International Deaf Awareness Month: Ohio

 

Did you know that Ohio has played an important role in the development of American Deaf history? Columbus is home to the fifth oldest residential school for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, which was established in 1829. William Ellsworth Hoy was born in Houckstown, Ohio in 1862, attended the Ohio School for the Deaf and played professional baseball for the Cincinnati Reds. He was widely regarded as the most accomplished deaf player in Major League Baseball history. The National Association of the Deaf was founded in Cincinnati in 1880. Akron was home to the Goodyear Silents (1915-1927), the first and only deaf semi-professional football team.

 

Today in Ohio, OOD joins with community partners to continue the proud legacy of deaf history by providing support and communication services to Ohioans who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind, as well as their families and communities.

 

Last year, eight Community Centers for the Deaf in Ohio provided nearly 16,000 hours of support services. These services may include skills training, peer support, advocacy, and more. In addition, more than 75,000 hours of interpreting and captioning support were provided last year.

 

OOD also partners with various state and local agencies to provide more accessible services. Learn about one such partnership with the Ohio Department of Higher Education, Ohio School for the Deaf, and Delaware Area Career Center in this video of Rae, a participant in the Deaf Adult Literacy Partnership, an Aspire Program.

 

Communications in the workplace occur at various times and in multiple ways. Being intentional in communicating in an inclusive and accessible way ensures information is conveyed effectively to all employees. This includes focusing on what needs to be shared and the best way to share it.

 

OOD also offers several resources with general tips for effective communication with people who are deaf or hard of hearing or have other disabilities on their website. Communications in the workplace occur at various times and in multiple ways. Being intentional in communicating in an inclusive and accessible way ensures information is conveyed effectively to all employees. This includes focusing on what needs to be shared and the best way to share it.

 

Some things to consider include:

• Make accessibility a priority when creating new communications and materials,
• Remember that communication needs vary from employee to employee, and
• Make it easy for an employee to ask for help by including an easy-to-find reasonable accommodation statement on all communication materials.

To learn more, check out an OOD fact sheet on “Communication Best Practices – Employees Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing”.