How Technology Can Bridge the Gap Between Deaf and Hearing Communities

Texting technology has been around for over 60 years. 

Back then, it was utilized by the Deaf community, rather than the general public. When three Deaf individuals saw Western Union teletypewriter machines being unused in the 1960s, they realized they could transform these to help Deaf individuals communicate. Technology has since underpinned efforts to bring differentzzzz communities together and has become increasingly important during an age of digitalization. 

“Technology has become one of our major tools for being able to bridge that gap to enhance the connections and relationships we can form with one another,” said Roberta Cordano, Gallaudet University president. 

I was honored to have the chance to host the first of two Disability:IN DC Metro webinars this summer. Held on July 27, 2021, it examined how technology is helping bridge the gap between communities. Here are some of the key highlights, companies that are reimagining how technology can be used — and how COVID is challenging our considerations of communication.

Technologies for Equitable Access

Technologies that support equitable access aren’t technologies that support people with disabilities. They are technologies that support the entire community, allowing all of us to communicate and remove barriers. 

Since teletypewriters, innovation has been rampant in communication. For example, for the Deaf and hard of hearing, there are ASL interpreters, especially those specialized in fields such as law and medicine, remote video interpreting, closed captioning services, hearing aids, transcripts, alt image descriptions, among others.

Gallaudet has often been at the forefront of pioneering digital solutions. When Cordano first arrived, it had recently created its Motion Light Lab, a research and development lab that uses motion capture to support a wide variety of innovation. Its work includes creating 3D avatars with sign language through motion capture technology and bilingual storybook apps.   

More companies are introducing devices, apps and even clothing that support a more diverse range of people, tapping into a market share of individuals with disabilities that is roughly $490 billion, according to the American Institutes for Research.

Tim Wright, a former NFL player, partnered with Dome Audio to create headphones that send sounds through the bone, directly into the cochlear. “We are now providing a safer, more effective form of listening for folks that suffer from hard of hearing,” he said. It’s “an ultimate headphone experience” for everyone. 

Ontenna, which Kunihiko Morinaga designed into jewelry, creates lights that represent music and sounds — including rhythm and volume — to provide visual cues for those who are hard of hearing. Companies can print 3D clothing, which simplifies manufacturing bespoke items that can be adapted to different body types or comfort levels. The Vigour sweater, from Dutch designer Pauline Van Dongen, uses conductive yarn that tracks the wearer’s activity level, and can help elderly people and people with disabilities share mobility information with their health practitioners. 

Around the world, countries are trialling new technologies that broaden equitable access, especially with the constraints and risks of COVID. In Belarus, Deaf people often use lip reading and an interpreter at health centers, but masks have rendered one unavailable, and many interpreters have become remote due to COVID cautions. The World Health Organization (WHO) launched a tablet computer that gives Deaf patients a sign-to-speech translation service, ensuring that communication is accurate and efficient between patients and doctors. 

We can also take a lesson from Australia, which debuted its 2021 census that included Braille, large print formats, audio, Australian Sign Language videos with closed captions and easy-to-read guides. 

Paying attention to changes like this can direct our focus to daily technology that excludes different communities, such as Siri or self-driving cars, which are not accessible to people who are Deaf and hard of hearing.

Signing Together

COVID catalyzed new difficulties in communication, with masks blocking facial expressions and lip reading. For Cordano, it amplified not just the demand for new technology, but the need for more of the population to learn ASL. 

“Wearing masks during this time was the most powerful disconnect,” Cordano said during her keynote presentation. “It reminds me once again of the importance of all of the US using gestures.” 

An entire community using gestures to eliminate barriers of communication is not a new one. Through the 1600s to the 1800s, a small town in Martha’s Vineyard developed a sign language — prior to the development of ASL. About 1 in 25 members of the town’s population was hard of hearing, but nearly everyone spoke the language, which was taught to children from birth. Languages from communities like Martha’s Vineyard contributed to what would become American Sign Language. 

The residents of Martha’s Vineyard looked at learning sign language as a necessary part of life, another method to share, experience and come together. Whether in employment or education, personal or professional spheres, allowing for this remains critical. 

“The young people becoming members of our workforce, or who will be members of our workforce, need to be able to connect with others and live with hearing loss,” Cordano said. 

I’m excited to have delivered a keynote and led a roundtable discussion at the second Disability:IN DC Metro Webinar on August 17, 2021. The webinar discussed how to initiate equitable access in employment, and I moderated a roundtable that included John Macko, Dawn Lucas, Cole Innis, DeAndra Brown and Becky Coleman.

Keep an eye out on my blog for a follow-up to that conversation and how you can further equitable access in your own organization.