1 beyond hearing aids job accommodations for individuals who are hard of hearing and deaf sheila r....
TRANSCRIPT
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Beyond Hearing Aids
Job Accommodations for Individuals Who Are
Hard of Hearing and Deaf
Sheila R. Hitchen, M.A.State of Oregon DHSOffice of Vocational Rehabilitation
Cheryl D. Davis, Ph.D.WROCC Outreach Site at Western Oregon University
6/30/02
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Agenda
• Demographics• Sound, hearing
loss & amplification
• Accommodations• Self advocacy• Resources
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How Prevalent Is Hearing Loss?
28 million Americans have a significant hearing loss
10% of the population
More than half of these people are YOUNGER than 65 years of age
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Demographics• Only 23% of those who
could benefit actually use hearing aids
• 18 - 44 years old: 54/1000• 45 - 64 years old: 136/1000• 65 and older: 296/1000
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How Does Hearing Loss
Affect Employment?• Labor force participation (US Census Bureau
1997)
•non-disabled adults: 84.4% •people with difficulty hearing: 61.9%•severe hearing problems: 46.5%
• About 23% of the HOH population is unemployed due to factors related to their disability
• The rate is essentially constant regardless of whether the loss is in one or both ears
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Impact on Employment
• Hearing women stay in labor force 9 years longer than hard of hearing women
• 17% more hard of hearing female workers aged 45-54 exit the labor force
• People leave jobs because of:– Inability to continue
to carry out duties– Social difficulties and isolation
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Normal
Mild 21-40 dB
Moderate 41-60 dB
Severe 61-80 dB
Profound 81 or more
Speech Sounds: Frequency & Loudness
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Hearing Aids• Do not create ‘20/20 hearing’• Tailor amplification to loss• Amplify all noises at those
frequencies• Work best in 1:1, quiet situations
– intake interview– job interview
• Sensorineural– I can hear you
but I can’t understand you
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The Limits of Hearing Aids
Characteristics of Sound Waves– Distance– SNR– Reverberation
How do ALDs help?
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Transmitter & Receiver Systems
• Hardwired systems• FM• Infrared• Induction loop
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nterpreters• Sign, oral, tactile, cued speech• Code of ethics• Confidential• Cannot participate • Seek out certified interpreters• Speak directly to the deaf
person
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Print: The Written Word
• Captioning• Transcription
– Realtime transcription– Remote transcription services
• Summary– C-Print– Typewell
• Notetaking– NCR paper– Computer-assisted notetaking
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Regarding Formal Testing
• Communication issues– Interpreters/ALDs– Evaluation setting– Lipreading and Residual Hearing
• Client’s reading level– Non-verbal tests– Additional time
• www.gri.gallaudet.edu/TestEquity
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Telephones• Hearing the ring• Hearing with one
ear• Feedback or
squeal• Hearing• No visual cues• How identify caller• Voice menus
• How to get information (e.g, names and phone numbers)
• Portable/cellular/car phones
• Voice mail & answering machines
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TTYs• TTYs & TDDs
– With and without printer
– TTYs and computers
• Direct connect• TTY white & yellow
pages• Credit card calls
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Relay Options• Relay Service
– Confidential– No limit on number,
length• 1 line Voice Carry
Over• Pocket VCO• 2 line VCO• Hearing Carry Over
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Using Internet-based Tools
• Email• Instant Messaging
– MSN Messenger
• IP Relay www.ip-relay.com www.sprintrelayonline.com
• Video Relaywww.csdvrs.org/VRSIndex.asp
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Getting Wired In • Pagers
– Two-way– Alpha/numeric
• Cellular text messaging
• Caption Decoders• Palm Pilots/PDAs• Videoconferencing
– MSN NetMeeting
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Alerting Devices• Automobiles
– Emergency Vehicle Alert– Mobility Reimbursement
Programs– Conversation
• Around the Home or Office– Alarms– Phones– Doorbell
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Going to the (Hearing) Dogs
www.dogsforthedeaf.org www.assistance-dogs-intl.org
• Service animals• Often are rescued
from animal shelter
• Extensive training• Legal rights • Alert to sounds• Orange vest
/collar/lead
Arf, Arf!
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A Word to the Consumer: Advocating
for Yourself• Know situations you handle well.• Know difficult hearing situations.• Coping skills: What do you do when…• Know your preferred accommodations.• Be able to state why one
accommodation is preferred over another.
• Be aware of applicable laws.
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Employers Want to Know...
• Why the accommodation is needed• Accommodation options• The cost• Technical info
– how will it be implemented– where they can purchase them– resources: JAN, TAP, references
• How will accommodation improve job performance & benefit company
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How to Request Reasonable
Accommodation:1.ID self as person with disability who meets
state/federal guidelines2.Refer to medical documentation3.Explain how you are otherwise qualified4.State you are requesting RA for specific job barriers5.ID specific problematic job tasks6.ID accommodation ideas7.Request interactive process with employer to share
ideas8.Ask for response within reasonable amount of time
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Keys to Success• Allow time to become comfortable
using the equipment• Show everyone how to use the
equipment properly• Use the right equipment for the job• Arrange the environment
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Keys to Success• Be prepared
– Test equipment in advance– Seating, lighting
• Communicate needs– Because of my hearing loss, I need…– Say what you did hear– Study speech reading
• Interact with others about coping– SHHH– ALDA– CIAI– Beyond-Hearing & SayWhatClub
listservs
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Resources
• WROCC at WOU: www.wou.edu/wrocc • PEPNet: www.pepnet.org • ALDA: www.alda.org • SHHH: www.shhh.org • E-mail discussion groups• Equipment catalogs• Job Accommodations Network
– 1-800-JAN-7234 www.jan.wvu.edu
• ADA Hotline– 1-800-514-0301(v) 514-0383 (tty)
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Developed by:Cheryl D. Davis, Ph.D.CoordinatorWROCC at WOU 503-838-8642 (v/tty)503-838-8228 (fax)[email protected]://www.wou.edu/wrocc
Sheila R. Hitchen, M.A.VRC Specialist: D/HOH SvcsState of Oregon OVR503-280-6940 (v/tty)503-280-6960 (fax)[email protected]
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