Episode 779
A Path to Work, in American Sign Language
Why watch: Episode 779 is about work, independence, and access.
Episode 779 is about work, independence, and access. Finding Your Path to Employment with Ticket to Work in American Sign Language, from the Social Security Administration, explains the Ticket to Work program directly in ASL for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Ticket to Work is a free, voluntary program for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI or SSI) and want to work. It connects them with employment services, job training, and support, and shows them how to use the Find Help tool at choosework.ssa.gov. Presenting the information in ASL means deaf viewers get it in their own language, without depending on captions or a hearing go-between. For deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers and their families, the program opens a clear path toward a paycheck and independence. For employers, vocational rehabilitation agencies, disability advocates, broadcasters, sponsors, and funders, it shows the value of reaching people in their own language.
In this program
- Finding Your Path to Employment with Ticket to Work in American Sign Language
Sound Tips™ Companion
During this broadcast, the Sound Tips™ ticker focuses on hearing loss in the workplace. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers with 15 or more employees generally cannot discriminate against qualified workers or job applicants because of hearing loss, and they must provide reasonable accommodations unless doing so would cause undue hardship. Common accommodations include sign language interpreters, captioning (CART) for meetings, written communication, amplified or captioned phones, visual or vibrating alarms, and quiet workspaces. You choose whether and when to tell an employer about your hearing loss. The Job Accommodation Network (askjan.org) offers free, confidential guidance for both workers and employers. Tips: know your rights before an interview; ask for accommodations in writing; and protect the hearing you have, because loud noise at work can cause permanent, preventable hearing loss, so wear hearing protection. Social Security beneficiaries can explore work without automatically losing benefits: Ticket to Work and work incentives are explained at choosework.ssa.gov.
- Source: SSA: Finding Your Path to Employment with Ticket to Work in ASL (YouTube)
- Source: Center for Parent Information and Resources: About the ASL video
- Source: SSA: Ticket to Work (Choose Work)
- Source: EEOC: Hearing Disabilities in the Workplace and the ADA
- Source: Job Accommodation Network: Hearing Impairment
- Source: NIDCD: Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
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