An ally is someone who is not a member of an underrepresented group but who takes action to support that group to help make their workplace more diverse and inclusive for all.
For workplaces to become truly inclusive it is up to people who hold positions of privilege to be active allies and to take responsibility for making changes that will help others be successful.
Allies at all levels can take action with simple, everyday efforts that make a real difference and in this series, we highlight some things that you can do to be an ally and to support your colleagues from underrepresented groups.
#17: Tips for Communicating with Deaf and Hearing Impaired Colleagues
Deaf Awareness Week takes place from 3rd – 9th May 2021. Therefore this week we wanted to highlight some things that you can do to support your deaf and hearing impaired colleagues:
- Face the person while you are speaking. Make good eye contact; look directly at the person you are speaking to, don’t turn away.
- Keep your mouth visible. Don’t cover your mouth when speaking (and if you are wearing a mask bear in mind that someone who lipreads will not be able to understand you so you may have to remove or mask or communicate in a different way).
- Speak clearly in whole sentences. Be prepared to repeat yourself if the lip-reader doesn’t understand you first time. and repeat yourself in full.
- If the person doesn’t understand you, don’t give up. Try again. Change complex terms that they are struggling with for an alternative word. Don’t be tempted to speak slowly, loudly or exaggerate your mouth movements, because that just makes things harder for the person trying to understand you.
- Don’t say ‘It doesn’t matter’. Be patient.
- Don’t shout.
- Alternatively, write it down or draw a picture.
- If talking in a group speak one at a time, don’t talk over each other.
- Remember to wait until the person is looking at you before you attempt to communicate. Get their attention before you start talking to them. This might be by saying their name, walking over to them and standing in front of them etc.
- If possible, don’t stand or sit with a light or a window at your back; the light needs to be on your face. (Note this is particularly important for meetings and interviews). Find a place with good lighting.
Read the full “How to be an Ally” series here.
