Being deaf at a workplace
- information for employers
Engelska
1
2
”I never considered his deafness
an obstacle”
Photo: Johanna Henriksson, Bulldozer reklambyrå
– We fell for his charm, says Pernilla Clemens
von Döbeln.
Pernilla is the hotel manager at Näsby Castle
and the man whose charm she extols is Nisse
Danielsson. We are seated on a soft, comfortable
lounge suite in a drawing room at the 17th century castle, with its collection of Carl Milles statues, Bruno Liljefors murals and a ceiling painting
bearing the name of Anders Zorn.
Besides Nisse, Pernilla and myself, the lounge
suite also seats two interpreters. If this had been
an ordinary working day, the interpreters would
not have been here, but in order for me to conduct
the interview with Nisse, who is deaf, they are
necessary.
Day-to-day communication between Nisse
and his co-workers is fairly simple however. As a
rule, it is enough if his colleagues speak clearly
and slowly for Nisse to understand them. And
body language goes a long way. Exceptions are
when hotel manager Pernilla has a long list of
tasks for Nisse, which she writes down on a simple blackboard. For staff meetings, the employer
or Nisse books an interpreter, the cost of whom is
not paid by the employer.
Recently, Arbetsförmedlingen also provided
Nisse with a smart phone with an integrated
fire alarm and software for remote interpretation. These technical aids were funded by
Arbetsförmedlingen.
– The blackboard was used a fair amount in
the beginning, but we rarely need it nowadays.
Most of the time, lip-reading works quite well,
and the chef has learned to sign a few things. My
only problem is really at lunch time, when everybody talks at once. At times like that, it is difficult
3
4
to follow and I sometimes feel a little left out.
Apart from that, I love my job, says Nisse through
his interpreter.
– After Nisse had mastered his job, which
took no time, he works independently and never
needs to sit and wait for assignments to be allocated. I never saw his deafness as an obstacle,
says Pernilla Clemens von Döbeln.
Jeanette Lindevall is an employment support
worker, SIUS, at Arbetsförmedlingen. The acronym stands for Special Introduction and Followup Support, see page 14. When Jeanette had analysed Nisse’s skills and merits, mostly consisting
of technical jobs, she started looking for potential
employers. Näsby Castle responded.
– As early as at their first meeting they both
felt this was right. We agreed to start with work
placement. The objective was for Nisse to get employment and I would be there until he was comfortable in his position, says Jeanette.
During the first two weeks of placement,
Jeanette was there every day to support both
Nisse and the employer. The castle is surrounded
by a huge garden and in addition to gardening,
Nisse also performs regular janitorial work.
Gradually, Jeanette Lindevall reduced her
presence and eventually stayed in touch with
Nisse through text messages, and with the employer by phone and booked follow-up meetings
with them both. Last summer, Nisse got permanent employment and the employer receives financial support in the form of wage subsidies.
Nisse’s previous job as greenkeeper of a golf
course on Ingarö lasted five years, before all of
the staff were let go. Before that, he worked for a
pre-school for deaf children, as an assembler at
a major electronics company and as a car fitter.
While he answers my questions using sign language and as the interpreter translates, he is also
speaking at the same time.
– I have chosen to work in the hearing job
market. Partly because the job market for people how are deaf or have hearing disabilities is
limited, but mostly because I wanted to fully
participate in society. And today, it is much
easier thanks to all the technical aids, says Nisse
Danielsson.
5
Support from Arbetsförmedlingen
Technical aids
It is possible to get financial support for a variety
of technical aids if you employ someone with a
disability. Both individual technical aids for job
candidates and special devices for use in the
workplace are available.
Support is available for the employee for the
first twelve months. Following this period the
employer and/or Försäkringskassan are responsible for financing the provision of technical aids.
However, it is always possible to receive financial
support provided the employee receives a salary
contribution, i.e. if he or she has a form of employment with wage subsidies, sheltered public
employment, development employment or security employment.
Personal assistant
You can also receive financial support if you let
one or more people in the workplace set aside
time to assist a disabled employee. This is called
personal assistant support. A personal assistant
does not carry out the work, he or she only acts to
alleviate the situation.
6
Work placement – a good way to try out a job
One good way of getting to know a job-seeker is
to offer him or her work placement. This also lets
the job-seeker try out his new tasks. Anyone in
work placement receives remuneration from Arbetsförmedlingen during the placement period.
Special Introduction and Follow-up Support SIUS
You can receive help from an employment support worker, SIUS, from Arbetsförmedlingen
when you employ a disabled person. Find out
more on page 14.
