How can deaf sister get a better job?

[Velvetee]

My sister is partially deaf and has spent her life moving from low paid, itinerant jobs. I know she would love to work on a till in a shop, as for her, that would be a huge move up from the jobs she usually gets.

In the town she lives in, a new Primark store is due to open and she would like a position there. Does anyone know of any orgainsations who help people with disabilities find jobs?

[Rtaxron]

Velvetee,

My son has been profoundly deaf since birth, with just a little hearing in one ear.
He wears an hearing aid and has worked with a National bank for the past 7 years, which he has just left and started a better job with another National Organisation.

He has problems sometimes with hearing customers/people speaking, but seems to overcome it with his humour and personality.

Your Sister doesn't need an organisation, unless she has really bad hearing?

Good Luck.

[Velvetee]

Yes her hearing is bad and she was classified as "backward" when she was in primary school. She went onto a special school for children with learning difficulties. While she is not obviously mentally impaired, she is somewhat slow and doesn't have the same abilities as other people with hearing problems, for instance good reading and writing. She can spell reasonably well, but her written sentences and wording are often incoherrent.

Most of the jobs she's had, haven't lasted more than 6 weeks, as she is either asked to leave or she leaves because she feels people are talking about her or picking on her, making her do the tasks they don't want to do. I don't know if this is entirely true, but I often feel she is misunderstood, as she is very ashamed that she has deafness and often will not wear her hearing aid.

I know she isn't helping herself, but I also feel she isn't given much of a chance. It would be great if there were companies out there, that actively encourage and nurture disabled employees.

[BRAVO1]

Our local Tesco's employed several people who have disabilities.

We have an excellent check out girl who is deaf, who actually wear's a badge stating that she cannot hear.

Out of all the workers there she is the only one that is always smiling and happy.

They have a Downs boy who work's on Fruit and Veg, he is another great worker.

Give her my best wishes, and try and approach the bigger employers.

[Twenty20]

Velvetee, I know Sainsbury also employ deaf people on their tills so it might be worth approaching them or Tescos or other big employers. I think she will have to help herself a little by wearing her hearing aid if it helps her.

I do think it says something about our society in general that they have to wear a badge saying that they are deaf or have a sign on the till to ask people for a little patience.

[CheekyChops]

Remploy have employment advisors that help disabled people find work. See their website: http://www.remploy.co.uk/jobseekers/

[Velvetee]

Thanks everyone for your comments.

My sister has worked for Tesco and lasted only 4 weeks before she walked out, claiming she was being bullied by staff and supervisors. She was put on the hot deli department, where she had to clean the trays, she wasn't happy as she wanted to work in the restaurant. She's also applied to Sainsburys and was turned down.

I'm not sure how she performs at interviews, but I have an inkling she chooses not to tell them about her disability, so if they are not aware, they will probably assume she has a bad attitude.

[pingping]

there's not much that an employer can do if your sister doesn't disclose her disability to them. as others have said below, companies are willing to employ staff with disabilities, but they need to be allowed to know how they can help so they can put reasonable adjustments in place for that staff member. If your sister wants to work in a certain section in a store, then she needs to be clear and upfront about it rather than just accept any job and then not be happy and so leave after a few weeks. that's not fair on the employer who may well have paid a lot of money for training courses. it sounds like you need to sit your sister down and explain all this to her so she has better expectations of a future employer.