Workplace accommodation
Julia is a bit nervous. She will start a new job soon. She knows that her working colleges can’t sign.
She wonders if there is any work accommodation possible to help her to communicate with her colleagues. And who will pay for it?“
Don’t worry, Julia. Let’s have a look at it together!
The first workplace accommodation for Julia is: Sign Language interpretation.
Sign language interpreters facilitate communication between hearing and deaf people.
Julia can benefit from having a sign language interpreter present during employment interviews, orientations and large meetings.
The second workplace accommodation for Julia is: Computers, smart phones and tablets
- Computers, smart phones and tablets with email, text, and chat provide both real-time and asynchronous communication.
- C-print is a computer-assisted system for transcribing speech to print. It involves a hearing caption is typing words as they are being spoken and provides a real-time text display that Julia can read.
- Speech synthesizers provide synthesized voice output of letters, phonemes, words, or phrases typed on a keyboard.
- Automatic speech recognition transcribes a single person’s spoken message, voiced into a microphone, into text displayed on a computer screen.
- Computer-assisted notetaking allows notes and graphics to be typed almost simultaneously and displayed with overhead projectors for all to view.
The third workplace accommodation for Julia is: Telecommunication equipment
- The video phone is one of the newest telecommunication devices available for deaf or hard-of-hearing callers that communicate through sign language.
A small camera and TV display is needed as well as high speed internet service. Julia is able to sign for herself in direct communication with other video phone users.
- Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) enables Julia to access a live remote interpreter using video conferencing technology.
The fourth workplace accommodation for Julia is: Captioning.
Captioning is a process of converting the audio portion (dialogue and sounds) of a video production into text. Typically, this text is displayed across the bottom of the screen over a black background.
One form of captioning is real time captioning. This can occur during a live event or large meeting.
Usually while a camera films the people who talk, a captionist types the words into a computer which displays the speakers’ words across the bottom of a video screen.
The fifth workplace accommodation for Julia is: Environmental accommodations.
Environmental accommodations may include physical plan adjustments that improve visibility, reduce distracting noises and improve safety.
Country specific details
In Italy, patients with severe disabilities that prevent communication (both graphic and verbal) are entitled to the supply of high-tech computer aids and / or other communication equipment that facilitate interpersonal communication.
To obtain such equipment, the prescription of the specialist doctor and the authorization of the local health authorities (ASL) of residence are required. The cost is entirely borne by the ASL.
Authorizations for special foods and materials for dressing or use are issued by the general practitioner / pediatrician of free choice
or by the medical specialist of a public structure and are reserved for citizens residing in the territory of the Region.
Now Julia knows what kind of workplace accommodation she has the right to have, to communicate with her colleagues and how to pay for it!