Work From Home for the Hearing Impaired
Recently, more and more employers are opening their doors to offer remote work settings for people with disabilities. And it is a favorable option for the hearing-impaired since working on-site can be more stressful for the long term.
Sadly, there are still a few companies that assume that hearing impairment is a disadvantage to their workplace. The National Deaf Center (NDC) stated that almost half of deaf people are not employed in America.
According to their 2021 statistics, there is a 53.5% employment rate among people with hearing impairment compared to the 70.4% employment rate of people without hearing impairment.
As a person with hearing disabilities, you need to find a job where you can safely express yourself without a hint of inequality. A deaf person can be as productive and successful as anyone can be if provided with the same career opportunities.
If you are looking for a work-from-home job for the hearing impaired, reading this article is a great start. Let us discuss with you how convenient and manageable working remotely can be.
The Benefits of Working from Home for the Hearing Impaired
In the recent event of NDC called #DeafAtWork, the deaf panelists discovered that their productivity was higher than in pre-pandemic days. They all found unique ways to adapt and cope with the abrupt changes in work settings brought about by Covid-19.
This case proves that the hearing impaired can be resilient and flexible when working in the comfort of their homes. Here are a few reasons why work-from-home can be beneficial for deaf workers:
Flexibility to create a comfortable and quiet work environment
Remote work gives you the freedom of creating your own comfortable work space and schedule. You have the option to work in a place where your productivity is maximized.
You can either enjoy a nice and quiet place like your home or be around other peers in a nearby coffee shop. The work-from-home setup allows you to decorate your place too. Having it cleaned and organized will surely boost your productivity.
Reduced distractions and interruptions
In a work-from-home setting, most meetings are scheduled in advance. This means you have the time to prepare yourself before communicating with your colleagues.
There is no need to be extra mindful of external noises and if someone is approaching or calling you while working. Every interaction happens on the screen which reduces distractions or interruptions when working.
Increased focus and productivity
The work-from-home setting will help you discipline yourself to focus on a certain task. It can be challenging at first but once you get the hang of it, the level of your productivity will increase immensely.
Cost-savings on assistive technology
Expensive or complicated assistive hearing products will most likely not be a requirement when working in a remote setting. Communication can be done through email or chat.
If there is a sound alarm, a flashing screen can be used to alert the hearing impaired. Also, some companies offer video interpreting services or hire ASL interpreters to support their deaf employees during a staff video meeting.
Increased job opportunities
A remote work setting increases job inclusivity for people with hearing disabilities. This new work norm has opened several non-voice job opportunities such as being a content writer, chat operator, digital creator, web designer, and more.
Improved work-life balance
Having access to a healthy work-life balance is another advantage of working at home. Most remote jobs are lenient, and output based. You can make your work schedule and set a time for yourself to unwind and rest. The time of commuting or traveling to your office can be your time to work out, eat breakfast, or meditate before starting your work routine.
Accommodations for the Hearing Impaired in a Remote Work Setting
Though resiliency is a characteristic, at some point, hard-hearing or deaf people can still feel isolated and incapable. In the absence of much needed support from employers and co-workers, remote working setups can be tough.
Before applying for a work-from-home job, make sure that the company can provide the proper supplementary aids and support for their employees with hearing disabilities. The following are the major accommodations usually given to the hearing impaired in a remote work setting.
Assistive technology, such as captioning and sign language interpreters (if necessary)
The recent pandemic has been a catalyst for us to recognize the career barriers encountered by deaf employees. Adapting these newly available programs and assistive technologies will make the work easily accessible for them.
The NCDHHS made a list of the various telecommuting tools that can be used for people who are deaf or experience some degree of hearing loss.
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Alerting Systems - This tool is designed using lights, high-frequency sounds, and vibrating notifications to alert deaf or hard-of-hearing people.
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Instant Messaging - Google Chat, MS Teams, and Skype are now standard online tools for communication in the workplace.
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Internet Captioned Platforms - For group phone calls, the conversation can be transcribed and visible on your computer screen while the communication is ongoing. (e.g. Hamilton and Mobile CapTel)
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Amplification Devices - Amplifiers help raise the volume and clarify speech when communicating with others. This is helpful for those who are experiencing hearing loss at some level.
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Video Chatting - This platform is ideal for those who are used to speech-reading communication. Also, many video meeting applications allow the display of captions while the meeting is ongoing.
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Video Relay Service (VRS) - You can use virtual interpreters for those individuals whose primary language is ASL (American Sign Language) or BSL (British Sign Language. Many accurate interpreters are available online and can be downloaded to mobile devices. You can check out Purple VRS or ZVRS to learn more about these resources.
