Making the Work Environment More Accessible

Meetings

Take a few minutes before the meeting to discuss communication with the Deaf employee. Ask the individual to choose the best seating for him/herself.

If possible, use round-table or semi-circle seating so that the Deaf person can see everyone’s face.

Provide an outline or agenda of the meeting. If you are using ASL/English interpreters make sure that you also have a copy for them.

Use visual aids whenever possible. Remember that the Deaf person will need a few minutes to be able to read them before being able to resume watching the interpreter or speech reading the speaker.

If a Deaf person is speech reading, give the lead speakers a podium or chair so that they do not pace around. If they are writing on a board or flip chart make sure they do not speak until they are facing the audience again.

Repeat questions or comments from the people in the room before responding.

Ensure that only one person speaks at a time. An interpreter can’t interpret two people at the same time; nor can a speech reader speech read two people at the same time. The speaker has to be a firm chairperson. It is helpful if all of the people are asked to raise their hands when they wish to speak. This is more visual and allows the Deaf person to identify people as they take turns speaking.

Appoint a recorder who can clearly write down information or notes. It is impossible for a person to take notes and watch the interpreter or speech read at the same time.^{Footnote 8}

Whenever possible, provide Deaf employees with written minutes of the meetings.

Classroom Tips

• Try to use the diamond strategy – identify the topic or theme, expand through examples and illustrations, and conclude with a repetition of the topic or theme.
• Deaf students have trouble following a discussion if the instructor uses any of these three very common corrections to discourse:
  1. Digression,
  2. Redundancy, and
  3. Repair.

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