DV/SA and People with DV/SA and People with Hearing LossHearing Loss

Assuring Welcome, Communication Assuring Welcome, Communication and Program Access, Community and Program Access, Community

Involvement and Agency Involvement and Agency RepresentationRepresentation

1. Deafness and Hearing Loss 1. Deafness and Hearing Loss Quiz Quiz

Quiz: Quiz: not for collection or judgment – just for not for collection or judgment – just for review and discussion of factsreview and discussion of facts

1. Most deaf people have parents and other 1. Most deaf people have parents and other family members who are deaf.family members who are deaf.

True _____True _____

False _____False _____

2. American Sign Language is a “true” 2. American Sign Language is a “true” language, with vocabulary, syntax, language, with vocabulary, syntax,

idioms and dialects.idioms and dialects.

True ____True ____

False ____False ____

3. Most deaf people wish they could hear.3. Most deaf people wish they could hear.

True ____True ____

False ____False ____

4. People with hearing loss are the single 4. People with hearing loss are the single largest “disability group” in the USA.largest “disability group” in the USA.

True ____True ____

False ____False ____

5. If you do not know sign language, writing 5. If you do not know sign language, writing back and forth will work with deafback and forth will work with deafclients, victims, perps and others.clients, victims, perps and others.

True ____True ____

False ____False ____

6. A deaf child with parents who hear and do not sign will 6. A deaf child with parents who hear and do not sign will develop more and better language skills than a deaf child develop more and better language skills than a deaf child

with signing deaf parents.with signing deaf parents.

True ____True ____

False ____False ____

7. 7. Deafness does not indicate lesser Deafness does not indicate lesser potential or actual intelligence.potential or actual intelligence.

True ____True ____

False ____False ____

8. By the year 2015, as much as 15% of the 8. By the year 2015, as much as 15% of the entire population will have hearing loss.entire population will have hearing loss.

True ____True ____

False ____False ____

9. For most situations, a friend, child or 9. For most situations, a friend, child or family member can interpret for policefamily member can interpret for police

or emergency professionals.or emergency professionals.

True ____True ____

False ____False ____

10. Hearing aids give close to normal 10. Hearing aids give close to normal hearing for most people with hearing loss.hearing for most people with hearing loss.

True ____True ____

False ____False ____

11. People who are deaf/blind require 11. People who are deaf/blind require specially trained interpreters.specially trained interpreters.

True ____True ____

False ____False ____

2). Those deaf people: 2). Those deaf people: Do not attend meetings or Do not attend meetings or activitiesactivitiesShow up but do not participateShow up but do not participateAttend once and never againAttend once and never againExpect an interpreter 24 hours Expect an interpreter 24 hours a daya dayAre not interested in Are not interested in volunteering or working with usvolunteering or working with usWon’t call on the TTYWon’t call on the TTYWon’t bring “their own” Won’t bring “their own” interpreters interpreters

3). Why not? 3). Why not? a). a). Importance of using Importance of using consistent PR; having deaf consistent PR; having deaf professionals as speakers and professionals as speakers and trainers, not just “clients”, need trainers, not just “clients”, need for ASL interpreters (or other for ASL interpreters (or other services or equipment) for services or equipment) for events and services – for events and services – for events, give deadline for events, give deadline for requesting interpreters to save requesting interpreters to save money; put out bids for money; put out bids for competing interpreters or competing interpreters or referral agencies: this is a referral agencies: this is a great way to cut costs and great way to cut costs and assure access.assure access.

b). b). People with hearing loss are People with hearing loss are

visual: facial expressions, visual: facial expressions, comments addressed to others comments addressed to others or with mouth covered, poor or with mouth covered, poor lighting, exaggerated speech, lighting, exaggerated speech, etc. are disincentives to attend etc. are disincentives to attend or come back. Make sure that or come back. Make sure that all of your staff are aware of all of your staff are aware of the need to extend common the need to extend common courtesy to those with hearing courtesy to those with hearing loss, as well as an awareness loss, as well as an awareness of visual cues and agency of visual cues and agency representation. representation.

c). c). Interpreters are either professional or Interpreters are either professional or

they are not. Unless an interpreter is a they are not. Unless an interpreter is a licensed or certified professional, they licensed or certified professional, they should not be interpreting for any should not be interpreting for any service, advocacy activity or issue that service, advocacy activity or issue that requires confidentiality or knowledge of requires confidentiality or knowledge of DV/SA or related terminology.DV/SA or related terminology.

