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Something I’ve noticed over the years is how quickly workplaces can become comfortable relying on one person to communicate with a Deaf employee. Maybe there’s someone on staff who knows a little sign language. Perhaps they have a Deaf family member, took an ASL class or simply feel comfortable communicating with Deaf people. Naturally, they become the person everyone turns
One of the best parts of my job is watching people become more confident after attending my Deaf awareness and accessibility training. Sometimes they arrive feeling nervous about communicating with a Deaf person, unsure about working with interpreters or afraid of doing something wrong. By the end of the session, they’re asking questions, learning a few signs and realizing that
One question I often ask during my training sessions is what concerns employers might have about hiring a Deaf person. The answers are usually about communication, safety, productivity or whether the person can keep up in a busy workplace. These concerns may sound reasonable to someone who has never worked with a Deaf colleague, but how many are based on
Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. When we talk about the history of residential schools, language loss and colonization, there is another experience that I believe needs much more attention: Indigenous Deaf people. For many Indigenous Deaf children, getting an education meant leaving their home community and travelling far away to attend a school for the Deaf.
A special message for Deaf Awareness Month, International Week of Deaf People and International Day of Sign Languages — September 23 Every September, I see organizations celebrating Deaf Awareness Month, International Week of Deaf People and International Day of Sign Languages. I appreciate the recognition, but I also notice how often Deaf awareness is presented alongside hearing aids, cochlear implants,
This is something that can happen so naturally that people don’t even realize they’re doing it. I’m standing right there, but someone turns to the interpreter and asks, “Can you tell her…?” Or they ask the interpreter a question about me while I’m sitting beside them. Sometimes it’s even something as simple as, “Does she understand?” I’m right there. I
