With this in mind, understanding hearing loss should be high on the agenda, especially as this week is Sign Language Week.
Sign language is a form of visual-manual communication through using gestures, facial expressions and body language, and it is mainly used by people who are deaf or have a hearing impairment. British sign language was recognised as an official language in 2003 and is the fourth most widely used indigenous language in the UK, with an estimated 151,000 individuals utilising the language – over half of these individuals are Deaf. Source: SLW.
This is a great reminder that an accessible and inclusive workplace doesn’t just need to support those with mobility impairments. It also needs to consider individuals with hidden disabilities, such as those with hearing impairments.
Working with British Sign Language interpreters can be an effective reasonable adjustment for meetings, seminars, training sessions, conferences, etc. Other alternative workplace reasonable adjustments could be:
- Rearranging the office layout so the individual can see their colleagues easily, to improve communication;
- Providing live captions on video calls and webinars;
- Adapting the fire alarm system to provide visual fire alarm beacons;
- Provide good lighting throughout; or
- Minimising background noise.
If you require further support with making sure your workplace environment is inclusive and accessible to all, please contact us where we will be happy to discuss and provide the tailored access support you require.