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About Deafness
It is estimated that there are more than 28 million Americans who are deaf or hard of hearing. Hearing loss is the reduced ability to hear sound and may develop for various reasons. An individual may have a congenital loss from childhood or an adult illness that can result in total loss of hearing. The effects of aging, acute injury, or progressive loss over time due to excessive or prolonged exposure to noise may also result in deafness for some people. Individuals who are deaf may require accommodations to enable successful performance of essential job functions. Accommodations will not always be necessary, nor will they always be effective.
Deafness and the Americans with Disabilities Act
The ADA does not contain a list of medical conditions that constitute disabilities. Instead, the ADA has a general definition of disability that each person must meet. A person has a disability if he/she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having an impairment. For more information about how to determine whether a person has a disability under the ADA, see How to Determine Whether a Person Has a Disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA).
Accommodating Employees with Deafness
People who are deaf may develop some of the limitations discussed below, but seldom develop all of them. Also, the degree of limitation will vary among individuals. Be aware that not all people who are deaf will need accommodations to perform their jobs and many others may only need a few accommodations. The following is only a sample of the possibilities available. Numerous other accommodation solutions may exist.
Questions to Consider:
- What limitations is the employee experiencing?
- How do these limitations affect the employee and the employee’s job performance?
- What specific job tasks are problematic as a result of these limitations?
- What accommodations are available to reduce or eliminate these problems? Are all possible resources being used to determine possible accommodations?
- Has the employee been consulted regarding possible accommodations?
- Once accommodations are in place, would it be useful to meet with the employee to evaluate the effectiveness of the accommodations and to determine whether additional accommodations are needed?
- Do supervisory personnel and employees need training?
Accommodation Ideas:
By Limitation
Deaf - One Ear
- Apps for Individuals Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- CART Services
- CART Services - Remote
- Clear Face Masks
- Communicate Another Way
- Communication Access Technologies
- Cyclist's Mirror
- Industrial Mirrors
- Instant Messaging and Texting Solutions for Businesses
- Interpreter
- Notepad or White Board
- Real-time and Off-line Captioning Services
- Strobe Lights
- TTY - Portable
- TTY Software
- TTYs (Text Telephones)
- Video Relay Services (VRS)
- Video Remote Interpreting Services (VRI)
Deaf - Total
- Apps for Individuals Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- CART Services
- CART Services - Remote
- Clear Face Masks
- Communicate Another Way
- Communication Access Technologies
- Cyclist's Mirror
- Industrial Mirrors
- Instant Messaging and Texting Solutions for Businesses
- Interpreter
- Notepad or White Board
- Real-time and Off-line Captioning Services
- Strobe Lights
- TTY - Portable
- TTY Software
- TTYs (Text Telephones)
- Video Relay Services (VRS)
- Video Remote Interpreting Services (VRI)
By Work Related Function
Communicate
-
Equipment
- Accessible Telephones
- Bluetooth Products
- Bone Conduction Technology
- Captioned Telephone Calls
- Cellular Telephone Technology: Deaf & Hard of Hearing
- Communication Access Technologies
- Headsets - Computer (USB, VOIP etc.)
- Headsets - Hearing Aid Compatible, Amplification
- Hearing Carry Over (HCO) TTYs
- Neckloops
- Speech Recognition Software
- Telecoil Compatible Headsets
- Telephone Amplification
- TTYs (Text Telephones)
- Voice-Carry-Over (VCO) Telephones
- Face-to-Face
- Other
Operate Equipment/Vehicles
- Alerting Devices
- Established Routes of Travel for Heavy Equipment/Vehicles
- Strobe Lights
- Vehicle Rear Vision System
Safety Standards
Situations and Solutions:

A meat processor who was deaf was promoted to a position working in a busy warehouse.
The individual needed to communicate with several lead processors throughout the workday. The facility provided handheld text messaging devices for all lead processors.

A field geologist who was deaf and worked alone in remote areas was unable to use two-way radio communication to report his findings.
Text telephone technology was used to allow the geologist to communicate using a cellular telephone.

A government employee who was deaf was not communicating effectively with coworkers.
The employer provided video relay interpreting equipment and service access. According to the employer, the accommodation improved communication.

A medical technician who was deaf could not hear the buzz of a timer, which was necessary for specific laboratory tests.
An indicator light was attached to the equipment.

A municipality recently hired a code inspector who is deaf.
The city decided to provide an interpreter for training and a cell phone with texting to use when working in the field. The inspector was able to inspect buildings and enforce the building codes with these accommodations.

Interested in hiring a candidate who was deaf, a bank manager called JAN for assistance.
The position required conversations with hearing customers. JAN suggested communication access technology that enables two people to type to each other while facing each other. Using the equipment, the teller and customer would be able to type their conversation, both viewing the text on a personal screen. This technology would also enable bank customers who are deaf or hard of hearing to access banking services.

A phlebotomist who is deaf was provided a text to speech device to communicate with patients.
He was also given a vibrating pager with visual display so he could be contacted while in remote locations of the hospital.

