I didn’t get my first job until I was a sophomore in college, but since then I think I’ve held a pretty wide range of positions. I’ve worked at a daycare, at a local newspaper, at a Gap outlet, at a self-publishing literary journal, at two different college libraries, and as a writing tutor for both of those colleges.
I would never say that this is “in spite” of my disability — just as I don’t consider myself “an inspiration” for “overcoming obstacles” — but I will admit that my severe hearing loss has certainly not helped my career.
My hearing loss has been plummeting for unknown reasons since I was diagnosed in kindergarten. It is a mild to profound loss in both ears, meaning that while I can hear loud, low sounds like thunderstorms almost normally, I cannot hear some sounds (especially anything high pitched, like a tea kettle) at all.
I cannot hear birds twittering. I do not go to movies if they aren’t captioned, and they usually aren’t. Comprehending speech can be so difficult for me that I tend to avoid any conversation that isn’t one-on-one. Although I love music, there are some parts of songs, as well as entire instruments, that I will never hear.
Back in middle school, when hearing aids still helped me.
I no longer wear hearing aids, I do not have a cochlear implant, I do not sign, and I do not know any deaf/Deaf people.
As skilled as I am at lipreading and compensating and occasionally pretending, I am essentially a person with very little hearing struggling to succeed in a hearing world. Thus I have been forced to find strategies that help me to adapt. My newest strategy? Stop mentioning my hearing loss in job interviews.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (not to be confused with this one) was signed into law on July 26, 1990 — the day before I was born.
Obviously America decided they’d better get their s**t together before I arrived. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been enough. The ADA prohibits employers from discriminating against qualified employees/potential employees with disabilities, and also requires that reasonable accommodations are made for disabled employees.
This would be a great law if more people would abide by it, or were even more aware of it. Hell, I wish I had been more aware of it back in 2011 when I was graduating from college.
During my search for post-graduate work, I sent my resume out to several publishing houses in New York. Keep in mind that these weren’t even actual jobs that I was applying for; they were unpaid internships. I ended up being invited for three interviews. One was a phone interview, and after I asked for an in-person interview because I can’t hear on the phone, they emailed me back a big, fat NEVERMIND.
“Sorry, but the internship mainly involves answering phones,” they explained.
Like the idiot that I was, I was disappointed but reasoned that it made sense. They can’t hire someone to answer their phones (even if it’s for free) if the person can’t answer phones!
Now I want to go back in time, shake myself, and instead let that company know that it would be a very reasonable accommodation for them to allow me to use a captioning phone for the job. They would have at least been obligated to let me come in for an interview, because I was qualified.
Sure, they could have just blown me off in the end with a fake reason, but there’s a chance that I could have been hired. I would be climbing the corporate ladder in NYC right now. Or maybe they would have blown me off with a blatantly discriminatory reason and I could have sued them for millions and be sitting on a beach right now. Regrets: We all have them.
I wasn’t feeling the sting of regrets and unemployment yet; I was just happy to have graduated.
I learned my lesson, though. I no longer mention my hearing loss before or during an interview. Legally, I do not have to disclose my disability at all and in some jobs, I never did. If a job specifically entails answering phones, then only after I am hired do I bring up my CaptionCall phone.
I don’t feel like I am inconveniencing the employer this way (an easy feeling for a people pleaser like me to have) because it is my own phone that I provide and entails no extra work for them outside of giving me five minutes to set it up.
This phone was a lifesaver for me. My old audiologist and friend Susan told me about it right before I was hired for a job that required a lot of phone work, and without it I’m not sure I would have gone for that job. If I’d had it in college, I might have even had a chance at one of those competitive internships.
So yes, I wish I had my CaptionCall phone back then and that I knew all this self-advocacy stuff (my parents and teachers tried to educate me in high school but shitty teenage me tuned them out by turning off her hearing aids). At least I know better now.
If you have a disability and you’re sweating about whether to mention it in your upcoming job interview, remember: You don’t have to share that shit! If they ask you point blank whether you can answer phones and you’re deaf as a post, then you kind of have to own up to that BUT while telling them how they can accommodate you to do those things because you’re WORTH IT.
