Taking Chances: Tackling the Workforce
I have always manage to find a job within a year or two. Never really struggled as much as I have been the last four years. There are those who may find themselves in a similar position as myself and to be honest finding a job with a server to profound hearing loss can be a huge challenge, even for those who have moderate to server hearing loss.
What bugs me about this whole thing is the fact that many assume that those with a hearing loss don't want to apply themselves or they are not capable enough to communicate effectively or worst the job requires a hearing individual. Truth is, there are folks out there with a college degree or a certification or experience who suffered from hearing loss either from birth or as a child or later in life. The question that many are asking are:
- What jobs are available for those who are Hard of Hearing or Deaf?
- What positions do most Hard of Hearing and/or Deaf hold?
- What companies are Hard of Hearing and/or Deaf Friendly?
- How does one get through an interview without it being focus on their inability to hear well?
- How does one go about revealing or withholding their hearing loss? When is it a good time to reveal it?
The process that one may have to go through really does varies. Some can get a job without much help. Some may have gone through someone they know. Some may have to go through an agency to help them secure a job. It really does varies from individual to individual. However, for those who do need the additional help, the process can be time-consuming and sometimes there will be times of frustrations and anger because one has to try to understand why is it that they are either being overlooked or not hired or wonder if they missed something themselves. It's a very trying process for some.
As for me, I do have a college degree along with additional credits going towards a Bachelors. I have volunteer experiences along with working for higher education and non-profits over the years. It's frustrating to me because I have done my own research on how to go about job search as an individual with a hearing loss and because of my location and access to public transportation is limited, it's a challenge in itself. Hearing Loss Association of America has a really good resources page in regards to the very issues I've mentioned above. Workplace (click to open new link). It may be able to give you the information you need and even pointers about who to turn to and where to get help.
As a former Business major, I wish that folks who do go into Human Resources are more aware and acknowledgeable about how they approach applicants who do suffer from hearing loss of any degree. I wish that not only their department could be more aware but to educate their company on how to work with individuals who do suffer from hearing loss and what they can do to make the workplace even more accessible for those who may struggle in noisy environments or large board meetings or conferences either by phone or video. I've read some stories about how some folks were told it would cost the company or business too much to provide accommodations for them and I don't think it's widely known about the tax credits that are available. To learn more about it check out Tax Benefits for Businesses Who Have Employees with Disabilities. "The law requires an employer to provide reasonable accommodation to an employee or job applicant with a disability, unless doing so would cause significant difficulty or expense for the employer ("undue hardship")." This information is taken from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission .
As you can see, I've been reading up on a lot. When it come to "undue hardship" aspect - I do know some states may offers financial assistance to certain qualifying businesses and/or organizations who do wish to hire an individual or individuals with a disability. They may require proof of hire and the position given along with start date and required accommodations needed in order to do the tasks just as well as their hearing or non-disabled counterparts can. Not all these resources are advertised as it does require some research to really understand exactly what is provided and what isn't. Mind you, I'm a good researcher, but if you want to know something specific, I will have to look it up to be for sure. I'll remember where I found the information but to recall it from memory, no it ain't happening. The only way I would be able to be specific if I had to do it daily and apply that information to different situations and cases.
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| Video Phone is common in the workplace for those who are HOH/Deaf & use ASL. |
I may be out of work, but I do volunteer my time not only as a Board member of the local cochlear implant support group but also as a Cochlear Americas Volunteer. I am also a busy single mom at home, most of the work I do is pretty much online via Social Medias.
Please note that those who have lost their hearing later in life but were working for many years also suffer from hardship. Some have been blessed to have understanding employer(s) and co-workers while some may have had to dealt with the opposite. There are those who have been working for many years and it may not be easy for them to understand why its so hard for others with a hearing loss to get their foot in the door somewhere when they themselves also have a hearing loss. Please understand, folks who deal with and live with hearing loss are just as capable of achieving the same tasks as their hearing peers. Yes, they may have to go about things a bit differently, but they can get the job done.
Living off of SSI or SSI-D is not always ideal for many who do suffer from hearing loss. Especially when they do want to do more with their lives because they CAN. However, when they get turned away or put down by others with little to no actual knowledge of hearing loss, it leave the individual who is TRYING feeling defeated, alone and isolated. It can even leave them feeling like they have to defend themselves constantly for their own situation which many do not know what's its really like. For all they know is what they "assume" is happening or "assume" to be the problem. Every individual's situation will be different. Like in my case, I'm a single mom but will need to be home by the time my son has to get off the bus. Being a single mom with a hearing loss does come with its own challenges especially when you don't have a car of your own or even a driver's license but you know how to drive. Your hours will vary as a single parent to accommodate the extra responsibilities you do have. So finding work that will offer flexibility and work/life balance is hard. It is my hope that as I begin to embark upon a new task, this time with help, that I can gain my long awaited independence and the ability to be financially stabled and self-sufficient. I still have goals I want to achieve and reach, it's just a matter of making the right connections and being able to do my part in the process.
So before one decides to pass judgment, keep in mind, child care cost has gone up and trust me I've paid out of pocket in the past with help from scholarships and family, it's no laughing matter when the cost is equivalent to the cost of paying tuition at a public college be it per semester or per year. Because of cuts in public education over the years, after-school programs that were once free are now charging families on a sliding fee scale based upon their income levels. Not all families can afford the weekly total cost. Not all school districts who have to deal with cuts can afford to keep after-school programs running without any form of funding for them. Hence, why some or most school have cut after-school programs either partially or completely altogether. Any one who has to deal with the realities of living with any form of disability have to factor in costs associated with their own realities. It's not cheap having a hearing loss and medical insurance doesn't cover everything. The costs of acquiring a hearing aid itself can be between $500 (as a deductible for some) to $8,000 depending on where, who and what kind of hearing aid they need or is the best match for them. Getting a cochlear implant, granted you are given back sounds you thought you would never hear, but once your warranty is up, the cost out of pocket can be crippling in order to maintain the vitality the cochlear implant's processor so that one can be able to have the same level of quality of life as their hearing counterparts do. Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants do need to be maintained professionally through audiological services. If sounds don't seem to sound "right", then one must make an appointment or contact his or her audiological team to get to the bottom of why it doesn't sound "right" anymore. If you think all these services are covered, guess again, they are not always covered under certain insurance plans. You'll be surprised to learn just how many folks have to pay out of pocket and they live off a fixed budget. It's not feasible. Especially if they are able and capable of working without too many restrictions or none at all. Blaming them for their positions isn't helping them at all especially if they are TRYING. For those who are medically unable to work, leave them alone. You are not a part of their medical team nor do you know their medical history. Keep in mind, again, every individual's situation is unique to each their own.
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