Sorry, You’re Deaf.You Can’t Work Here.

Melissa BellDARS Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

TRAN19th Annual Conference

Presentation created with Prezi at http://prezi.com/02wqhbwfptd4/sorry-youre-deaf-you-cant-work-here/. Transcribed to Power Point for accessibility.

What kind of work can people who are Deaf and hard of

hearing do?YouTube videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FIG_vK1ypw

A large variety of employment was represented, from lower-level to higher-level careers:Dentist, professor, business owner, attorney, fireman, university president, politician, sky diver, professional actress, dental assistant, construction worker, doctor.

Our constant task is to…

• EDUCATEo Consumers that they have abilities

• EDUCATEo Professionals to help break down barriers

• EDUCATEo Society to understand that “Deaf people can do anything except hear.” – I. King Jordan

What are the fields a Deaf or hard

of hearing individual could not

enter?• There are very few positions that require a certain

level of hearing and would automatically exclude an individual with hearing loss:o Policeo Commercial airline piloto Interstate truck driver (Nat’l Association of the Deaf has sought

waivers)o Others?

Employing and Accommodating

• ADA Title Io Protection from job discrimination on the basis of disability

• Rehabilitation Act, Sections 501 & 503o Federal employees (501)o Federal contractors (503)

• Essential functionso If a person has a disability, can he or she perform the essential

functions of a job with or without accommodations?

Employing and Accommodating, cont.• Direct threat

o Direct threat to health or safety of the employee or others:• Significant risk of substantial harm• Based on objective, factual evidence• Must consider reasonable accommodations

• Undue hardshipo Significant difficulty or expense. Employee must be given the choice of

providing the accommodation or paying for the portion of the accommodation that causes the undue hardship

• Reasonable accommodationso For the job application processo To perform essential functions of a jobo To enjoy benefits and privileges of employment equal to those without

disabilities

DHHS resource specialists can assist!

• Deafness RSs can assist with the compliance issues just discussed.

• Hearing Loss RSs can assist with identifying reasonable accommodations.

• See handout for other ways RSs can provide support to the DARS VR program.

Creative AccommodationsOvercoming Barriers

• Dr. Tom McDavitt, like most deaf veterinarians, has learned to auscultate with his hands instead of through a stethoscope.https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/091115e.aspx

• “Big Spring resident nurse follows her dream despite hearing impairment” - Alyssa Myers, RN

• http://www.mrt.com/top_stories/article_cf1b0d10-6873-5a0f-9370-48fc22a58717.html?mode=image&photo=0#ixzz20jgnFPsa

• Gary Behm, Director of the Center on Access Technology’s Innovation Lab at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) developed clear surgical masks for use in clean rooms and hospitals

• https://www.rit.edu/news/athenaeum_story.php?id=49922

Creative AccommodationsOvercoming Barriers, cont.• Using remote CART in medical school

operating room• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwDvgFrbY5w

• Deaf restaurant owner• http://deafnation.com/dn360/crepe-crazy

• Other successes in overcoming barriers…

Addressing Concerns• Consumers

o “I can’t.”

• Employerso “What about liability?”

• Societyo “I never knew they could do that.”

ReferencesThe ADA: Your Employment Rights as an Individual With a Disability

o http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/ada18.html

Melissa BellOutreach Development SpecialistDARS DHHS

512-407-3273 (v)512-900-5445 (vp)Melissa.bell@dars.state.tx.uswww.dars.state.tx.us/dhhs

For more information or assistance, please call DARS Inquiries at 800-628-5115.