- Employment Planning
- Communication and Devices Education on the job
- Advocacy for Equity in the Workplace
- Resume Services
- Interview Skills Training
- Job Placement and Networking
- Job Coaching/Job Maintenance
- Assistance with Completing Forms for Applicants
- Assistance with Skills Enhancement Needs
- Message Relay between Employers and Employees
- Referral and Information Services
resources available:
- Staff fluent in ASL
- Access to employment websites
- Fax and phone service
- Technical device catalogues
- Communication strategies
- Business directories
- Daily newspapers
- University/College calendars
Employment Services offered through Deaf Access Simcoe Muskoka provide expertise and resources to deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people to increase access to employment opportunities. In addition the Employment Services staff work with employers to provide them access to a skilled and diversified workforce.
When communicatin with a hard of hearing person:
- Face the person directly and maintain eye contact
- Keep you face clear for speech-reading
- Find an area that is well lit with little background noise
- Get the person's attention before beginning to speak (e.g. tap the persons shoulder)
- Speak clearly with regular volume, rephrase rather that repeat if you are not understood
When communicatign with a deaf person:
- Ask what communication method is preferred (e.g. written messages, American Sign Language interpreter, speech-reading)
- Write down key information such as addresses, appointment times or phone numbers
- If you do not understand the deaf person, aske them to write down their message. You can contact Deaf Access Simcoe Muskoka should you need to book an interpreter for a future meeting
- If an interpreter is present, address the deaf person directly and do not inclued the interpreter in the conversation
People with a hearing loss may identify themselves as:
Deaf
This term is generally used by individuals who have been deaf since birth or prelingually deaf. They have a severe to profound hearing loss with little or no residual hearing. They may uses speeck to communicate with the help of hearing aids, technical devices or cochlear implants, speech reading and/or sign language.
Culturally Deaf
This term is used by individuals who identify with and participate in the language, culture and community of Deaf people based on sign language. Most of these individuals have a severe to profound hearing loss.
Deafened or Late-Deafened
These terms are used by individuals who have developed language skills prior to gradually or suddenly losing their hearing. Generally, deafened people do not identify themselves with the culturally deaf community. They have a greater connection to the hearing community and communicate with visual supports such as speech reading, print or captioning.
Hard of Hearing
This term is generally used by individuals with a mild to severe loss. Many hard of hearing people can understand some speech with or withoug a hearing aid/s. Many of these individuals supplement thier residual hearing with speech reading, visual aids, hearing adis and technical devices. Although they mainly communicate by speech, some hard of hearing people also use sign language.