Communication options, such as email, instant messaging, and video conferencing
The company must consider the communication needs before implementing a home working structure for their deaf employees. Take note that not all video communication platforms are suitable and reliable.
Find a work where the communications can be done through email, instant messaging or video platforms that do not compromise productivity for deaf people. Make sure that these platforms are also user-friendly and have great accessibility, security, and quality.
Flexible scheduling and meeting times
The employer should also consider the work schedule arrangements affirmatively for their hearing-impaired workers. The meetings must be planned out beforehand so that deaf employees have adequate time to prepare.
In every meeting, the person in charge must be well-prepared. This means making visual presentations, videos with captions, and/or note materials before the meeting starts.
Also, a great way to accommodate people with hearing loss is to give them time to ask questions or clarifications during or before the meeting ends. In this way, miscommunication can be avoided.
Training for coworkers and supervisors
While assistive technology is helpful, an employee with hearing impairment still needs the support of his/her team and supervisors. Implementing mandatory training for effective communication with a colleague who is suffering from hearing loss is an excellent form of onboarding.
The training should cover the following to build inclusivity and a safe work environment for hearing-impaired employees.
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Learning the basics of BSL or ASL
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Understanding the culture and lifestyle of the deaf community.
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Recognizing the assistive telecommunication tools.
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Learning how to communicate with a hearing-impaired person. (e.g. the pace of talking, volume, and visual cues).
Characteristics of a Good Work-From-Home Job for the Hearing Impaired
Based on the article “Addressing Audism” by the Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center (HSDC), people with hearing impairments face audism almost every day. Audism is defined as discrimination or prejudice against individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing - at work.
Most employers don’t realize that deaf or hearing-impaired people can be extremely valuable in businesses. The effort and productivity they can exert are second to none. Employer who hire them must ensure that their company gives the best support system such as:
Allows limited face-to-face interaction and communication
In-person meetings daily can be tiresome and frustrating to the well-being of hearing-impaired employees. To be considerate, you must explore other forms of healthy communication among them.
If you are going to schedule a meeting with your hearing impaired employee, you should guarantee the following points:
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In group meetings, avoid multiple people speaking at the same time.
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Hand out an agenda first to prevent diverting the important topics into a different ones.
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Make sure to record the meeting and have someone jot down the important points/minutes for reviewing.
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Use visual presentation and auto-captioning/transcription during team meetings.
Provides communication and collaboration tools, assistive technology, and provides training programs for employees
A good and considerate company should provide effective communication tools and assistive technologies for their hearing-impaired employees.
Most companies implement a captioning system called CART: Communication Access Realtime Translation. This is when they hire a professional ASL/BSL interpreter who transcribes spoken words for hearing-impaired employees.
Setting up vibration, strobe lights, or high-frequency alarms on the laptops or devices of employees with hearing disabilities would be beneficial for them as well. Likewise, when the company provides enough training to help them learn the communication tools which they can use before working at home.
Conclusion
Work-from-home setup may not be for everyone, but people with hearing disabilities can manage this job effectively. They are known for being resilient because they still choose to live and work happily despite the unfairness of this world.
It is unfortunate that up until now, people with hearing disabilities still face discrimination and hate for a trait that they could not control. The fact that there is a word that describes this prejudice (audism) proves that a safe work environment is hardly accessible to them.
Thankfully, there are quite a few companies that are willing to accept people with hearing impairment. They give them the opportunity to work remotely with assistive technologies provided by the company.
Some also provide training for all their employees about the basic form of communication with a deaf person. These types of accommodations can help the hearing impaired perform their work tasks properly and with excellence.
Also, the peaceful and cost-saving lifestyle that a work-from-home setup brings is helpful for the health maintenance of deaf people. This gives them an improved work-life balance where they can prioritize their mental and physical health while earning money.
Chatwriters - The Perfect Work-From-Home Job for the Hearing Impaired
As a person with hearing impairment, it is frustrating to find a job suitable for you, but today might be your lucky day!
Chatwriters, a home-based and non-voice company, is looking for a full-time or part-time chat operator on their team. Here, you only need to answer messages on your computer or mobile device, allowing you to work whenever or wherever you are.
Your salary comes at the end of the week and the payment is based on the number of messages you have answered. There is no limit on answering messages which makes the task easier and the income faster!
Further, the Chatwriters team doesn’t require experience. We work with people from all walks of life and provide equal opportunities to everyone regardless of educational background, disability, or preference. Once your training is done, you can start immediately and get paid the following week!
Apply now and get accepted in less than 24 hours! The requirements are easy to accomplish and the job is perfect for someone with hearing disabilities.
Visit chatwriters.com today and earn money even if you are in the comfort of your home!