Wage subsidies – active support
If you employ a disabled person you are financially compensated through wage subsidies. One
requirement is that the disability affects work
capacity. Wage subsidies are intended to compensate for the employee needing to adapt the
tasks and the pace of work to his/her ability. The
subsidy can be paid out for up to four years.
Mathias Lindstedt,
bakery worker, Stockholm
Mathias Lindstedt is deaf and has a visual disability. He
works as a packer in the bakery, Monte Trade & Grossist
AB in Välli ngby.
He really enjoys his job. Owner and manager
Georgios Agaitsis says he did not hesitate for a moment
when an employment support worker, SIUS, (see page
14) called and asked if he could arrange a work placement for Mathias.
- We are really happy with Mathias and feel that
others should have the courage to try. We had two other
deaf employees already. They are all exemplary and
excellent at their job. You can always rely on those guys.
As an employer, it is great when you get this kind of
response, says Georgios.
- We write and communicate with our eyes and
through body language. And the signing employment
support worker, SIUS, was a great help as well. During
placement, she was here every day, and later came
around every third week or so. Now, she doesn’t need to
come at all.
Arbetsförmedlingen’s specialists have set up special lighting where Mathias works. The entire staff were
informed about Mathias’s disability, which is important
for ensuring that everyone has the right expectations
and for avoiding any conflicts.
Recently, Mathias has started learning to bake and
his manager is planning to expand operations. He says
he is happy to hire more deaf employees.
7
Communication and language without hearing
It is essential to facilitate communication between persons who are deaf and persons who
have hearing in order to ensure a well- functioning workplace. Anyone can learn to sign the
alphabet and a few everyday signs, and that may be the first step to better communication.
You can also attend a course in sign language to learn more. But do not hesitate to use what
you already know, use your imagination, body language, pen and paper, point or show.
Signing and the alphabet
Signing is the primary language of communication for persons who are deaf. It is a visual
language with its own grammar, but it cannot be
written down. Sign language is used in the same
way as hearing people use spoken language and
the signs correspond to words or terms.
Sign language is spoken with your hands,
but facial expressions, the eyes and the body are
equally important. The hand alphabet corresponds to the normal alphabet. Names and certain words are often spelled out. People who do
not know sign language can use the hand alphabet for simple communication with deaf people.
Since deaf people are used to having people
around them who do not sign, do not hesitate
to communicate with what you already know.
Write, speak calmly and clearly, draw, point and
show! You find the Swedish sign language dictionary online at www.ling.su.se/tsp.
8
Is sign language international?
Despite what many people believe, sign language
is not international. Every country has its own
sign language that has evolved together with
spoken languages. In 1981, Sweden was the first
country in the world to acknowledge sign language as the language for persons who are deaf.
You can study sign language at evening
classes or community college, and some upper
secondary schools offer it as well. There are also
university courses, from beginner’s level to postgraduate research.
In important conversations, staff meetings
or information meetings at work, you should use
an interpreter. The task of the interpreter is to
translate everything that is said, heard or signed
so that everyone feels involved. The interpreter
does not participate in the conversation, so do
not ask the interpreter questions during the
conversation. Talk to and look at the person to
whom you are talking, not the interpreter, and
speak normally.
You can request an interpreter through the
county interpretation service, at tolkcentralen.
se or by looking in the blue pages of the phone
book. Both the employer and the employee can
request an interpreter.
Deaf people can see – so they must be able to read?
There are around 30,000 deaf and hearing
impaired people who sign in Sweden. Around
a third of them are born deaf and have never
heard spoken language. Sign language is their
first language. Written Swedish is difficult for
many deaf people since Swedish is a language
that they have learned without hearing it. That
is the reason why deaf people are more or less
skilled at reading and writing. For that reason,
written text can never replace signing for people
whose first language is sign language.
Having a hearing disability – a ”euphemism”
for deaf?
No, not at all. Neither does it depend on how well
or how badly you hear, it depends on which language you use. Deaf people consider themselves
a language minority with Swedish sign language
as their first language, while persons who have
a hearing disability often have Swedish as their
first language.
9
Technology and interpreters improve
job opportuniti es
By using bildtelefoni.net you can dial up an agency
from a regular phone and get, for example, working
instructions interpreted into sign language at no
cost. Find out more at www.bildtelefoni.net
You can also use Arbetsförmedlingen to call from a
regular phone to a text phone and vice versa. The
phone number is 90 165 if you use a regular phone.
State the name and phone number of the person
with whom you want to speak. The telephone operator calls the requested number and writes what
the hearing person says, and also reads back the
response written by the deaf caller.
