Job Accommodations in the Workplace for Persons Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Current Practices and Recommendations

摘要: One of the most significant determinants in our perceived status society is job (Blau & Duncan, 1967; Crewe and Zola, 1983; Jahoda, 1982; McCarthy, 1988; Nam, Powers, Glick, 1964). However, a recent Harris poll (Prodigy, 1994) found that two-thirds American adults with disabilities have no job, nearly 80% those presently unemployed would like to work. Reasons often cited for their lack employment are employers do not (a) structure jobs so persons disability can be accommodated (Myers, 1992), (b) confidence ability person disability, or consider capable working full-time (Lou Associates, 1994). Furthermore, three encountered discrimination, approximately 20% indicate they physical barriers workplace interfered effective performance. In order combat problems identified above, Americans Disabilities Act 1990 (ADA) was enacted. For first time, discrimination against both governmental private business sector prohibited by law. addition, ADA shifted responsibility initiating accommodation process employee. Though study has empirically evaluated importance on-the-job accommodations who hard hearing, practices were factor success deaf (Gibler, 1995; Moore, Mowry Anderson, 1993). Also, majority anecdotal literature (Boone, Foster, 1987; 1995) indicates certain situations involve groups noisy difficult hearing. Specific been as due breakdown communication capabilities, e.g., receiving instructions, meetings, training/inservices. Therefore, provision facilitate may essential an employee's career maintenance advancement. Purpose Study determine if develop empirical basis development training materials on accommodations, five-year project developed. This report based initial phase project. It presents results two surveys administered workers hearing The purpose assess type adequacy accommodations. At time consumer employer surveys, appropriate timetable, required businesses 25 more employees provide "reasonable accommodations" customers disabilities. Method Two developed examine current Both survey questionnaires used forced-choice open-ended questions. Open-ended questions coded variables through review. All data checked validity. then analyzed using SPSS\PC+ software. Due nonparametric nature data, frequency where appropriate, chi square statistical analyses performed. Consumer Survey Participants members Self Help Hard Hearing People, Inc. (SHHH). SHHH selected because it self-help organization presumably, its greater access information about coping loss. items provided size company, situations, general used, incidence denial requests. …