Improving Job Satisfaction of Employees Who are Deaf and Hearing

Approximately 9 percent of the American population are deaf and hard of hearing, yet less than half of them are estimated to be working. With the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the realization of the need for and benefits of a diverse workforce, more employers will hire the deaf. The focus of this article is on practical applications of how to meet the diverse needs of employees who are deaf and hearing that work together in problem areas of communication and socialization. Recommendations discussed include positive attitudes, familiarity, support of supervisors, diversity training, American Sign Language (ASL) training, interpreters, computers, and TTY telecommunication devices. Recommendations come from a sample of 152 employees, seventy-six who are deaf and seventy-six who are hearing.