Navigating Accessibility within the Workplace: Key tips for Businesses and Organisations to support Deaf and hard of hearing employees:
In recent years, we have seen companies and organisations shift their focus onto the importance of inclusion within the workplace. Indeed, creating an inclusive workplace is about fostering an environment where everyone can thrive and ultimately feel like they belong. In this post, we will discuss ways that you can make your workplace more deaf aware and a place where accessibility is at the heart of the company.
1 in 3 adults in the UK are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. This statistic underscores a crucial need that businesses and organisations cannot ignore. Ignoring the necessity for deaf awareness training, simply alienates a portion of the workforce. Through an alienation, barriers of communication are created, and a culture of respect is lost.
All businesses must abide by the 2010 Equality Act, which acts as a way of protection against unfair treatment in the workplace. It is within the businesses legal requirements that they comply to this law, however, promoting accessibility is something which goes beyond this. Accessibility is not a one-size-fits-all, rather accessibility is an umbrella term, encompassing a wide range of practices, principles, and considerations. Learning the ways in which you can make your workplace accessible will eliminate unintentional exclusion and overall ensure your organisation is one where everyone is equal.
A survey carried out by RNID highlighted that over half (54%) of deaf employees have worked without disclosing their hearing loss, with nearly a fifth (18%) fearing job loss and a third (33%) concerned about unfair treatment. Worryingly, 42% believed reasonable adjustments would not be possible, making disclosure seem pointless. These statistics highlight the urgent need for employers to promote deaf awareness, encourage open conversations, and implement reasonable adjustments such as captioning and flexible communication methods to ensure deaf employees can thrive professionally without fear of exclusion.
The importance of Deaf Awareness in the workplace:
Equipping your workplace with methods to ensure that it is a place that is accessible for Deaf and hard of hearing employees, doesn’t simply mean learning a few signs in British Sign Language. Although this shows a willingness to learn, other simple changes are also key. First, organisations should ensure that their workplace consists of a working environment which is accessible:
- A focus on reducing background noise: This is crucial as background noise can often interfere with an individual’s ability to distinguish speech from surrounding sounds. Those who are hard of hearing might use hearing aids to amplify noise, however, this might be more difficult if there is excessive noise in the office, leading to misinformation in some circumstances.
- Adapting the physical environment: The Health and Safety of your employees is imperative as it protects employees from injuries and illnesses. One crucial element to this is fire safety. Employees who are deaf or hard of hearing will benefit from visual fire alarms in all areas. As an employer, discuss the best position for this to be placed to ensure maximum safety.
Here at Signature, we offer Deaf Awareness Training which will equip businesses with the correct tools to ensure a supportive environment for Deaf employees and stakeholders. Investing in a Deaf Awareness Course highlights your businesses commitment to ensure an employee’s environment is one where they thrive. In 2023, Signature’s online deaf awareness course won The Positive Impact Award at the CPD Awards, which celebrates an organisation, company, or training provider that has made a positive impact on the world of CPD.
