. She ended up working for deaf school as housekeeping for few years before she left permanently due to full-time mother for her two children.

I talked with deaf gentleman who used to be professor at local university. He admitted that working with hearing students are challenge but also rewarding. I am talking about 100 hearing students watching deaf professor teaching with interpreter. It is amazing and you can do it, too! Yes, they will provide you interpreter if you really need it. No questions about it.

NOW WHAT?

We have protection from A.D.A. and discrimination is not allowed. So, I strongly encourage you everyone to apply wherever you want to work at. Let?s say, you want to be teacher at local school district, go for it. Why not become teacher for hearing students ? nothing wrong with it. Sure, it will cause panic for district management but you are already protected by A.D.A. Does it sound funny to have deaf teacher with interpreter for hearing students? I don?t think so. There?s huge job opportunity out there. Don?t wait for deaf school job position to become available.

Sure, it may create more nervous in hearing community but that?s no big deal. As long as you do your job and stay reasonable for your accommodation needs. Don?t be demand or threaten anybody at workplace no matter what. If you feel frustrated or belittle by your group, go see Human Resources (HR) for help. If not working, go for higher management for help. (Open door policy) It sounds easy ? No, I expect it to be difficult but I know you can do it. Learn from your mistake and do better next time.

Some people still blaming ADA for high unemployment in deaf & disability community because they fear lawsuits. You just have to be smarter player at workplace. That’s simple. In my case, I didn’t do well for first few years but I finally realize and doing right first time. It will take times — which are perfectly alright.

That?s why we have all kind of assistive technologies for your needs such as TTY, hearing aid, cochlear implant, flashing alarm, relay service (all kinds), interpreter, pager, louder volume phone, caption/subtitle and many different other tools out there. It should help getting your job done easily just like everyone else.

I know that some hearing people in HR will panic. They probably will ask for help elsewhere. Make sure you offer to help them, give them few good book to read such as ?For Hearing People Only? and as well as give them phone number to contact deaf-related nonprofit organization (all kinds) and they usually will help them one way or other. Developing good relationship is way to go!

I am sure you guys had experience like this before and everyone have their own successful and/or failure. If you want to share your experience, please do email me about it.

P.S. If it did not work out well for you, start up your own business