Many of us who are deaf and hard of hearing workers got the short term years of their experience job history.   I looked back in old times of years, I have met deaf who has good retired from their work.   This year, we not get any good or best retirement plan…reason economy poor and discrimination of deafness.  Why I did say discrimination of deafness is because of their communication and fear.

Communication is number one to understands.  Fear is second.  Many times, I heard they kept saying, “not know to deal with them.” and “can’t talk their language.”   Sign Language is like foreign language, Spanish or French.   Many people create the communication normal like always face with.    They have hire them for their motivation to work.   Not because they are deaf and cant speak their language.    Fear is everyone’s fear as always.  I know it is uncomfortable to meet anyone like that, but trust them as coworker.   Not just who they are.   They are alike normal human, race, religious, and gender.  

In old times, most of deaf jobs are like plumbing,  machinery,  and assembly.    Since my years in 70s to 2013 are different than I see in old times deaf workers does.   Deaf has degrees for Management, Doctor, Lawyer, and Businessman.   No one want them, they decide to work at retail stores or merchandise for part time.  Alot of them had SSDI (security social disability income) for their support and many time, they not like the idea because of their rejection of hiring on their experience history.    You know like hearing has Welfare for their support after laid off or no job. 

I have faced few interviews for the job and not find any that match my skills.  For example,  office duties, administrative support, and basically duty that no one wanted to hire me because of my deafness.    I worked in office for more than 20 years but some college credits with no degrees.   Hope that would help others and spread.

-DW