Have you ever been discriminated against for a job because of your disability, or your ethnicity/age/gender/sexual orientation? Let’s commiserate in the comments, which is also where you can tell me that this is a dumb plan because any future employer can Google me and… see this article. Whatever, no regrets!
>Republished with permission from xoJane.com
Kelly is a profoundly hearing impaired freelance writer and artist from Pennsylvania. She has written for her local news publications, the women’s online magazine xoJane.com, its sister beauty site xoVain.com, and her own on-again, off-again fashion blog (the link to which she refuses to divulge). Twitter: @picturesqueliar
Jim
May 16, 2013
That could be a description of my working life too.
Robert Mandara
May 16, 2013
This is a difficult area!
I do not mention whether I’m black or white on my job applications and, likewise, I don’t state whether I’m hearing or not. The upshot is that, on account of my name, recruiters tend to expect an Indian to walk through the door (if they haven’t already rejected me based on my name alone). I swear I can see the relief on their faces when they see that I’m white and then the relief turns to disappointment when they notice I’m deaf!
In most cases mentioning that you’re deaf on an application will mean that you won’t get interviewed. As far as the interview is concerned, I think it’s better not to say anything about deafness unless asked. In general, recruiters don’t know what they’re allowed to ask and will prefer to say nothing and just judge you like everyone else. (It’s similar dangerous territory to asking a young woman if she’s pregnant or planning to be.) In the ideal world we’d discuss our needs in the interview but, in my experience, that will hinder rather than help.
Good topic and a very nice photo (at top) too if I may say so!
Hiccups
May 16, 2013
same description of my working life too….I can remember very well a job interview I went to …the first question they asked me as I was sitting down was ‘can you answer telephones?’ and I said no then went on to explain about adapted phones and how they can help me, the interview was over!
barakta
May 16, 2013
Sounds sickeningly familiar. I got my current job without hiding it, but in some ways being a disabled person was an asset and I have other disabilities which I can’t hide.
I wish we had CaptionCall systems in the UK where I could just plug and run… Maybe next year the next generation relay will be good enough for that possibility!
Tanya
May 17, 2013
I used to have my deafness on my cv and everytime I sent it out, I never got a chance for an interview so in an experiment, I removed the deafness and voila I was invited for interviews. If I had to call via typetalk to arrange a date for interview, they would then learn I was deaf and still give me interview, however if they refused to give me an interview via typetalk, this was evidence it was because of my deafness. This way you can prove they were being discriminating.
Vachik
November 1, 2016
i have the same problem dear
deaflinguist
May 17, 2013
I once applied for a job in Wales – the IDENTICAL job to the one I was doing in England and continue to do, but better paid. Now, if you work in the public sector in Wales, you are expected to learn Welsh, but lack of Welsh is not supposed to be a barrier if you are willing to learn.
I was more than willing, and said so, but I didn’t even get an interview – despite the two ticks scheme. Colleagues who had encouraged me to go for the job for the remuneration and the opportunity to transfer my knowledge to a different setting were frankly astonished. I asked for the scoring papers for interview, and as I suspected, they had marked me down regarding the Welsh because they were making assumptions about my ability to learn Welsh, based on my deafness.
Clearly they had decided to pick and choose which parts of equal opportunities suited them. I didn’t bother to pursue this, other than putting in a complaint on record, because I felt that with that attitude I didn’t want to work for them!
Worker Bee
May 20, 2013
I’d use the captioncall phone at work but 98% of the time in Cubicle land, one will not be able to substitute a personal phone into their phone system. 🙁 . I’ve heard not so great reviews about the captioncall phone also so am on the fence on even getting one.
Ozzleworth
May 21, 2013
I’m job hunting at the moment and don’t know whether to mention my deafness or not. I think the world just isn’t that accepting right now and it’s probably a good idea to keep it on the downlow. I can function OK so most people can’t tell but I do think people get freaked out by me staring at them instead of looking all over the place!
Hartmut Teuber
June 5, 2013
She needed to hide her deafness, because of the prevalent audism.
