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People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Adapted from training materials developed by United Cerebral Palsy

Fact
Interaction Tips
Accommodations

Fact

People classified as deaf, late-deafened, or hard of hearing have a range of hearing abilities, and may prefer to communicate in many different ways.

Interaction Tips

There is a wide range of hearing loss, and communication preferences vary depending on the individual. Do not assume that an individual does or does not lip-read or use sign language. If you do not know the individual's preferred communication method, ask.
Always direct communication to the individual with the disability when they are accompanied by an assistant or interpreter. Interpreters are present to relay information and generally should not be included in the conversation.
Shouting or exaggerating your speech does not help communication.
To get a person's attention, call his/her name. If there is no response, lightly touch him/her on the arm or shoulder.
Make direct eye contact. Natural facial expressions and gestures will provide important information to your conversation.
Keep your face and mouth visible by not obscuring them with your hands, hair, cigarettes and food.
When speaking to a person who lip-reads, speak clearly and evenly. Do not over-articulate.
If you are asked to repeat yourself several times, try rephrasing your sentence.
Be honest. If you are having trouble understanding or communicating, say so. Never say, "Oh, forget it, it's not important." When appropriate, a conversation can even be held by writing information on a shared paper or sharing a computer screen.
When giving a number or an address, consider alternative ways to provide it: writing, faxing, or emailing are great ways to ensure accuracy.
Bright and dark places can be a barrier to clear communication. Good lighting is important, but keep in mind the glare factor and do not stand in front of a sunny window.
Use transitional phrases between topics, such as "My next question is about," or "Okay, I'm going to change the subject." Changing the topic abruptly can cause confusion.

Examples of Accommodations

Sign language interpreters are typically placed next to the speaker and across from the person using the interpreter.
Note-takers can document important information during meetings.
The individual may prefer seating in the front of the room with a good view of the speaker.
Another preferred method of communication is CART, Computer-Assisted Realtime Transcription. A CART provider translates material electronically onto a visible screen, similar to closed captioning on a television screen.
American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and CART providers should not be scheduled to interpret for long periods of time without a break. Ideally, if they are needed for more than two hours, a second interpreter or provider should be present for them to team with.

©The National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP) is a training and technical assistance provider on disability inclusion. NSIP partners with the Association on University Centers on Disability, National Council on Independent Living, Association on Higher Education and Disability and National Down Syndrome Congress to build connections between disability organizations and all CNCS grantees, including national directs, to increase the participation of people with disabilities in national service.