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Setting Up An Inclusive Workplace For Deaf Employees

Learn everything you need to know about setting up an inclusive workspace for deaf and hard-of-hearing employees right here!

Author:
Colton Jannusch
Setting Up An Inclusive Workplace For Deaf Employees

When we look around us, we slowly but surely see a society that increasingly embraces diversity and inclusion. This is reflected by more companies and brands who have adjusted their hiring practices by seeking diverse talent. Building an inclusive workplace is important because it promotes a sense of belonging and acceptance among all employees. This can be made possible by creating a welcoming, inclusive culture and leveraging the power of a diverse workforce. What does this look like for deaf employees?

How To Create an Inclusive Workplace for Deaf Employees

Hire Deaf and HoH Employees

Inclusive hiring practices ensure that persons with disabilities are represented in your workforce. By hiring and retaining deaf talent, you create further dynamism in your workforce. 

The deaf perspective is unique and the lived experience of a deaf person is like no other. This greatly enhances the diversity of your workforce. Here at Nagish, we believe that our deaf employees have a lot to offer in terms of talent, production, and perspective.

Studies have shown time and time again that all workers benefit from a more diverse workplace, especially one that is inclusive of both hearing and deaf employees.

I do want to note here that hiring more than one deaf employee is a must, as it allows for them to not feel “alone” in the mainstream setting where everybody around them is hearing. There is a sense of community that they can rely on internally when they go to work and do great things.

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Conduct Deaf Awareness Training

Diversity training may help employees understand, accept, and respect each other’s differences. This is a great opportunity for those without disabilities to learn about the tools and accommodations available for better integration across teams and divisions/departments. 

For instance, hearing employees can learn how to get a deaf person’s attention, and how to provide accommodations to include the opinions of deaf employees during work meetings or 1:1 check-ins. 

With a focus on communication access, deaf employees can thrive in the workplace alongside their hearing peers.

Introduce the Significance of Deaf History

As a part of the training for all employees, be sure to expand your company’s holiday calendar by recognizing important days in deaf culture and history. The simple act of doing this is a way for the deaf employees to feel included as all holidays that are mandated were created by hearing people for hearing people. In addition to deaf awareness training, your organization can host a variety of ASL workshops monthly for employees to partake in.

Learn Sign Language (ASL)

The girl is using sign language

This is a fun way to get all employees to bond! It gives the deaf employees in your company a chance to put the spotlight on themselves, their community, their culture, and their language. This serves as one of several ways to educate the workforce and provide exposure to the deaf community. 

For some hearing workers, this will reduce the fear of communicating with a deaf co-worker and allow for both to build a strong rapport as a part of a positive working climate.

Provide ASL Interpreting

Include deaf employees in meetings by providing them with a sign language interpreter. This helps ensure that we value their participation. 

This can be done for large meetings, group presentations, or individual 1:1 meetings. Interpreters can appear in person or remotely through online platforms. Some companies with a significant amount of deaf employees even keep an interpreter on the payroll.

We strongly believe in the utility of hiring an ASL interpreter where possible because it can foster effective communication between hearing and deaf employees. This also safeguards equal opportunities for all employees.

The Use of Technology

The simple act of creating an inclusive workplace helps deaf employees to feel included at work. This can be done through the use of technological tools such as:

  • Video conferencing equipment and sign language interpreters during meetings.
  • Real-time captioning, which is a technology that converts spoken language into text on a computer monitor or laptop screen, is an effective tool to ensure that deaf employees gain access to critical information to succeed at work.
  • Instant messaging through work platforms also gives deaf employees a convenient way of communicating with hearing peers and improving workflows. Microsoft Teams and Slack come to mind.

Making Sure Deaf Voices Are Heard

You should form an inclusion council or task force within your organization that will work towards a shared mission of accessibility and inclusivity. Make deaf employees a part of this initiative so their voices are heard and respected. They will have important feedback regarding accommodations that can be implemented to make the workplace more inclusive.

Creating a Safe Space

An inclusion council or task force also gives everyone with a disability a safe space within your organization as they work toward making non-disabled employees more aware of how to increase accessibility. It’s a chance to acknowledge language barriers and provide guidelines for running more inclusive meetings while encouraging deaf employees to feel safe speaking up when they experience issues in communication.

Conclusion

Inclusive workplaces create an environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered. Achieving an inclusive workplace culture for deaf employees increases the likelihood of improved job performance and job satisfaction. You will be setting your deaf employees up for success, and everyone in your organization will benefit from a more inclusive workplace. 

We hope the tips above helped you advocate for workplace equity and inclusion from a deaf perspective!

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Colton Jannusch

A passionate and dedicated English teacher who creates an inclusive and engaging learning environment, inspiring students to develop their language skills and cultivate a lifelong love for literature.

