2. 1 Beyond Hearing Aids Job Accommodations for Individuals Who Are Hard of Hearing and Deaf Sheila R. Hitchen, M.A. State of Oregon DHS Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Cheryl D. Davis, Ph.D. WROCC Outreach Site at Western Oregon University 6/30/02

3. 2 PEPNet Regional Centers http://www.pepnet.org

4. 3 Agenda Demographics Sound, hearing loss & amplification Accommodations Self advocacy Resources

5. 4 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

6. 5 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

7. 6 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

8. 7 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

9. 8 Normal Mild 21-40 dB Moderate 41-60 dB Severe 61-80 dB Profound 81 or more Speech Sounds: Frequency & Loudness

10. 9 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

11. 10 The Limits of Hearing Aids Characteristics of Sound Waves –Distance –SNR –Reverberation How do ALDs help?

12. 11 Transmitter & Receiver Systems Hardwired systems FM Infrared Induction loop

13. 12 nterpreters Sign, oral, tactile, cued speech Code of ethics Confidential Cannot participate Seek out certified interpreters Speak directly to the deaf person

14. 13 Print: The Written Word Captioning Transcription –Realtime transcription –Remote transcription services Summary –C-Print –Typewell Notetaking –NCR paper –Computer-assisted notetaking

15. 14 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

16. 15 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

17. 16 TTYs TTYs & TDDs –With and without printer –TTYs and computers Direct connect TTY white & yellow pages Credit card calls

18. 17 Relay Options Relay Service –Confidential –No limit on number, length 1 line Voice Carry Over Pocket VCO 2 line VCO Hearing Carry Over

19. 18 Using Internet-based Tools Email Instant Messaging –MSN Messenger IP Relay www.ip-relay.com www.sprintrelayonline.com Video Relay www.csdvrs.org/VRSIndex.asp

20. 19 Getting Wired In Pagers –Two-way –Alpha/numeric Cellular text messaging Caption Decoders Palm Pilots/PDAs Videoconferencing –MSN NetMeeting

21. 20 Alerting Devices Automobiles –Emergency Vehicle Alert –Mobility Reimbursement Programs –Conversation Around the Home or Office –Alarms –Phones –Doorbell

22. 21 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!

23. 22 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.

24. 23 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

25. 24 How to Request Reasonable Accommodation: 1.ID self as person with disability who meets state/federal guidelines 2.Refer to medical documentation 3.Explain how you are otherwise qualified 4.State you are requesting RA for specific job barriers 5.ID specific problematic job tasks 6.ID accommodation ideas 7.Request interactive process with employer to share ideas 8.Ask for response within reasonable amount of time

26. 25 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

27. 26 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

28. 27 Resources WROCC at WOU: www.wou.edu/wroccwww.wou.edu/wrocc PEPNet: www.pepnet.orgwww.pepnet.org ALDA: www.alda.orgwww.alda.org SHHH: www.shhh.orgwww.shhh.org E-mail discussion groups Equipment catalogs Job Accommodations Network –1-800-JAN-7234 www.jan.wvu.eduwww.jan.wvu.edu ADA Hotline –1-800-514-0301(v) 514-0383 (tty)

29. 28 Developed by: Cheryl D. Davis, Ph.D. Coordinator WROCC at WOU 503-838-8642 (v/tty) 503-838-8228 (fax) davisc@wou.edu http://www.wou.edu/wrocc Sheila R. Hitchen, M.A. VRC Specialist: D/HOH Svcs State of Oregon OVR 503-280-6940 (v/tty) 503-280-6960 (fax) Sheila.r.hitchen@state.or.us