A state employer had several employees who were deaf or hard of hearing.
These employees needed to respond to emergency signals and communicate in emergency. Each employee was provided with a vibrating pager that was connected to the alarm system. When the alarm sounded they were paged. Laminated note cards with communication options and flashlights to assist with signs or lip reading were also provided.
JAN Publications & Articles Regarding Deafness
Publications
Accommodation and Compliance Series
Consultants' Corner Articles
Articles
Blog Posts
Events Regarding Deafness
- Upcoming Events
- Past Recorded Module
- Past In-person Training
- Past Exhibit Booths
- Past Remote Monthly Series Training
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JAN's The Value Proposition for Engaging People with DisabilitiesApril 6, 2016
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JAN's Disability Awareness to Increase Your Comfort, Confidence, and CompetenceApril 6, 2016
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JAN is here for YOU!September 28, 2016
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
Transcripts
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
Transcripts
Presenters:
- Linda Carter Batiste , Principal Consultant/Legislative Specialist
- Beth Loy , Principal Consultant/Technical Specialist
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DEAM - A Disability Inclusion Intervention: What DE Members Need to Know to Move the Inclusion Needle ForwardApril 26, 2018
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DMEC - ADA Basics: Competence Builds ConfidenceApril 30, 2018
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DMEC - Who Wants to Be an ADA Guru?May 1, 2018
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ADA Symposium - Unpacking the Reasonable Accommodation Conversation: Achieving Win/Win OutcomesJune 20, 2018
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APSE - Employer Resource PanelJune 27, 2018
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USBLN - JAN Academy 2018: Developing a NextGen Disability Inclusive WorkplaceJuly 9, 2018
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EXCEL - Beyond the Diagnosis: A Transparent Look at Job Accommodations for Mental HealthJuly 10, 2018
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ILG - Tools, Techniques, and Technologies for Creating Inclusive WorkplacesAugust 2, 2018
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DMEC - Tools, Techniques, and Technologies for Creating Inclusive WorkplacesAugust 9, 2018
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FDR - Disability Inclusion and Reasonable AccommodationsAugust 13, 2018
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AK State HR Conference - Tools, Techniques, and Technologies for Creating Inclusive WorkplacesSeptember 21, 2018
Presenters:
- Tracie DeFreitas , Lead Consultant — ADA Specialist
Presenters:
- Linda Carter Batiste , Principal Consultant/Legislative Specialist
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
Presenters:
- Melanie Whetzel , Lead Consultant – Cognitive/Neurological Team
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
Presentations
Handouts
Presenters:
- Beth Loy , Principal Consultant/Technical Specialist
Presentations
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
Presenters:
- Anne E. Hirsh , Co-Director
Presentations
Handouts
Presenters:
- Beth Loy , Principal Consultant/Technical Specialist
- Derek Shields, EARN
- Dexter Brooks, EEOC
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
Presentations
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DMEC - FMLA/ADA Employer Compliance ConferenceApril 30, 2018
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DMEC - FMLA/ADA Employer Compliance ConferenceMay 1, 2018
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DMEC - FMLA/ADA Employer Compliance ConferenceMay 1, 2018
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APSE Employment First, Employment for All National ConferenceJune 26, 2018
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APSE Employment First, Employment for All National ConferenceJune 27, 2018
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EEOC's 21st Annual EXCEL ConferenceJuly 10, 2018
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EEOC's 21st Annual EXCEL ConferenceJuly 10, 2018
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EEOC's 21st Annual EXCEL ConferenceJuly 11, 2018
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EEOC's 21st Annual EXCEL ConferenceJuly 12, 2018
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ILG National Conference - Navigating the Waves of ChangeAugust 1, 2018
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ILG National Conference - Navigating the Waves of ChangeAugust 2, 2018
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DMEC Annual ConferenceAugust 6, 2018
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DMEC Annual ConferenceAugust 6, 2018
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DMEC Annual ConferenceAugust 7, 2018
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DMEC Annual ConferenceAugust 8, 2018
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DMEC Annual ConferenceAugust 9, 2018
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
Presenters:
- Beth Loy , Principal Consultant/Technical Specialist
Presenters:
- Beth Loy , Principal Consultant/Technical Specialist
Presenters:
- Beth Loy , Principal Consultant/Technical Specialist
Presenters:
- Beth Loy , Principal Consultant/Technical Specialist
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
Presentations
Handouts
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
Presentations
Handouts
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TransitionMay 9, 2017
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JAN - R U Ok?October 17, 2017
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JAN - Give Us Your Challenging, Your Bewildering, Your Unusual ADA IssuesNovember 14, 2017
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JAN - Ask the JAN Motor TeamDecember 12, 2017
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JAN - PAS and the New Section 501 Affirmative Action RequirementsJanuary 10, 2018
Presenters:
- Melanie Whetzel , Lead Consultant – Cognitive/Neurological Team
Presentations
Transcripts
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
- Lori Golden, EY Abilities Strategy Leader, Americas Talent Team
- Mike Weiner, LMSW, Associate Director EY Assist, Ernst & Young, LLP
Presentations
Handouts
Presenters:
- Tracie DeFreitas , Lead Consultant — ADA Specialist
Presentations
Transcripts
Presenters:
- Lisa Mathess , Lead Consultant, Motor Team
- Matthew McCord , Consultant – Mobility Team
Presentations
Transcripts
Presenters:
- Linda Carter Batiste , Principal Consultant/Legislative Specialist
- Beth Loy , Principal Consultant/Technical Specialist
- Anupa Iyer, Esq., CLMS, Policy Advisor, Office of Federal Operations (OFO), U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Presentations
Transcripts
Additional Notes:
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Other Information Regarding Deafness
External Links
- EEOC's Deafness and Hearing Impairments in the Workplace and the ADA
- EEOC's Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship under the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Hearing Loss in the Workplace
- Hearing Things: Workplace Adjustments for Employees with a Hearing Impairment
- PART 1630—Regulations to Implement the Equal Employment Provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act
- The Challenges of Being Deaf in the Workplace
- Workplace Hearing Loss
Organizations
- Job Accommodation Network
- Office of Disability Employment Policy
- American Academy of Audiology
- American Cochlear Implant Alliance
- American Hearing Research Foundation
- Association of Late Deafened Adults
- Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Losses
- Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD)
- Hearing Health Foundation
- Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults
- MedlinePlus
- National Association of the Deaf
- National Center for Biotechnology Information
- National Cued Speech Association
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders