how can I grow in my workplace?

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Presbyter

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I read through the ADA papers years ago and found them very interesting. I've always thought about what I've read and use it as my guidelines to what I think a company should do when working with me. I rarely bring up anything regarding to ADA as it sounds like a threat if I do bring it up. Its common sense for large companies to provide a TDD to the deaf or HOH. I feel that something is lacking where I work and hope to educate a personal about deaf/HOH and how the ADA help us work in the hearing environment. I believe I need to challenge my company and educate them on what they are proud of, "the diversity program". My company is very big on allowing their diversity program to work such as gay rights, folks from other countries and other whatchamacallit. With the company being drowned in the gay pride diversity and/or whatchamacallit programs, I believe some deaf issues are not being recognized. As a sever-pround hearing loss person, I might like to work with my company and show them the rights I have. I believe my workmates avoid calling me via relay service because of inconvenience or it's weirdness. There are other areas that prevents me from doing my job when compared to the workers that do the same thing I do. I believe another person is on his way to promotion due to his good hearing.
How can I challenge my company when I have more experience and when they might feel I can't do some jobs due to my hearing?

Presbyter
 
First of all

I would research and gather any information you can that would assist you or benfits *both* you and the company greatly then have it all laid out on paper ie "the cost" "the benfits to both you and the company" and "the pro and con" so the company can see that the pro outweight the con.

Once you have it all laid out and on paper then next thing I think you should do is make a couple of copies and give one to each head company of your area but I would not "try to go above your boss's head" or "go outside your area" etc becasue it would only make them irrgated and possiably work againist you also do not or never threaten them in any way that you would go to the ADA or "file a lawsuit" etc if they don't submit to your layouts.

Like this one statement you made saying that co worker finds relay inconvenience or weirdness to handle then find a relay that offer your own private number which your co worker can dial that the relay service knows incoming calls goes directly to you and will actually leave messages via emails if your never online via AIM or MSN or VP to answer it.

I do know many people finds it very incovenience to remember relay number then to remember your phone number to tell the relay to dial it and instead now they can just keep your private number in thier "contact list" on thier phone and press one button like they do with all hearing folks. Also few relay service provide it free of charges.

I found that by researching becasue I needed something for hearing people and only one number to put on my business card and it works wonders for me.

Nobody is gonna do this research for you or tell you about it unless they are using it themseleves or the companies is gonna ask you if this or that will benfits both of you so basically you got to do it all yourself and it get it all laid out on paper.
 
I read someone tried to solve this issue by communicating through fax. If you still need a TDD, then go ahead and do what you need to do to get that provided. I am not sure how to do that though. I think it's something you should talk to with someone privately first as a need that you think will help you.
 
What about using a text messaging system? My work uses that for deaf and hearing employees so they can contact each other if they are in separate buildings.
 
shel90 said:
What about using a text messaging system? My work uses that for deaf and hearing employees so they can contact each other if they are in separate buildings.
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That's good one.


I probably have to bring my 2nd TDD in the office on my desk since most companies are not willing to pay for it because I am the only deaf employee along with several employees. Don't you think that make sense?

I have to make sure this TDD is my property by putting a label at the bottom and a copy of the receipt in case you get layoff or fired.

I think that it would be better off for me to buy a pager like SK3 or Blackberry for my work.
 
Presbyter -

You are not alone. My friend did not get a promotion he works for 13 years. His hearing partner works for one year, and got promoted. He was "hidden" pissed off. He is still looking for another job this year.

We work a different company. Our boss thinks that a relay service is a telemarket. We tried to explain it to our boss. They were a sort of pissed off. We stopped along with them. We had to fake being nice to them. I left my job for a reason - it has nothing to do with my boss.

I think I was told that 10 deaf employees can get a TDD. One deaf employee is impossible to get one.

That is interesting that you want to tell your employees about your rights about the TDD or the relay service. I did not think of it.

I am not so sure if it is a good idea to tell them about your rights. Your company might put your name on the black list - looking for another job that not able to be hired. That is kinda of scary. Many presidents of the companies don't give a shit about them because of ADA complaints in the past.
 
webexplorer said:
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That is interesting that you want to tell your employees about your rights about the TDD or the relay service. I did not think of it....
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Or perhaps I should get the former deaf Ms Americaa, The former deaf Hulk, the famous deaf actress, the first deaf land speed breaker, that deaf body builder woman and (who else did I leave out and who are their names?) to get together and build a case to educate super large companies on how the improve deaf lives in a workplace with good skillful experiences.
Maybe we, here, can ask for support rather than ,"You got to do it yourself, without lawyers.". I wonder the effectiveness of ADA.

Presbyter
 
Presbyter said:
Or perhaps I should get the former deaf Ms Americaa, The former deaf Hulk, the famous deaf actress, the first deaf land speed breaker, that deaf body builder woman and (who else did I leave out and who are their names?) to get together and build a case to educate super large companies on how the improve deaf lives in a workplace with good skillful experiences.
Maybe we, here, can ask for support rather than ,"You got to do it yourself, without lawyers.". I wonder the effectiveness of ADA.

Presbyter
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If you truly think that your ADA rights are being violated, even after you have made your emploers aware of it, you can file a complaint with the Department of Justice. You can also consult with a disability rights attorney.

But you have the right idea. The key is to educate the hearing people. Most of them have never had any contact with a deaf person, and are completely ignorant about accommodations or deaf histroy. Never hurts to point out to them how many very successful deaf people there are.
 
jillio said:
If you truly think that your ADA rights are being violated, even after you have made your emploers aware of it, you can file a complaint with the Department of Justice. You can also consult with a disability rights attorney.
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I haven't said anything about a second tdd, at the second office, to the right person yet and haven't said anything about the fire alarm yet so I guess I can't file a compliant until I tell them, right?
 
Presbyter said:
I haven't said anything about a second tdd, at the second office, to the right person yet and haven't said anything about the fire alarm yet so I guess I can't file a compliant until I tell them, right?
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Yes, give them your request in writing, and keep a copy for yourself.
 
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