Follow up to yesterday.

[jackandahat]

Went back in to Remploy, turned out my adviser had had a word with the guy about the cane-snatching after I left. I told him if it happens again, I'm walking and there will be a serious complaint put in. Cane-snatcher apologised then spent the rest of the afternoon ignoring me and refusing to look at me while in the same room. (Yes, he is in fact a grown man and not a six year old. Allegedly.)

So that was sorted... and then my adviser promptly started lecturing me again on how he was sure I could use a phone if it was "Just a bit". Thing is, I know how "Just a bit" works - you start off with a little, then they go "he's coping fine, see?" and give you more, then they ask how why you're not doing your job. He also doesn't seem to understand that I'm not used to phones and I actually don't respond to them. You know how if someone calls someone else's name, you don't look up or respond because it doesn't apply to you? That's me - I'm just not used to phones, so I tend not to register they're ringing. It's a habit rather than a disability but it's due to my disability. It's not me "being awkward"

I don't get it. I'm hard of hearing, why are they the ones not hearing what I say? Why is it so hard to understand that no, I can't hear/understand you if I'm not looking at you? I've told the adviser a few times - get my attention, then when I'm looking at you, talk. Saying "But I called your name" when I had my back to you working on a computer isn't helpful.

And yes. These are the people whose entire job is to help with disability issues.

Comments

Re: Uhm

[freyakitten]

And the thing is, even with hearing aids, a Really Loud Phone doesn't help for long-term stuff. Hearing Aids make EVERYTHING louder. So if you turn the volume up in order to hear the phone, you can hear the static on the line as well... Unless you happen to have one of the issues where hearing aids do help, and you have one of the sets that can receive transmitted information (forgotten the thingy-word for it, sorry) AND they have provided you with a phone that can send that information. This comes to mind because there are a couple of venues locally where they advertise that if you are hiring the hall and you want to use this technology, you just let them know so they can have techies to make it work. And it bothers me that so few events DO use this technology - I dance, and I have yet to attend an event (comps, dance parties, workshops, etc) where the technology was used, even in halls where the capacity is there!

Re: Uhm

[pne]

Oh! That thingy. I think I know what you mean.

*looks*

Perhaps one or more of these words fit: telecoil, T-coil, (audio) induction loop, induction coil?

Or were you referring to an FM transmitter, possibly in connection with an Assistive Listening Device? I had never heard of those (in connection with hearing ears) before.

Re: Uhm

[jackandahat]

I've seen signs about them in the bank. I think they seem like a great idea.

What bugs me is people (as in, random people with no experience of hearing loss or hearing aids) keep pushing hearing aids on me. I'm not big on the social model of disability, but my hearing is one case where 95% of the problem is other people. I'm muddling along just fine, thank you! Sure, no-one can whisper sweet nothings in my ear, and I can't phone a friend to chat, but I don't have a girlfriend and the internet is cheaper than long-distance calls anyway, so I don't see an issue!