Article of Note
Despite the increasing representation of persons with hearing loss in the workplace , discrimination , a lack of accessibility and isolation still prevent equity and inclusion . ( Shutterstock )
How workplaces can create more inclusive environments for employees with deafness and hearing loss
By David C Baldridge , Brent John Lyons , Camellia Bryan , Liu-Qin Yang
Hearing loss is a critical diversity , equity and inclusion issue for managers and employers . Persons with hearing loss are a growing population around the world . According to the World Health Organization , over five per cent of the world ’ s population — or 430 million people — have disabling hearing loss . This number is expected to rise to over 700 million by 2050 .
Despite the increasing number of persons with hearing loss in the workplace , only 20.6 per cent of Canadians with hearing loss are employed fulltime . Discrimination , a lack of accessibility and isolation still prevent equity and inclusion at work . Persons with hearing loss also experience higher levels of stress and fatigue and earn lower incomes .
Persons with hearing loss have diverse preferences and skills that can affect their career outcomes . Knowledge of disability , reasonable workplace accommodations ,
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