About Cordell Vail Expertise I would be very happy to try to answer any questions that you
may have about things you can do as a hearing-impaired person to find a
good job or better your education. I have been working with the deaf since
1996. One of the greatest needs seems to be finding help with getting a
better education and employment. To try to fill that need, started a FREE
deaf job service web page at www.vcaa.com/deafnews/jobs. You can post your
résumé there for free. I am also collecting deaf job information,
educational opportunities and vocational financial assistance for the
hearing impaired from every state and posting it on that web page. Because
the ideal employment for some hearing impaired people would be to work at
home, I am in the process of writing a book about that and I also post
that information on the web page when ever I find it. There is no cost to
use the information on the web page and I will be happy to try to answer
your questions here as well.
Experience I am hard of hearing myself. I lost most of my hearing in Vietnam. My wife and 4 of my 6 children have learned some sign language. I know what it is like to be in a room and have everyone laughing but me because I did not understand what was said. That happens all the time and has greatly changed my confidence socially. So I am very interested in helping others who have a similar disability.
Question I have a deaf client who does not want her phone number placed on her resume, as she is not comfortable answering the phone; she has some hearing but not totally. Would we place an explanation on her resume without jeopardizing her chances.
Thank you.
Answer I think you would be wise to let them know right up front that she is deaf. You are not going to get the job without them finding that out in the end, so why hide it. Most companies who will hire a deaf person are able to use the relay system. I would think that she would first find out if they will hire a deaf person, and if they will then ask them how they would like to communicate with her. Most deaf us the black berry now days rather than a TTY. So just tell her to send them an e-mail, tell them she is deaf and ask how they would like to communicate with her. That would be my suggestion.
Cordell Vail
www.cordellvail.com
www.vcaa.com/deafnews/jobs
Seattle, WA