Keep in mind that the interpreter is not Keep in mind that the interpreter is not “for the deaf person”! The interpreter “for the deaf person”! The interpreter is to facilitate communication between is to facilitate communication between two or more parties who do not two or more parties who do not comfortably speak each other’s comfortably speak each other’s language. The interpreter’s skills and language. The interpreter’s skills and certification level have great bearing certification level have great bearing on not just what the deaf person says, on not just what the deaf person says, but what you say to the deaf person! but what you say to the deaf person!

d). d). Meetings, events, activities with deaf people: what happens…deaf Meetings, events, activities with deaf people: what happens…deaf

people or hearing people in a meeting of peers do fine: hearing people or hearing people in a meeting of peers do fine: hearing people use sound to know when to “jump in”, respond or make a people use sound to know when to “jump in”, respond or make a comment, and deaf people use vision. When (usually very few) comment, and deaf people use vision. When (usually very few) deaf people are in a “hearing” meeting or event, the time-lag with deaf people are in a “hearing” meeting or event, the time-lag with ASL interpreters or CART makes it impossible for those with hearing ASL interpreters or CART makes it impossible for those with hearing loss to participate equally – the interpreter/CART reporter is 1 – 3 loss to participate equally – the interpreter/CART reporter is 1 – 3 sentences behind the actual conversation.sentences behind the actual conversation.

Someone needs to take responsibility to “run” the meeting: participants Someone needs to take responsibility to “run” the meeting: participants must be informed that only one person speaks at a time, anyone must be informed that only one person speaks at a time, anyone desiring to speak must raise a hand and be recognized, and there desiring to speak must raise a hand and be recognized, and there should be no “sidebars” during the meeting. Deaf people may have should be no “sidebars” during the meeting. Deaf people may have one or more comments or questions, but cannot break into the one or more comments or questions, but cannot break into the overlaps and quick segue of speech and often become annoyed, overlaps and quick segue of speech and often become annoyed, bored and burned out of trying to participate in hearing/deaf bored and burned out of trying to participate in hearing/deaf activities and events. activities and events.

e). e). Terminology: just as individuals will decide that Terminology: just as individuals will decide that

they are disabled, gay, black, senior, Latina or they are disabled, gay, black, senior, Latina or “whatever”, people with hearing loss make their “whatever”, people with hearing loss make their own decisions about how they are labeled. The own decisions about how they are labeled. The term “hearing impaired” is a medical/rehab term term “hearing impaired” is a medical/rehab term that focuses on a “lack” instead of a capacity. that focuses on a “lack” instead of a capacity. The terms most often used are deaf/Deaf, hard The terms most often used are deaf/Deaf, hard of hearing, deaf/blind, late deafened, oral deaf. of hearing, deaf/blind, late deafened, oral deaf. People who are “hearing” cannot all hear, speak, People who are “hearing” cannot all hear, speak, write or process information equally well. write or process information equally well. People with hearing loss in any particular People with hearing loss in any particular category are equally diverse: there are subtle category are equally diverse: there are subtle variations and sometimes huge disparities.variations and sometimes huge disparities.

f). f). A single employee or volunteer who is deaf or with hearing loss may A single employee or volunteer who is deaf or with hearing loss may

(or may not) be an expert at knowing their own group’s needs, but (or may not) be an expert at knowing their own group’s needs, but they may know nothing about DV/SA. Make sure they get training, they may know nothing about DV/SA. Make sure they get training, and empower them about agency information, resources, locations and empower them about agency information, resources, locations of staff and equipment, etc. There is nothing as daunting as being of staff and equipment, etc. There is nothing as daunting as being isolated (physically or due to communication) and feeling stupid and isolated (physically or due to communication) and feeling stupid and uninformed. Make sure that any verbal announcements are written uninformed. Make sure that any verbal announcements are written and provided to this personnel, and make sure that they have the and provided to this personnel, and make sure that they have the chance to provide you with communication options if there is no chance to provide you with communication options if there is no interpreter.interpreter.