Public acceptance of deafness and the differing communication styles based primarily on vision need to be accepted as a usual communicative alternative to speech and hearing by the society. This acceptance ought to be a sine qua non in the first place. Accommodations to the inability to hear and speak would be granted without question, like those on the Martha’s Vineyard, and many other pockets on the Earth where the incidence of deafness was greater than 1% of the population, and who have learned how to deal with a deaf person via sign language. The populations of such localities have learned to communicate in the visual besides the aural modes, unlike in the audistic societies.
In Australia, where this thread originates, one can learn about the relativity of the importance of oral communication form from the aborigines that have a sign language, like the Warlpiri, that benefits the deaf Warlpiri to communicate within the tribe, unlike most deaf European Australians within their own families.
Unfortunately, deaf job applicants are forced to negotiate through the audisitic environs to find a non-audistic blind spot to get a job.
Christina J.
May 28, 2014
Your hearing loss sounds identical to mine. I can’t hear anything high-pitched but I’m fine with lower pitched sounds. It is very hard for me to make out anything anyone is saying in a group setting and I avoid conversations because of that as well. I read lips very well. My hearing has gotten worse since I as a kid and I in my late 20’s now. I had no idea about the Caption Call phone or anything else that could help me. I cannot hear alarms, phones, smoke alarms, etc. I have 3 young children and their father just passed away and I am very worried about my ability to support them with my hearing loss. I stumbled upon your blog while researching jobs and profound deafness. I know I am so late to this post, but if someone could please, PLEASE email me information about the Caption Call phone and similar things that could help me I would be so grateful. Thank you christinaannjohnson1@gmail.com
Also, I live in the US if that makes any difference regarding where to find these things. I have found that there is very little support for hard-of-hearing/ Deaf people once we age out of school years.
Tyler
August 2, 2014
I’m going to share something. Keep in mind that I’m a 20 year old deaf guy, I use ASL as my primary language, and I’m proficient in written English but I don’t speak. Understandably, that made finding jobs difficult since I cant hide my deafness for interviews. Despite the laws in effect today to provide equal opportunity for deaf people, for the most part its just bullshit in my case. I’ve only been able to hold two jobs in high school (lifeguard at YMCA and sales associate at Chick Fil A) and I have to thank my mother for that. (being a newspaper reporter in her area, she basically hooked me up through her connections). While I did enjoy these jobs, at times it can be awkward and numerous times I’ve had to improvise to made sure things went smoothly. I had an interpreter for the first day at the job but that’s it. Before I got these jobs, i applied to a Sheetz in the area I lived in. The manager wanted to hire me, but HR prevented him from doing so saying “because I cant man the registers.”. Primitive apes didn’t even consider the other positions I am fully capable of doing (making food, stockroom, etc) and I basically didn’t get the job because of that. I should have sued their asses off. Even though I didn’t show it at the same, I was deeply hurt. It isn’t my fault that I was born deaf. Being deaf has given me an identity in an unique culture, but sometimes when I’m having bad days I cant help but think that my deafness is a curse. Combined with a congenital heart condition, I struggle with my self image and employment all the time. I recently relocated to a new area, and am restarting the job search all over again. I landed an interview with Smashburger without an interpreter. I was asked to return for a 2nd interview but it was incredibly awkward, nerve wrecking really. It went well enough I suppose, if I was asked to return for another interview. However, I really need this job, and I want to ace this. Its for a cook job, and I’m concerned about the ramifications of the second interview and the training/job if i get hired, communication wise. So my question is, how could I ensure that I do my best at this interview and training? How do I make it easier for myself and my interviewer/possible soon to be supervisors? I need that wow factor, and I don’t have it. Feedback would be awesome, thanks.
