What kinds of challenges do Deaf and hard of hearing people face every day?
"Well I have had all good experiences lately, but discrimination is one of the biggest problems. When Deaf individuals as for interpreters to be included during the interview process, employers become worried that they will have to hire an interpreter on an everyday basis. I constantly find myself missing out on information during meetings or conversations. Due to the fact that my co-workers probably think it is not important to inform me or that it is too long and complicated for them to explain.
For instance my boss assumed I completely understood the job he was asking me to do. He didn't write it down as I wanted him to. I understood everything down to the final step, which was the part I had missed when he was explaining the job. Eventually I had to redo the job again; I did the job twice because the communication was not clear."
-Andrew Stadnicki
"I used to work in construction a while back. I remember the job interview, I showed up and waited for the interpreter to arrive they never did. So I had to write back and forth the entire interview using body language as much as I could. It was a lot more complicated than it would have been if the interpreter would have shown up.
I did end up getting the job, but the interview was not the last of my challenges. Communication with my co-workers was a lot of work, however they always put in an effort to communicate with me. They would use their phones to text back and forth with me. We would always use a lot of body language. This helped me to feel included."
- Matt King
"One of my very first jobs was at a Tim Hortons in Bellville when I was seventeen. It was a few years ago just before the AODA was passed. One of my job requirements was to sweep the parking lot. They made me wear a reflective vest with a huge label that said "I AM DEAF" on it. They told me it was because it was unsafe compared to a normal vest. I regret not suing, it made me feel stupid. I only wore it twice before quitting."
-Paul Bourgeois
"I found out that I got a job interview at a golf club close to where I live. They only gave me one days notice so I was unable to find an interpreter in time. So I went into the interview with no interpreter, I had to use pen and paper in order to communicate.
Once I got the job, they did their best to make sure there was always clear communication. They would use text and email to contact me. The training was very visual so that I was able to see and learn how to correctly do my job. They even had lights in case of an emergency that would flash so that I knew there was an emergency. They did their best to accommodate me."
-Al Galevz Varona
For instance my boss assumed I completely understood the job he was asking me to do. He didn't write it down as I wanted him to. I understood everything down to the final step, which was the part I had missed when he was explaining the job. Eventually I had to redo the job again; I did the job twice because the communication was not clear."
-Andrew Stadnicki
"I used to work in construction a while back. I remember the job interview, I showed up and waited for the interpreter to arrive they never did. So I had to write back and forth the entire interview using body language as much as I could. It was a lot more complicated than it would have been if the interpreter would have shown up.
I did end up getting the job, but the interview was not the last of my challenges. Communication with my co-workers was a lot of work, however they always put in an effort to communicate with me. They would use their phones to text back and forth with me. We would always use a lot of body language. This helped me to feel included."
- Matt King
"One of my very first jobs was at a Tim Hortons in Bellville when I was seventeen. It was a few years ago just before the AODA was passed. One of my job requirements was to sweep the parking lot. They made me wear a reflective vest with a huge label that said "I AM DEAF" on it. They told me it was because it was unsafe compared to a normal vest. I regret not suing, it made me feel stupid. I only wore it twice before quitting."
-Paul Bourgeois
"I found out that I got a job interview at a golf club close to where I live. They only gave me one days notice so I was unable to find an interpreter in time. So I went into the interview with no interpreter, I had to use pen and paper in order to communicate.
Once I got the job, they did their best to make sure there was always clear communication. They would use text and email to contact me. The training was very visual so that I was able to see and learn how to correctly do my job. They even had lights in case of an emergency that would flash so that I knew there was an emergency. They did their best to accommodate me."
-Al Galevz Varona