Most of this section of the website offers tips, largely based on the experiences described in the Stories, on how to deal with issues concerned with keeping your job, finding a new job or creating your own job through self-employment.
But there are important steps that you may need to take before you will be ready to tackle these issues.
If you have been deafened suddenly through illness or accident, (as Martin, Colin and Gloria were), you may be concerned about how to get back to work after a period away on sick leave. In that case start by having a look at Getting back to work.
If you have lost your hearing gradually over many years but have recently become profoundly deaf, (like Tim, Ronnie, Tony, Maureen and Matilda), you are probably still working but worried about whether you can continue in your present job. In that case have a look first at Reviewing the impact of your deafness.
However you may find that the main obstacle to keeping your job or persuading a new employer to recruit you is the employer's response to your deafness, particularly if he has never had a profoundly deaf worker before . He may be unwilling to make adjustments to cope with your deafness. In that case have a look at the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act so that you can explain his legal obligations to make reasonable adjustments for a disabled worker or jobseeker.
Or he may be willing to help but
concerned by the cost of providing technical aids or hiring support workers. In
that case have a look at Access to Work for
information on how to secure financial support through the Government's Access
to Work programme.