Modern technology makes it easier to communicate in the workplace. Arbetsförmedlingen has
several specialists with knowledge of the field.
They can also test technical aids and adaptions
of the workplace. You can find out more about
Arbetsförmedlingen’s support on page 6.
There are currently many technical aids that
10
can facilitate communication between a signing
and a non-signing person.
Text messages or pen and paper can also be
used in case of simpler messages. Above are
some other examples of how you can get support
if you need help communicating with a signing
co-worker.
Judit Belényessy,
certified skin therapist, qualified skin hygienist and
self-employed, Stockholm
People who are deaf can do it! Judit Belényessy signs
with emphasis. With her indomitable energy and in
the face of adversity, she went from a dressmaker’s
in Hungary to being a certified skin therapist with her
own studio in Stockholm. When someone rings the
doorbell, a light flashes and Judit also feels it through
a vibrator in her watch. The bell is a technical aid from
Arbetsförmedlingen, as is the videophone and the fax.
Judit has both hearing and deaf customers. Most
of her hearing customers book her via the website and
not as of yet via her videophone.
– At first the customers may be a bit surprised by
the fact that I am deaf, and then I use my voice to show
them that I can communicate. Sometimes, I have to
ask them to speak more slowly, but so far noone has
turned and fled, signs Judit, who finds it quite easy to
lip-read and understand what people say.
It was during a skin treatment that someone asked
Judit if she had thought about starting her own business.
– My first reaction was, “but I couldn’t… that is way
too hard for me, I’m deaf”. And yes, it has been both
tough and difficult. The most difficult thing was not
getting an interpreter when she needed one.
Today, Judit is proud to have undergone training
and started her own business.
– You just need courage. There is some uncertainty
involved in a first meeting with hearing people, but
you have to show that you are not afraid, that you have
the skills, are well trained and motivated and naturally,
that you provide good service.
.
11
Signing employees at Arbetsförmedlingen
Photo: Magnus Pehrsson
You can get help and support from counsellors for
people who are deaf when you employ people who
use sign language. The counsellors for people who
are deaf know sign language, they know how the
disability can affect the capacity to work and can
assess needs and support measures. They can also
provide help to adapt the workplace with various
technical aids. The counsellors for people who are
deaf are available across the whole country and
also work as links between signing job-seekers and
their employment officers.
12
When the job-seeker starts at the new workplace, you can get practical advice from a signing
employment support worker, SIUS. You can find
out more about employment support workers,
SIUS, on page 14.
Arbetsförmedlingen also have a national team
for those who are deaf that encompass a variety of
skills. They help provide more elaborate assistance
in sign language, for example survey talks, vocational guidance and tests. The team can also help
find technical aids and adapt the workplace.
13
L in
de
va
ll ,
s ig
n in
ge
mplo
An employment support worker, SIUS, from Arbetsförmedlingen can provide help and support
if you employ a disabled person.
y e e s S I U Sco u
n
se
ckh
olm
14
er, SIUS, translating information from the employer and co-workers into sign language, and vice
versa. He or she can for example also sit in during
breaks in order to facilitate social contact. When
the employee has been introduced to the new
tasks and communication works well between all
parties, the employment support worker, SIUS,
gradually scales back his/her presence.
The employment support worker, SIUS, usually informs about the importance of establishing eye contact with deaf people. He or she also
talks about how to book interpreters and how to
communicate in alternative ways, for example by
writing notes, using body language or technical
aids such as smart phones.
to
An employment support worker, SIUS, from Arbetsförmedlingen can provide help and support
if you employ a disabled person. The employment
support worker, SIUS, comes to the workplace
and helps introduce the new tasks, and also
presents information to the employer and the coworkers.
The employment support worker, SIUS, follows up the employment for a one year period,
which can be extended if needed. Both employer
and employee often appreciate this support,
particularly in the beginning when new tasks are
introduced and there are plenty of contacts to be
made.
It could involve the employment support work-
S
r,
SIUS
ll o
’’
J ean e tt e
Notes:
15
Contact us through
• your local employment office
• www. arbetsformedlingen.se
• Arbetsförmedlingen’s customer service on 0771-416 416
Arbetsförmedlingen have specially trained staff
who know sign language and have experience
of working with deaf people.
You can order Arbetsförmedlingen’s information
material in other formats from
www.arbetsformedlingen.se/alternativaformat
16
Arbetsförmedlingen 2012-04. Rekv nr: 503 029. Photos: Bulldozer Reklambyrå, Johanna Menriksson, Magnus Pehrsson, Johnér Bildbyrå.
D O YO U WA N T MO RE I N FO R M AT I O N?