workplace education
More than 1 in 6 people in Australia have a hearing condition, it is highly likely you are working alongside many people who experience tinnitus, a balance disorder or hearing loss.
When you add all the other stakeholders, clients or customers who have hearing conditions, you are probably speaking with multiple people a day with hearing conditions. If this surprises you, its not unexpected as these conditions are invisible, but the impacts are significant and can have consequences in economic, physical, cognitive, psychosocial, emotional, and behavioural domains of one’s life.
I knew that I could do this job, but I also knew that people who don’t understand hearing loss have low expectations of what people can achieve and do. I decided to get the job first, prove my ability and then tell them about my hearing loss. – COURTNEY
When we are talking about physical accessibility, putting a ramp into a building is something that people get. They understand that if there is one step, the person in the wheelchair will not be able to get in. But where is the consideration in terms of communication access? – sarah
At Soundfair, we understand that good communication isn’t just about the individual accommodate to their hearing condition. It’s everybody’s business. Awareness and incorporating simple strategies to minimise structural and behavioural barriers to communication inclusion can make a world of difference to reducing stigma, ending discrimination, and enabling better communication for all. Inclusion not only makes for a stronger team but also a stronger business.
“Companies that have improved their inclusion of persons with disabilities over time were four times more likely than others to have total shareholder returns that outperform those of their peer group” – Accenture, Getting to Equal: The Disability Inclusion Advantage.
With the prevalence of hearing conditions expected to rise to one in four, or nine million Australians that will be living with a hearing condition by 2050, what are you doing to ensure your workplace is prepared and communication inclusive?
To help you create a workplace that is inclusive for people with hearing conditions, Soundfair offers workplace education sessions for employers and their staff.
We have a range of options to suit various needs. Our popular pre-packaged options are:
Package 1 (two-hour session) includes:
- Prevalence and impact of hearing conditions
- Communication strategies
- Noise and the environment
Package 2 (six-hour session includes):
- Fundamental biology of hearing
- Prevalence and impact of hearing conditions
- How is your hearing?
- Communication strategies
- Hearing devices
- Noise and the environment
- Deaf culture
- Discrimination, stigma, and the social model of disability
Please contact us for a quote or to discuss a tailored program that is specifically targeted to your workplace needs.