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York region - Deaf employees often more productive than their co-workers
When a group of human resources managers and company presidents didn't clap to welcome a keynote speaker, it wasn't a sign of disrrespect.
The usual applause was replaced by hand-waving so the deaf speaker could recognize the warm welcome.
The roundtable discussion, hosted by Newmarket-Aurora MPP Frank Klees, between various employers and the Canadian Hearing Society was an effort to clear up misinformation surrounding deaf workers.
"There is a stigma that deaf people are incapable of being productive," Mr. Klees said. "They're not given the opportunity to be productive."
There are four variations of being deaf: profound deaf is someone who is born deaf and uses sign language to communicate; an orally deaf person can sometimes read lips or use hearing aids to boost residual hearing; hard of hearing is the slow loss of hearing and; deafened is the sudden loss of hearing.
Gord Ryall, provincial manager of the Canadian Hearing Society taught the group of local businesspeople simple words such as hello, work, help and goodbye in sign language.
Through his interpreter, Mr. Ryall debunked some of the unfounded fears of hiring a deaf or hard-of-hearing person.
"Employers look at how much this will cost. What are the accommodation costs?" Mr. Ryall said. "On average, the cost for accommodation for a deaf person was less than $500."
In the past 20 years, technology for the deaf has increased. There are now text telephones, interpreters for hire, e-mail and BlackBerrys that aid deaf workers.
Deaf or hard of hearing people are often more productive than their co-workers because they don't chitchat or listen to music on the job, Gilbert Lillie said, a deaf support counsellor with the Canadian Hearing Society in Newmarket.
"We value our hands and depend on our eyes," Mr. Lillie said. "There is a high productivity level from deaf people. They're not distracted by background noise."
When Mr. Lillie worked for IBM, he was hired as a computer operator. He went to school to become an accountant, but was told he would have trouble speaking with clients over the phone, so his focus shifted.
It was the dark ages for the deaf - no interpreter or BlackBerry, he said.
"During meetings, I would daydream for two hours," he said. "At the end, I would get a little summary. Everyone heard everything and I get this piece of paper."
With a combination of noise alarms and visual alarms, the workplace is safe for hearing, deaf or heard of hearing employees. A warehouse or factory is the perfect example, where visual tape, stop signs and flashing lights are used to manage forklift traffic, he said.
Fire safety has been a focus for the Canadian Hearing Society in Newmarket for the past two years, Mr. Lillie said.
Together with IBM and the Newmarket Lions Club, Mr. Lillie installed more than 30 visual fire alarms for families with deaf children.
"A family can go out and buy a battery-operated fire alarm at Wal-Mart for $30," he said. "It costs about $600 for a visual alarm with all the wiring. But these families feel safe with an alarm that would actually save their lives."
The Canadian Hearing Society is hosting the 29th annual TV Auction Dec. 7. You can shop from the comfort of your home and support the Canadian Hearing Society from 2 to 8 p.m. on Rogers TV.
When a group of human resources managers and company presidents didn't clap to welcome a keynote speaker, it wasn't a sign of disrrespect.
The usual applause was replaced by hand-waving so the deaf speaker could recognize the warm welcome.
The roundtable discussion, hosted by Newmarket-Aurora MPP Frank Klees, between various employers and the Canadian Hearing Society was an effort to clear up misinformation surrounding deaf workers.
"There is a stigma that deaf people are incapable of being productive," Mr. Klees said. "They're not given the opportunity to be productive."
There are four variations of being deaf: profound deaf is someone who is born deaf and uses sign language to communicate; an orally deaf person can sometimes read lips or use hearing aids to boost residual hearing; hard of hearing is the slow loss of hearing and; deafened is the sudden loss of hearing.
Gord Ryall, provincial manager of the Canadian Hearing Society taught the group of local businesspeople simple words such as hello, work, help and goodbye in sign language.
Through his interpreter, Mr. Ryall debunked some of the unfounded fears of hiring a deaf or hard-of-hearing person.
"Employers look at how much this will cost. What are the accommodation costs?" Mr. Ryall said. "On average, the cost for accommodation for a deaf person was less than $500."
In the past 20 years, technology for the deaf has increased. There are now text telephones, interpreters for hire, e-mail and BlackBerrys that aid deaf workers.
Deaf or hard of hearing people are often more productive than their co-workers because they don't chitchat or listen to music on the job, Gilbert Lillie said, a deaf support counsellor with the Canadian Hearing Society in Newmarket.
"We value our hands and depend on our eyes," Mr. Lillie said. "There is a high productivity level from deaf people. They're not distracted by background noise."
When Mr. Lillie worked for IBM, he was hired as a computer operator. He went to school to become an accountant, but was told he would have trouble speaking with clients over the phone, so his focus shifted.
It was the dark ages for the deaf - no interpreter or BlackBerry, he said.
"During meetings, I would daydream for two hours," he said. "At the end, I would get a little summary. Everyone heard everything and I get this piece of paper."
With a combination of noise alarms and visual alarms, the workplace is safe for hearing, deaf or heard of hearing employees. A warehouse or factory is the perfect example, where visual tape, stop signs and flashing lights are used to manage forklift traffic, he said.
Fire safety has been a focus for the Canadian Hearing Society in Newmarket for the past two years, Mr. Lillie said.
Together with IBM and the Newmarket Lions Club, Mr. Lillie installed more than 30 visual fire alarms for families with deaf children.
"A family can go out and buy a battery-operated fire alarm at Wal-Mart for $30," he said. "It costs about $600 for a visual alarm with all the wiring. But these families feel safe with an alarm that would actually save their lives."
The Canadian Hearing Society is hosting the 29th annual TV Auction Dec. 7. You can shop from the comfort of your home and support the Canadian Hearing Society from 2 to 8 p.m. on Rogers TV.