Kelly
August 3, 2014
Hi Tyler– author here. I saw your comment and I really wanted to give you some advice that would help. It is a tough situation, though, and although I’ve experienced it to a lesser extent, I’ve been lucky enough to pass as hearing enough to be able to do most jobs. I think that the best thing you can do (since you can’t hide it) is be upfront about it, but matter of fact and positive. Don’t focus too much on what you can’t do, but what you can do. I think that as long as you explain that you can do this job (with whatever accommodations you need for training and communication, which they have to provide for you) then they can’t turn you down based on your deafness without it being discriminatory. Also it might be a good idea, when you get a job, to see if maybe some of your coworkers and supervisors might be interested in learning some basic ASL to help you out. I’ve found that most people are always eager to be accommodating (and love learning sign language, in my experience). I don’t know how helpful my advice is–you might also want to look into groups in your area that help with this sort of thing, such as OVR and ADA.gov. Good luck!
ally
September 7, 2014
I found this after looking up “should I tell my boss I’m going deaf” on Google. This was really helpful to me, so thanks! I’m a recent college grad and working at a coffee shop while I try to find a job in my field. I didn’t tell my coffee shop employer I was hearing impaired (none of their biz!), and after a year of being there (fml!) my hearing is super shitty now/hearing aids are a joke. We use alarms for timing brews and all kinds of things at my job and I can’t hear that stuff, lol, no way. I’m great with customers, though, even though I can’t really hear them. The other day, my boss flat out told me “this isn’t the place to work if you have hearing problems” and my hours have been cut drastically since most of the jobs where I work require a headset, and I can’t hear anything on the headset. I laugh at the situation, but she does not. I’d quit, but I need the dough. Ugh. I’m hoping I find a sweet gig soon that I deserve and that I can do great things, sooner rather than later, but here’s to remaining optimistic.
Kelly
September 12, 2014
Hi Ally, author here. I’m glad you found this post helpful! Everyone’s experience is different so you have to do what works for you, BUT no one should tolerate discrimination in the workplace for any reason. I don’t know where you’re located, but in the US the Americans with Disabilities Act makes it illegal to discriminate against someone for a job as long as they can do what the job requires with or without reasonable accommodations. So even if you’re having trouble with some of your job’s requirements, your boss has a responsibility to try to accommodate you so that you can do your job–as long as it’s reasonable requests that’s within your employer’s means (such as delegating responsibilities to other employees or having a flashing light for alarms). It’s also your responsibility to research such possibilities and then ask for them.
In the meantime, though, I definitely suggest looking for another job. It sucks that you have to do that but why make yourself suffer needlessly? I’ve never even tried to do a job in the food service industry simply because I know it would be way too difficult for me. Instead I looked for other part time jobs that played to my strengths (or at least didn’t require good hearing!) such as dog walking, retail, assistant in a library, tutoring, bussing tables, freelance writing/drawing/graphic art, etc. Sorry for the novel but I hope this helps! Good luck with everything.
Diana Owen
October 23, 2014
Hey all – have you heard of InnoCaption? It is a new, free app that you can download to your smart phone and you get real time captions of your phone conversations. And, they use live stenographers instead of voice recognition so it is really accurate. You can go to http://www.innocaption.com and register. The registration is free, the app is free and it is free to use – you just have to have a smart phone. 🙂
Vivian Li
January 23, 2015
I’m in a similar boat as the author of this article — I’m a recent university graduate, and out on the market hunting for jobs. The only difference is that I’m mute rather than deaf (my permanent speech loss suddenly started when I was 16, and gradually got worse until now, where I’ve become practically mute). I probably sound like the wet blanket of the bunch here, but I definitely see my disability as a curse. I graduated at the top of my program at a prestigious Canadian university, and while my cohorts have been getting jobs left and right (both “professional” ones requiring a Bachelor’s degree and more casual ones like retail), I feel like I’m sinking in unemployment. I do not ever mention my speech impairment on my resume or cover letters — I’ve learned several times the hard way that this was a bad idea — and when I get interviews, the interviewer invariably makes excuses around not hiring me (I often get the “you’re just not experienced enough” line of BS as I often find out that the candidate that they DID hire had less experience and qualifications than me). Oh believe me, I so wanted to sue these employers for discrimination, but unfortunately, as we all probably know here, proving such discrimination is difficult so long as the employer is wary enough to not mention explicitly the real reason they didn’t hire you. The thing is, there is no way I can “hide” my disability at any stage beyond submitting my resume to the employer — I “speak” with a voice synthesizer text-to-speech program on my personal laptop. I assure my interviewers that this is not going to be much of a problem at all in the office environment, because I can type quite fast and thus my “talking” speed resembles the speed of natural speech (perhaps the only job function I might have trouble with is answering telephones, as I’ve found many employers for office/cubicle positions do not find installing a Text Relay phone system on my behalf a “reasonable accommodation”, which is frustrating).
