3 Unconventional and lucrative deaf job opportunities

Can you turn your job into a deaf job? Being deaf or hard of hearing forces us to think and look outside the box when contemplating career options.

Many potential employers are reluctant to hire deaf workers because they assume our communication needs will impose a financial strain.

Because we do not perform jobs like a hearing employee would, few deaf people ever advance in their career.

Are you frustrated with your seemingly dead-end job? Then why not try something different.

Let’s remove ourselves from the traditional ‘jobs for deaf people’ and start considering the unique opportunities available to us in a deaf job.

Very few jobs actually require a person to have perfect hearing. For example, computer-based jobs, copywriting, hair styling, carpentry and social media marketing can all be accomplished without the ability to hear.

The question you need to ask yourself is whether you have the skill, knowledge and passion for performing a particular job, not whether or not you can hear a colleague shout your name from across the room. Consider a career suited to your hearing loss; a ‘deaf job’, aligned with your communication preferences.

1. Launching a specialised day-care centre.
2. A career in the fashion industry.
3. A career as a healthcare provider.

Placing a child in the care of another person is very difficult for parents, even more so for parents with deaf or hard of hearing children.

There is a general lack of awareness in the child services environment about the developmental needs of deaf children. A gap that you might be able to fill.

Child care centres are noisy and can impact a hard of hearing child’s ability to learn.

Imagine the relief parents would experience knowing their child is playing and learning in an environment best suited to acquiring age appropriate speech and language. And who better to provide such a safe space than a childcare educated deaf person.

It’s not always possible for a parent to stay at home with their child. By providing their child with specialised services, you are relieving their stress and empowering their child’s independence.

Of course, to grab hold of this opportunity you do require the correct licensing and education, but you’re already more experienced than most. After all, you were a deaf child once too.

Justin LeBlanc, the 27-year-old designer, refused to be limited by his deafness. Actually, his deafness inspired his work in fashion and provided direction to his artistic exploration.

In my world, objects, spaces and elements create an altered environment of sensory experience.

If you have the talent and dedication, nothing can stop your creativity. Not being able to hear shouldn’t even be a factor.

Nyle DiMarco is a deaf fashion model, so is Kellie Moody who is also a makeup artist. As long as you have confidence, discipline and patience, the modelling industry is a niche just waiting for you to take it on.

Many deaf and hard of hearing people are finding success in health-care related fields.

• Creating medical illustrations
• Working in a research laboratory
• Developing software for medical services
• X-ray technician
• Sonography: Medical ultrasound to see internal body structures
• Speech pathology

With the development of advanced medical technology from stethoscopes for the deaf, to overhead screens in operating rooms for communicating during surgery, the way is being paved for deaf individuals to pursue careers as doctors or other healthcare providers. – Careersportal.

Profoundly deaf since birth, Katy Daniel-Rivera works as a radiology medical support assistant, relying on facial expressions, body language, and lip reading to communicate.

The University of Salford in the United Kingdom began a nursing program for deaf students, and in 2009, Andrew Maxim became their first deaf nursing graduate.

1. Make sure you have a passion for this type of career because it’s going to take a lot of work.
2. Invest in the education and training you require to be proficient at this job.
3. Connect with services such as 121 Captions that can help you overcome the barrier of learning in a hearing required environment.
4. Choose a career that can’t be outsourced or automated.
5. Pick a job that’s not reliant on you having 100% hearing.
6. Make sure the career you choose pays enough to support your standard of living.

Don’t be limited by your thinking. The possibility of a lucrative and exciting deaf job or career opportunity is available to you.

• Start a specialised day-care centre to help parents provide the best environment for their deaf children.
• Break into the fashion industry and design or model haute couture clothing.
• Choose one of the many health-care career opportunities available to deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Want to become a nurse? Go for it!

For deaf persons, career opportunities like these would have been non-existent ten years ago; this is no longer the case.

To qualify for these fields you don’t need the ability to hear, the key to success is through education and access.

Make use of the latest educational and technological advances to start the career you want.

121 Captions understand your unique education needs. Let us help you gain access to equal learning experiences and keep up with the rest of the class by providing you with live captioning, provided word-for-word in less than 3 seconds. To find out more, contact us at bookings@121captions.com