“It’s not our disabilities, it’s our abilities that count.”
–Chris Burke
If you have been diagnosed with hearing loss, there are many things to consider, such as how you’ll treat your hearing loss, new considerations for your daily routine and even what you may need to do to optimize your routine at work.
It’s also essential to understand disability discrimination in the workplace.
What is disability discrimination?
According to the ADA, a disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. This may include communication, movement, vision, mental health, learning and even hearing. It is unlawful to discriminate against (treat unfavorably) those with a disability and those who are associated with a person with a disability.
Examples of disability discrimination in the workplace may include:
Unfortunately, just because it is against the law, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. Just ask the Washington Post, who took a closer look at the over 1 million discrimination cases filed over the last several years. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of disability discrimination and what to do if you’ve been affected by it in the workplace.
What to do about disability discrimination?
If you believe you or someone you know is facing disability discrimination in the workplace, there are steps you can take to stop it. Most experts recommend:
Anyone has a right to work regardless of disability. Don’t let discrimination stand in your way.
Accommodations for hearing loss and other disabilities
Whether you have hearing loss, vision loss, rely on a wheelchair or another disability, it does not define you or the employee that you can be. It’s important for employers and employees to remember that everyone brings invaluable knowledge, experience, talent and insight to the table, regardless of disability or perceived disability. With some accommodations such as assistive listening devices, alternative notification systems, wheelchair ramps and similar, we can all benefit.
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