How to speak up for your needs as an employee with a hearing impairment by Katie Morgan

I am a trainee at a global law firm. My training contract started in August 2022, and I am enjoying the rotations that introduce you to different departments of the firm as well as different aspects of corporate law.

When people meet me, it is not obvious that I am deaf and people frequently don’t realise that I have a hearing condition, however, it is something that I’m naturally always conscious of and have to manage. It is not something that I feel embarrassed by or hindered by. It is simply part of who I am. Therefore, it’s very important to me to normalise it.

I am open about my deafness and happy to discuss it with others as I believe that it is important to educate others on what it may mean or what the life of a deaf person can look like. I hope to change people’s perceptions and leave a positive impression.

As a child, I rarely considered my deafness. I was fortunate to have a supportive family who encouraged me to wear my hearing aids and attend speech therapy and lived in a close-knit community that accommodated my needs and never made me feel excluded. Due to this, I sailed through school and excelled in my studies. However, once I reached university, the impact of my hearing loss became more apparent, and I was faced with the realisation that the way I interpret my surroundings was different to my classmates.

The large lecture theatres, softly spoken tutors and complex language used in my undergraduate studies made it very difficult to follow my professors at university. I reluctantly recognised that I would need additional support and made contact with the Disability Support Team. The team spoke to professors on my behalf, stating that it would be helpful if they spoke into the microphone at the lectern, as opposed to walking from end to end of the hall. These suggestions were met with mixed responses and some professors rejected them entirely. I understood that to manage my studies I would have to create my own solutions, for example recording lectures on my phone to listen back to at a higher volume and ensuring that I sat at the very front of classes – despite it making me look very keen!

This experience at university made me anxious as I was fearful that my hearing loss would detrimentally affect my grades. It taught me the importance of vocalising and advocating for your needs. In essence, you must be resolute and confident to overcome future hurdles.

When I started my training contract, I was conscious that I made a positive impression. The following tips resonate with my experience:

• Identify Your Strengths & Know Your Worth

My hearing loss does not make me feel undeserving of my position here. In fact, it is the opposite; I believe that I have developed a number of strengths as a result of my disability. For example, being deaf has made me a very attentive listener, I am used to asking questions to clarify my understanding and I am adept at reading non-verbal cues. The fast pace of life within a corporate law firm is less burdensome to me as I have had to work harder to keep up my entire life. I am not provided with any compensations by my colleagues, and I am on an equal footing with my peers. At the firm, everyone is equally assessed on their performance and decisions are made on merit.

• Identify Support You Need

Throughout my education, I amassed several strategies that supported my studies. Therefore, when entering my graduate role, I was able to utilise these. Perhaps this is having a short introduction prepared for meeting colleagues and explaining your condition – should you feel you need to – so that you can articulate this clearly without feeling nervous. Other techniques I adopted included ensuring that during the induction sessions I was sat at the front, as there were seating plans; asking that any videos had subtitles; and requesting different headphones. The firm was more than happy to help, as their goal is simply to allow me to do my job. These solutions are relatively simple but made my experience much easier. In summary, you should be confident in advocating for the extra support that you need.

• Identifying Who to Approach for Support.

Knowing who to reach out to for assistance is very important. Initially this was not clear to me, and I now understand that there is not one individual point of call. As a trainee, my first recourse is the graduate development team who are very approachable and receptive. Also, my firm are establishing a Disability Support Network which will be valuable in providing support and creating an environment where colleagues can discuss their experiences. Whilst I am confident in communicating my needs, I know that others in my position may feel less assured. I hope that the network will provide a central place for people to discuss issues and feel included despite their differences.

• Understanding Your Employer’s Perspective and Provide Solutions

The accommodation of your disability is in both you and your employer’s interest and there is a clear mutual benefit in you feeling supported and empowered at work. Accordingly, aim to be clear in outlining your issues and provide solutions to resolve them. You will go much further if you are viewed as resilient and helpful, rather than someone that relies on others to anticipate their needs. Ultimately, you are best placed to understand what will help you, so advance a positive case and advocate for yourself.

• Be Polite, Positive and Firm

Being assertive may feel difficult as a new starter. Law firms can seem quite hierarchical and being junior it can feel daunting to identify your differences or express your challenges. Nevertheless, it’s a very important skill to cultivate. If you do not flag that you are struggling, colleagues will assume that you are fine and be confused when you cannot execute the tasks you are given. Combining a steadfastness in your intentions with a positive outlook and polite delivery will make others receptive to your requests and happy to help you.

Overall, I view disabilities as differences; not detriments. Those who live with disabilities oftentimes have to work harder than their peers and in turn I believe this makes you a strong candidate for graduate roles. Realising your strengths will allow you to feel confidence and a sense of belonging in spaces that may not traditionally have been designed to accommodate you.