Emm Sharpe, a British Sign Language (BSL) expert and founder of Study Sharp, discusses how businesses can become more deaf-friendly
In this episode of Includability Shorts, Dave is joined by Emm Sharpe, a British Sign Language (BSL) expert and founder of Study Sharp, to discuss how businesses can become more deaf-friendly.
Emm Sharpe provides five key tips for businesses aiming to improve their inclusivity for deaf individuals:
Recruitment Process Accessibility: Ensure the recruitment process is fair and accessible. This includes asking applicants about their preferred communication method, checking if they prefer texts or emails over phone calls, planning for BSL interpreters if needed, and making sure the website is accessible and includes BSL video clips if possible.
Continuing Professional Development: Upskill key staff teams like HR and Learning and Development to effectively support deaf employees. Implement an open-door policy for deaf employees to discuss accessibility improvements.
Familiarise with Access to Work Scheme: Understand the grants available for deaf employees, which can cover workplace adjustments and interpreter costs, alleviating financial concerns for employers.
Deaf-Friendly Work Environment: Adjust the workspace to suit deaf employees, including adequate lighting, anti-glare screens, minimal background noise, accessible meetings with interpreters or captioning, and technology like vibrating pagers for fire alarms and flashing doorbells.
Deaf Awareness and BSL Training: Encourage staff to undergo deaf awareness and basic BSL training to foster understanding and break down myths. Include deaf people's lived experiences in training to provide insights into effective workplace adjustments and combat audism.
Emm emphasises the importance of valuing deaf employees' contributions and ensuring they feel included and supported in the workplace.
The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to continue learning and working towards more inclusive, diverse, and mentally healthy workplaces.
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