Meetings, group activities, trainings, evaluations and other required Meetings, group activities, trainings, evaluations and other required

and critical work functions need to be made accessible by providing and critical work functions need to be made accessible by providing ASL interpreters or another mode of communication that assures ASL interpreters or another mode of communication that assures the individual with hearing loss of getting adequate information.the individual with hearing loss of getting adequate information.

g). g). If your agency has a TTY or staff are If your agency has a TTY or staff are

expected to use Phone or Video Relay, expected to use Phone or Video Relay, be consistent! Make sure that those be consistent! Make sure that those answering the phones know how to use answering the phones know how to use these services, and that they should these services, and that they should speak to the caller/client, speak to the caller/client, not the not the OperatorOperator! It only takes one or two ! It only takes one or two oversights or incidences of “rudeness” oversights or incidences of “rudeness” or carelessness for word to get out to or carelessness for word to get out to the community that “they are not deaf the community that “they are not deaf friendly”. friendly”.

Giving incentives to staff for their fluency Giving incentives to staff for their fluency in this area can make the difference in this area can make the difference between grudging agreement to work between grudging agreement to work with those with hearing loss and an with those with hearing loss and an agency that is known for its access.agency that is known for its access.

h). h). Make sure that your services, systems (alarm Make sure that your services, systems (alarm

or entry system), media products, etc. are in or entry system), media products, etc. are in accessible format, and that deaf staff, clients, accessible format, and that deaf staff, clients, volunteers or visitors can access these items. volunteers or visitors can access these items. Again, it only takes one mistake (a deaf person Again, it only takes one mistake (a deaf person stuck in an elevator with no way to stuck in an elevator with no way to communicate; a person with hearing loss communicate; a person with hearing loss watching a movie that is not captioned; an alarm watching a movie that is not captioned; an alarm or entry system that cannot be used or heard by or entry system that cannot be used or heard by someone with hearing loss) or oversight for your someone with hearing loss) or oversight for your agency to be labeled negatively – this can take a agency to be labeled negatively – this can take a long time to overcome.long time to overcome.

4). Remember your training and 4). Remember your training and knowledge!knowledge!

Those closest to a victim are more likely to be Those closest to a victim are more likely to be perpetrators! Your lack of knowledge about perpetrators! Your lack of knowledge about communication is absolutely not a reason to communication is absolutely not a reason to allow a boyfriend, husband, girlfriend, parent, allow a boyfriend, husband, girlfriend, parent, teacher or friend to “interpret” or to “help teacher or friend to “interpret” or to “help communicate”. Get a professional interpreter, communicate”. Get a professional interpreter, write back-and-forth, gesture (until the write back-and-forth, gesture (until the interpreter arrives), but do not allow any other interpreter arrives), but do not allow any other person to witness a session, a discussion of the person to witness a session, a discussion of the problem, or a referral to any other party – doing problem, or a referral to any other party – doing this could re-victimize the victim, enrage the this could re-victimize the victim, enrage the perpetrator or confirm the victim’s belief that no perpetrator or confirm the victim’s belief that no one will help them or understand the problem.one will help them or understand the problem.

If a client ever refuses a professional If a client ever refuses a professional interpreter, have ready a waiver for interpreter, have ready a waiver for them to sign stating they were offered them to sign stating they were offered this service and they refused it. This this service and they refused it. This should be signed, dated and witnessed.should be signed, dated and witnessed.

Email contact: mwambach@dawcas.orgEmail contact: mwambach@dawcas.org