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“Does job availability influence whether Cities become Deaf-Friendly?”
By Deaf411 | June 27, 2008
Searching for a job is neither easy nor fun. This task is even more stressful for a deaf person. Employers try to avoid hiring deaf people because their knowledge is limited and they prefer to avoid something that they are not familiar with comfortable with. They may have preconceived thoughts that accommodating deaf people and providing interpreters are expensive.
Employers need to be educated and motivated in order to consider hiring deaf people. We can find ways to motivate them through federal tax credits and state/local programs.
When employers hire more deaf people, the bigger the deaf community is. With more deaf people using, requesting and needing services from their local municipal governments, there is more awareness about providing interpreters and accommodations to enable deaf people to benefit from services, programs and activities that the city offers.
When researching a new city, it may help to collect information on tax benefits and credits that employers can get for hiring deaf people. This way when you have your job interviews, you can share this information as an added incentive why they should consider hiring you.
The U.S. government provides a tax credit of 50% of employer’s expense, maximum $5,000 per year which is subtracted from the employer’s total tax liability. Employers must be small businesses that earn less than $1 million/year or have less than 30 employees. Tax credit is granted on expenses including sign language interpreters, modification of equipment or removal of barriers in buildings or vehicles. There are some restrictions but employers who qualify can claim the Disabled Access Credit on IRS Form 8826.
Some states and cities offer their own incentive programs that encourage employers and deaf or disabled jobseekers. When you research the new city, you should try to get this information from the city’s Mayor’s Office i.e. through their office of Disabled Affairs, the state Commission on Deaf & Hard of Hearing, the local deaf social service agency.
Some states including California have deaf people or interpreters in their state employment offices. These can be valuable resources in providing interpreter for your job interviews and even steering you towards “deaf-friendly” employers. It helps to research and see what’s available in the city that you are considering.
Deaf Jobseekers Have Impact on the City
When deaf jobseekers approach employers, they are raising awareness on their needs. This is a great opportunity to “sell” them on why they should hire deaf people.
Deaf people are visual-oriented. They make great employees in certain settings that may not be attractive to hearing people. Deaf people usually are loyal to their employers because of the fact the employers made a commitment when they hired them. Grateful employees mean productive workers who are happy in their jobs and they also may stay in their jobs longer. When searching for a job, sharing this information could help speed the hiring process and get more deaf people into jobs!
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