The Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing (ACDHH) is dedicated to providing comprehensive communication access, support services, and community empowerment across the state. ACDHH serves a diverse range of individuals, including those who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Speech Challenged, as well as interpreters and those with typical hearing. By collaborating with both public and private sectors, ACDHH endeavors to enhance accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing, ultimately improving their overall quality of life.
The challenges: Despite demonstrating a propensity for overachievement in the workplace, the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind (D/HH/DB) community remains one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented segments of society. Regrettably, research highlights a significant disparity in employment rates, with this community experiencing disproportionate levels of underemployment.
dozanü’s involvement: dozanü played a pivotal role in providing specialized consulting services focused on accessibility for ACDHH, particularly in support of their Let’s Get To Work employment initiative. This initiative sought to engage employers and educate them about the valuable contributions of the deaf and hard of hearing population.
Objective: The primary objective was to strategize and implement a comprehensive marketing campaign geared towards employers, emphasizing the benefits of hiring and retaining deaf and hard of hearing talent.
Approach: Our approach involved collaborating closely with ACDHH and their public relations team to ensure that the content created for marketing purposes was designed to resonate with a diverse and inclusive audience.
Deliverables: Our contributions encompassed strategic guidance and content creation for materials such as an Employment Guide for Hiring Deaf and Hard of Hearing policymakers, as well as the development of a website dedicated to the Let’s Get To Work initiative.
Collaboration: We worked in close partnership with various agencies, leaders in Arizona’s business community, and individuals with hiring authority within these organizations. The collective aim was to challenge and eradicate the prevailing stigma associated with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
Outreach: Our outreach efforts were multifaceted and included the establishment of conference booths. We employed a communication approach that leveraged the visual impact of signing, fostering a sense of pride within the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. This approach was specifically designed to facilitate meaningful interactions between employees and employers, ultimately fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment.
