The Employment Equity and Diversity Committee at Collins Bay Institution reached out to me to provide a workshop. I hosted two-part lunch and learn workshop series at the institution. I provided my expertise for the attendees with the basic skills needed to interact effectively and respectfully with culturally deaf people within their work environment and
Going into your favourite restaurant, you’re sitting around the table, enjoying catching up with friends and ready to eat, but when you try to give your order, the server is looking back at you and freezes up.
Now I want you to imagine coming into that same restaurant, but instead of
being met with an awkward gaze, you have a server who is happy to see you and engaging, who has the tools they need to communicate with any customer who comes through the door.
I’m Leah, and I teach businesses inclusive communication strategies. I provide business owners and their employees the knowledge and skills to take the awkwardness out of accommodation so they can better serve their customers.
Teacher: Okay, so think of the number two, and then cross your thumb over to the middle finger.
This includes customers who are deaf, hard of hearing, new Canadians, persons
with autism, seniors, and the list goes on. And you.
Teacher: If you are right-dominant, use your right hand. If you’re left-dominant, use your left hand.
I’ll teach you how to promote positive attitudes and behaviour towards customers who communicate differently; to improve your employee’s awareness and understanding of different approaches to communication; and I’ll show you how having simple tools, like proper signage, using visual information, and knowing ASL can change the way your business serves its customers for the better.
º º
Teacher: Like, think of a book, and you’re like taking that information off the page and putting it into your brain. I’m learning.
Workshops are customized to meet your business’ needs. I come to your business, show you what you’re already doing right, and offer feedback on
opportunities where you can improve. You’ll learn of common communication frustrations and barriers that many experience. We’ll run through scenarios
where I show your employees how to communicate with any customer successfully, whether this is serving a coffee, making a pizza, or completing a transaction. I’ll show you how making use of visuals around you, some ASL, clear signage, and a good attitude can make a world of difference and earn your customer’s repeat business. You will learn signs for specific words and phrases related to your workplace environment. You’ll be surprised how effective these tools will be.
º º
Additionally, online modules can be made available after training for
independent review and practice of skills learned.
Teacher: Bravo, everybody. Thanks very much. Enjoy your day.
With this training, you demonstrate that your business prioritizes access for all. If you make your customers feel welcome, and they can access your services easily, you may have just gotten yourself a customer for life. And they’ll bring others with them too.
When there’s access for all, everyone wins.
Learning Sign Language is a process. More than a process, it is a journey. Learning Sign Language is a voyage into another culture and another world. Those who have taken the journey know that it is not an easy one. And like all of life’s journey, it never really ends!
SignAble Vi5ion offers inclusive communication training and American Sign Language lessons. We heard our business partners’ concerns that they cannot remember what they have learned, so we now provide an excellent tool for their future sign language capabilities. We created a basic module of Deaf signers for each industry to refresh learners’ memory of what they will communicate.
Learn and review signs for specific words and phrases related to your workplace environment and see how it was expressed by Deaf signers.
Imagine you are at your job, you are prepared to be enthusiastic to communicate with your customers and demonstrate that you are a sign-friendly employee. This will leave a much better lasting impression of your services. Not every customer knows sign language, but they may identify a certain sign that is visually obvious to them and respond back positively. This kind of module will make even a native signer step back and think, wow, this person is willing to learn our language! I will return and recommend your services.
So, how do we reach this level? How do we cement this language in our minds?
Don’t see the industry or type of customer service field you’re looking for? Let us know! New modules are under development ongoingly.
Don’t hesitate… we don’t bite, get in and learn with us!
Is this course a good fit for you? Best suited for family members, seniors such as grandparents, friends or colleagues/co-workers wanting to learn American Sign Language. Learn from myself and others who are persons with Deaf lived-experience, cultural knowledge, and are certified to instruct Learn in one-on-one, small group or larger group sessions in a natural way, allowing interaction and developing sentence structure through conversation and dialogue. Is this a fit for you, reach out.
