“Is Your Organization Inclusive of Deaf Employees?,” by Roberta J. Cordano

 Wed 19 Oct 2022 

How to Be Inclusive of Deaf Employees

Sensory and linguistic differences aren’t a loss—they’re an opportunity for exploration, innovation, and competitive advantage. Deaf employees bring a positive gain to companies through the innovation that comes from their lived experiences, as well as their abundance of innate skills. How can you build a team that’s inclusive of deaf employees? (1( Start by assessing your culture. Rigorously examine the impact of physical, sensory, and social barriers throughout your organization. For example, does your organization provide training and awareness of linguistic diversity, including visual languages? Are you actively recruiting candidates from schools, universities, and organizations serving the deaf community? Record your observations and make the necessary improvements—going beyond minimum compliance requirements. (2) Then, check in regularly with your deaf employees and ask them about their experience at work, for suggestions about how they can contribute to the team’s goals, and whether the team feels supportive. Be honest about what you don’t know and demonstrate a sincere willingness to learn.

This tip is adapted from “Is Your Organization Inclusive of Deaf Employees?,” by Roberta J. Cordano