Finding a decent job can be a serious challenge for anyone. And if an applicant has any physical disabilities, this challenge is amplified many times. Can a deaf or hard-of-hearing person go into business without being dependent on unfriendly employers? The experience of thousands of deaf and hard-of-hearing people in the United States suggests that this is extremely difficult. Therefore, the state and federal governments offer different financial assistance programs. However, there are examples of businesses in which deaf and hard-of-hearing people are actively getting involved and taking on leadership roles.
What Are the Barriers to Employment of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing?
Businesses try to avoid hiring people with hearing impairments because of a lot of prejudice. Managers believe that:
- Deaf and hard of hearing will be unproductive, and therefore, the profit of a company will decrease.
- They will have to constantly hire a translator.
- Disabled people will demand additional benefits.
Without having experienced this before, businesses may not know how many smart devices are being released that allow hard-of-hearing people to decode speech to text, reduce ambient noise, or amplify sound to a level at which it is perceived by their ear.
Which Businesses Are Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing-Friendly
For people with hearing problems to easily get a job in any business, special conditions must be created. A business must be aware that there may be deaf or hard-of-hearing people not only among its employees but also among its customers. Therefore, they need to do the following:
- Provide a lot of visual information to their customers and staff.
- Train employees in at least the basics of sign language.
- Use electronic notepads to take orders or communicate with deaf or hard-of-hearing employees.
- Equip workplaces for workers in this category with reasonable accommodations.
Examples of Businesses Founded or Operated by Hearing Impaired People
Mozzeria Restaurant
This restaurant was opened in 2011 by a deaf couple. They have successful business skills and not only were not afraid to open a restaurant but also invited other deaf employees to work. For customers, this may be unusual at first, but having met excellent service, friendliness of the personnel, and delicious dishes from the rich menu, they return here again and again. Many dissuaded the owners of Mozzeria, saying that it was too risky, and even laughed at them. But over 11 years of restaurant management experience suggest that deaf people can be competitive in business if they have strong intentions and decent aims.
Fashion Brand “By Mara”
The owner of this fashion brand also has deafness. She has achieved a lot in the fashion industry despite being actively discouraged and advised to limit her ambitions to work as a graphic designer. However, she did not give up and began to design and sell clothes with sign language logos. The target audience appreciated the products so much that she was able to open her own brand.
On the way to the goal, deaf and hard-of-hearing people have to meet many more obstacles than other contenders. However, if they don’t give up and team up with other people with and without hearing problems, they can achieve well-deserved success.