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Setting Up An Inclusive Workplace For Deaf Employees

Key Findings

  • Workplace Impact: 62% of Deaf and 66% of Hard-of-Hearing individuals report that communication barriers hinder career mobility.
  • Healthcare Challenges: 62% of Deaf and 66% of Hard-of-Hearing individuals experience communication barriers in healthcare settings, contributing to delays in treatment.
  • Concerns About Emergency Communications: 20% of Deaf and 24.3% Hard-of-Hearing users also expressed serious concerns that communication barriers would prohibit them from contacting healthcare personnel in an emergency situation.
  • Independence Boost: Assistive technology nearly doubled rates of independence, with 60% of Deaf users and 63% of Hard-of-Hearing users reporting increased autonomy.
  • Emotional Strain: 55% of Deaf users and 83% of Hard-of-Hearing users reported emotional distress due to communication frustrations.
  • Social and Professional Opportunities: 46% of Deaf and 32.9% of Hard-of-Hearing users saw improved social and career prospects thanks to assistive technologies.

Empowering the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Through Technology: A New Era of Communication and Independence

At Nagish, we’ve seen firsthand just how much communication shapes daily life for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities. Our recent survey highlights the significant barriers they face in the workplace, healthcare settings, and in their social lives. But it also sheds light on a powerful solution: assistive technology. The results of this survey reinforce our commitment to empowering these communities and remind us why our mission matters: with access to the right tools, independence grows, opportunities expand, and well-being improves.

We collected data through a comprehensive survey involving over 300 individuals who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing and currently use hearing assistive technology. The survey included 179 Deaf and 140 Hard-of-Hearing participants, with data collected in an inclusive and accessible manner to ensure that everyone could participate and share their experiences without barriers.Communication Barriers in the Workplace: Limiting Career Mobility

Communication challenges in the workplace remain one of the most significant hurdles for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals, preventing them from fully realizing their career potential. Assistive technology offers a solution by removing these barriers and expanding access to a broader range of job opportunities and career growth.

A majority of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing participants reported that communication barriers affected their career decisions, making it harder to pursue job opportunities or advance in their careers.

Deaf Participants

Hard-of-Hearing participants

65% of Deaf users rely on assistance from hearing individuals at least once a week to communicate effectively, which can limit their ability to fully engage in dynamic work environments.

Communication Barriers in Healthcare: A Matter of Public Safety
Communication challenges are not just a workplace issue — they extend into healthcare settings, where they can directly impact individuals’ health outcomes. Accessible communication tools are essential for ensuring that Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals can receive timely and accurate medical care, especially in emergency situations

Many Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users face communication barriers in healthcare settings, which can lead to missed appointments, misunderstandings about medical treatments, and delayed care.

Deaf users:

62%

Hard of Hearing users:

66%

Some Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users have concerns about reaching healthcare professionals in emergencies, highlighting serious public safety risks.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Empowering Independence Through Assistive Technology
One of the most encouraging findings from our survey is just how much independence is boosted with assistive technology. This improvement in independence is not just about doing things on their own; it’s about having the confidence and ability to engage fully in both professional and personal settings.

Assistive technology has significantly increased the independence of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users in managing daily tasks, showing clear improvements after adoption.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Expanding Social and Professional Opportunities
Beyond independence, assistive technology creates connection.By removing communication barriers that keep people from joining in socially or professionallyassistive technology allows users to engage more deeply in social activities and pursue career opportunities that were previously out of reach.

Assistive technology has helped Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users expand their social networks and professional opportunities, enabling new connections and career growth.

Emotional and Psychological Impact: The Hidden Toll of Communication Barriers
People often overlook the emotional and psychological toll of communication , but they can have a profound impact on the mental well-being of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals. Assistive technology can help alleviate this emotional strain, empowering users to communicate more effectively and reducing the anxiety associated with relying on others for basic communication.

A significant number of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users experience frustration and anxiety when communicating with family and friends, leading to isolation and stress.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Why This Matters: A Call for Widespread Adoption of Assistive Technologies
The findings from our survey are clear: communication barriers continue to limit the lives of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals in many areas, from the workplace to healthcare to their social lives. What’s also clear to us is that the question isn’t whether assistive technology helps—it’s how quickly we can make this powerful solution universally available.. By making these tools more accessible, we can open up new opportunities for individuals to thrive in their careers, maintain better health, and lead more independent lives.
At Nagish, we are committed to advocating for the integration of assistive technologies in all aspects of life. Whether it’s in healthcare, the workplace, or social settings, these technologies have the potential to create a more inclusive society where Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals can live fully empowered lives. 
Our hope is that these findings inspire not just awareness, but action. We hope this survey creates awareness and action in promoting accessibility and inclusion for these communities. Together, we can create a world where everyone, regardless of their hearing abilities, has equal access to opportunities and services.