At the moment, I’m looking to possibly start some trade-related post-graduate certification programs so I can at least have a chance at self-employment (hey, if you can’t rely on someone else for a job, you have to create your own). Either that, or I take the LSAT or GMAT and apply to Law or Business schools. I’m hoping these certifications may raise my skill set to the point where my professional expertise can overshadow any potential bias an employer/client may have against me. With bills and student loan debt overhanging me, I don’t see any other way.
Lisa
September 3, 2015
Anyone got any advice please?!! I’m hearing impaired and my total hearing is about 30%, which I didn’t know and thought it was 70% but it seems to be a lot worse than that. I have had hearing loss since I was 4 and am moderately-severely deaf in one ear and severely to profoundly deaf in the other. I wore hearing aids as a little girl but got ‘weaned’ off them as my hearing improved slightly so I therefore assumed I must be ‘hearing’. I’ve now been fired 3 times from jobs for being too ‘stupid’ and ‘slow’ to register instructions or understand tasks and if I try to explain that some of this is directly due to mishearing issues they simply refuse to believe it, say it is me being stupid and not hearing impaired and one boss even told HR that I was LYING that I had an impairment in the first place and that I didn’t ‘look deaf’. I have had people shout at me angrily for not hearing them and have had people get in my face and speak deliberately slowly ‘like I am stupid. I’m not saying I don’t make ‘normal’ mistakes like a hearing person but some of the mistakes bosses have thrown at me as reasons to fire me were literally a direct mishearing of something. I have now lost so much confidence that I feel I have been through a car crusher and have very little self esteem left. I am really capable, good on the computer, I’ve got a Degree with Open Uni, learned French and German and am known for mimicking ‘accents’ but people therefore just see someone coping and don’t believe me when I tell them. A student friend once said ‘I stood behind you calling you 3 times!’, I said ‘sorry – I did say I was hard of hearing’ and she said ‘yeah but I was testing it because I didn’t believe you’. Coping is a very good thing – you achieve more by trying to make the best of things than giving up. But I am also being my own worst enemy when people therefore can’t accept that I happen to need support AND be good at coping. I don’t know where to turn career wise, I am struggling with unemployment depression and want to be back in a career but just am feeling very traumatised by the negativity and ‘shaming’ I’ve had all through life about my hearing loss (including a lot of ridiculing and negativity in school as well as workplaces) and wondered how I should handle this. Has my problem been over-stubborn-ness in not disclosing clearly enough and how do I make people aware of when something is due to hearing loss not stupidity? Please can I hear of your experiences?
Vivian Li
September 4, 2015
Lisa, first and foremost you should be upfront about your disability to your employers. Since a hearing impairment is a relatively visible/apparent one, you will have to disclose it sooner or later — and studies on this topic have shown that it is always better to disclose sooner, as it signals transparency, honesty, and self-confidence in your disability to the employer. That’s what I’ve always done as a speech-impaired person myself (disclose to employers as soon as possible, reassure them that it won’t affect my job performance with the help of my text-to-speech assistive device, and request reasonable accommodation like more time to speak), and these employers have always been impressed with me — provided, of course, that they were not prejudiced to begin with (I had one bigoted employer last year who was prejudiced against those with disabilities; I was hired anyway because she “didn’t want to get in trouble”, but all throughout the contract she kept mistreating me. I was tempted to raise a discrimination claim against her, but in the end I did not, because she eventually came around and we ended on better terms).
