Sue Harrison

About me

Hi, I am Sue Harrison, a Senior Manager at Accenture. I am profoundly deaf in my right ear and use a bone-conducting hearing aid. My hearing loss is part of who I am, but it does not define me or limit what I can contribute. Over time, I have learned how important it is to be open about the adjustments that help me work at my best, and I have also seen first-hand how much of a difference a supportive workplace can make.

Joining Accenture

I joined Accenture in 2005 as an experienced hire, after working in five other companies over the previous 17 years. Although I have had my hearing disability since 1985, following an operation, Accenture was the first employer I spoke to openly about my condition. That was a significant step for me, because for many years I had managed my hearing loss quietly and found ways to adapt without drawing attention to it. Joining Accenture gave me the confidence to have a more honest conversation about what I needed and how others could support me.

What I learned

Before joining Accenture, I used to hide my disability. I always made sure I was first into meeting rooms so I could choose the best position to hear people, and I sat with my back to the window so I could see everyone clearly, which enabled me to lipread. I would often miss things that people said because I did not want to feel embarrassed or have to ask them to repeat themselves. Looking back, I realise this probably was not the best thing to do. It meant I was sometimes making work harder for myself, when a small amount of openness could have helped others understand how to communicate with me more effectively.

Support at Accenture

Accenture has a very supportive and inclusive environment, which helps me feel comfortable talking openly about my hearing loss. My Line Manager, my HR representative and my colleagues are all aware of my disability and understand how they can help when they are talking to me. Sometimes that support is very simple, such as facing me when speaking, making sure I can see people clearly in meetings, or checking that I have not missed something important. I also have all the IT applications that I need, access to Close Captions so that I can see what is being said in meetings and Co-pilot to capture the notes for me to reference later.

Accenture has multiple support groups that people can join to share experiences and get advice. We meet regularly and talk openly about our challenges, while also supporting others with practical help and encouragement. Even if you do not want to talk at first, you soon feel part of a friendly and safe environment, and you can join in when you are ready.

One of the more recent challenges I have had in the workplace was because I changed my hearing aid from a conventional one to a bone-conducting one that sits on a headband, as shown in the picture. My existing headsets for Teams meetings meant I had to take my hearing aid off, and if I was in the office that would mean a trip to the bathroom afterwards to make sure it looked OK when it went back on. This was inconvenient and made day-to-day working more difficult than it needed to be. Accenture supported me by assessing several options – and I mean several – including headsets, earbuds and other equipment, so I could work more efficiently and comfortably. It took some time to find the right combination that worked for me, but that did not matter. I was supported fully throughout the process, and nothing was too much trouble.

A positive perspective

My hearing loss has given me the very useful skill of being able to lipread, which can be helpful when someone needs to communicate across a busy meeting room. It has made me more aware of how people communicate and how small changes can make conversations more inclusive for everyone. I would like to learn more British Sign Language too – perhaps that will be my goal for 2027.

My advice

My advice to anyone with a disability is to be honest about what you need. It can feel difficult at first, especially if you are used to managing things quietly or worrying about how others may respond. However, asking for adjustments is not a weakness; it is a way of enabling you to do your job well and participate fully. Any good company worth joining will value you for who you are and will make the necessary adjustments to help you work comfortably and perform at your best.