by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
Many hard of hearing people lack successful role models and mentors, so they buy into the hearing world’s belief that hard of hearing people can’t do many jobs, and are thus relegated to low paying menial jobs.
The truth is, hard of hearing people can do many, many jobs with proper accommodation. In actual fact, the sky’s the limit for hard of hearing people, just like it is for hearing people. What you can do depends more on your talents, skills, training, education, drive, ability to get along with people, etc. far more than it does on your level of hearing.
For example, there are hard of hearing doctors, nurses, police officers, fire fighters, lawyers, accountants, machinists, race car drivers, baseball players, businessmen, scientists, technicians and audiologists.
Therefore, don’t let the hearing world try to tell you that you can’t do any of these things. You need to follow your dream and do what you have set your heart on. That’s what I have done in my life. You can do it too.
Karen Putz (who now has a profound hearing loss) has put up a website of successful role models for deaf and hard of hearing people of all ages. The various stories highlight different successful hard of hearing and deaf people in the workforce. As you read them, you will be encouraged that since they have succeeded in the working world, you can follow your dreams too! You can read these inspiring stories here.
I am a teacher for the Deaf/HH and have a high school student who is interested in becoming an RN. I’d like to find someone who is a working RN and has a hearing loss to be an e-mail or Skype mentor for my student.