If you are experiencing such obvious and persistent discrimination, do report and escalate the issue. Disability discrimination is ILLEGAL. There should be an HR department in every reputable company, so contact the HR head and tell them that you’re a person with a disability who is being discriminated against on the job. You are being mistreated by your boss. Also, demand that you are provided and/or allowed to use reasonable accommodation (for example, this may include allowing you to use your hearing aids on the job, communicating primarily through email and written notes, or switching around job duties — like phone calling — with your coworkers).
If you are ever fired as a result of your disability — either directly (for example, your boss outright expressing disdain towards disabled employees and fires you because of this) or indirectly (firing you because the boss claims that “you cannot perform the job duties” without FIRST considering reasonable accommodations to help you perform your job) — this is wrongful termination and you will have a good case to seek legal redress. If you do choose to sue, and you win your case, you may be awarded monetary compensation for lost future wages as well as possible back-pay and emotional damages. In addition, you may also be re-instated to your job.
Hopes this helps.
Will
December 8, 2015
Hi all. Firstly thank you Kelly for expressing this. I feel like I’m not so alone in this situation anymore. Like yourself I was born deaf, and have a loss of 65%. Despite this I do not wear my hearing aids and have become rather skilled at the art of lip reading, I’m at a point where on a 1:1 basis my hearing impairment goes unnoticed. However it has ruined so much of my life. When I was a kid all I ever wanted to do was help people and still do. But unfortunately got kicked out the army at 16 due to my hearing loss, since then every public service provider I have tried, police, fire service etc have all shut me down, despite my enthusiasm and motivation. I’m now stuck in a dead end job where I find it is a struggle. I just wish these services would not see my disability as a brick wall and find methods to get around it. All these shut downs have made me feel like an outcast to society where I’m in a constant battle to make a better life for myself and my family, where my child knows I’m making a difference and doing what I love to do.
Thanks again Kelly and all the best.
Cary Gibson
January 28, 2016
I went into my first day of a new job that I was very well qualified for. During the day, there was a fervent discussion about parking in the down town area, and getting me a temporary parking pass, and that the need to move my car every few hours because of parking restrictions with in the town was necessary. There was quite a – almost heated, definitely elevated discussion- between the regular employees- about when and where I should move my car.
In an effort to defuse the discussion I finally disclosed that my parking circumstances would be under control because I have a Handicap Placard and with it came unrestricted parking.
My new employer asked why I had it- I could and should have- just said I have a disability that’s not visible- But I responded w/o thinking- I have Spinal Stenosis ( w/o adding that I also have Epilepsy and Multiple Sclerosis). Comments were made about others in the office- and their relatives- who also dealt w/back issues.
Again, despite being exceptionally qualified for this position- a HALF HOUR after disclosing ONE of my disabilities- my new boss came into the room I was working, and told me that he didn’t feel like I was a good fit- that he thought I didn’t TAKE ENOUGH NOTES during our initial 15 minute meeting in the am, thank you for coming in today, but it’s not going to work out. I didn’t bother to tell him that I literally have a nearly idetic memory.
I was blindsided, dumbfounded and devastated. I can’t for a minute believe that I wasn’t let go for disclosing my back issue & handicap status.
Alison
March 2, 2016
Hi
I am doing an academic research poster and I am researching whether having a hearing loss effects your career potential, would you mind if I used some of this article as one of my case studies?
Thanks a lot
Alison
kathrynwoodhead
September 13, 2016
Hi Alison, I would love to hear more about how this research has progressed?
Tasmin
March 13, 2016
I’ve gone for countless interviews but two and a half years later, i’ve gotten no where. I’ve mentioned on my CV about my disability, that being hard of hearing and I wear hearing aids and during the interviews, they ask about it and if i can answer phones, they come across as somewhat accommodating….but maybe because of my speech they think i’m stupid and you know the rest….i’m so sick of being discriminated against and judged because of my disability…that’s the only explanation….it’s not fair anymore….being hard of hearing does not mean I’m stupid and have no brains.
Joyce A King
July 29, 2016
I get the same thing. Once someone knows I’m hearing impaired and wear hearing aids, they treat me like I’m mentally impaired or just stupid. Not only does it make me feel horrible, it makes me mad that they are letting one little disability shadow my many abilities. You are NOT stupid, I am NOT stupid. I hate the stigma attached to hearing aids, like they are only for old people. People who wear glasses don’t get treated differently, so why should people who wear hearing aids? I’ve been wearing them since 2003, when I was 36, though I needed them much sooner, but growing up, my best friend’s little sister was born with a hearing loss and wore hearing aids, and they did sign language, and I picked up on a little of that. So maybe because I was exposed to it, I am more understanding. So I have a tee shirt that says “My hearing loss is a disability. Your mumbling isn’t. SPEAK UP!”
David
June 12, 2016
Have anyone ever worked for a company that had to choose between a person who has a very heavy foreign accent over someone who is hearing impaired? Maybe I need to provide a little more details. I was born with a Nuchal cord, that is with the umbilical cord wrapped around my neck which caused a hearing loss of 70% in both ears.
I worked for a major telecommunications company for 8 years. I’ve had 6 managers I’ve worked well with until I’ve met my match. Manager #7. Don’t know if I’m allowed to ID this company but I am going to call it “A”. Company “A” like many company was going thru changes. Being near the bottom of a seniority list, I was being transferred. I made my selection to be transferred to a garage near my home.
One of problem of being hard of hearing, I am often out of the loop. In the retraining classes I was approached by coworkers and was asked why I chose that particular Garage. They warned me about a manager with a reputation. Being Warned, I prepared myself. Then I met him. Boy did he have an Accent. My wife and in laws have accents so I’m no stranger to accents. Over the course of 8 month, I’ve taken orders from him, tension developed as he constantly write me up by accusing me of not following or ignoring verbally and cell phone conversation orders. I admitted to him that I had a very difficult time understanding him. I have asked him repeatedly to repeat himself. Even suggest that he text me instead. After the 3rd month and advice from my union rep, I put in a request for a transfer. Finally I found my name on a list of technicians to be transferred. I was relieved. But on the day of my transfer, I was terminated. Did file discrimination suit Had right to sue. Settled for very little amount. Earned back what I paid my attorney. BUT I cannot ever work for company “A” again.
So I ask again Has anyone ever worked for a company that had to choose between a heavy accent manager or a hearing impaired employee? Thank for listening.
Joyce A King
July 29, 2016
I just read your article, and I wanted to thank you for writing it! I appreciate your humor and information. I have been at my current job for over a year, and haven’t yet told them I wear hearing aids. But, last Christmas, after we had our Christmas lunch and were hugging goodbye, my hearing aid squealed and I know my boss heard it. He didn’t say anything to ME–but I am still the newbie, and I do know they talk about me behind my back. No, seriously, I know they do. So I find myself wondering if they’ve been patting themselves on their backs for figuring this out, or if they are waiting for me to announce it. I do feel guilty for not telling them, because I don’t think they would have hired me had they known. But now that I have your input, I’ll be ready for the next interview!
kathrynwoodhead
September 13, 2016
This is really insightful, I have just finished university in the UK and I’m looking at communications assistant jobs. I can hear on the phone sometimes, it depends if I’m/ they’re in a quiet office, and if the person doesn’t have a strong accent, etc. So sometimes I’ve had phone interviews that have been fine, but I’ve also had many terrible phone interviews where my friends/ family have sat next to me repeating what the interviewer is saying to me. I’ve had companies really interested in me, then as soon as I explain after the telephone interview that I wear hearing aids and in some situations I can’t hear on the phones very well, they don’t get back into contact… Something like the captioncall would be useful, although I don’t know how widely available it is in the UK?
Rebecca Wand
September 27, 2016
Hello, very Deaf person here, all your comments are amazing and really making me feel like I’m not alone. I’m going to be finishing a traineehsip soon and I have been sending applications out for the past 6 months and have barely heard back. I would just take my Disability off my CV, BUT ins’t it illegal to disclose information in an interview and application and on your CV to then tell them at a later date? I live in the UK maybe it’s different here. :s 🙂