Signs, gestures keep lines of communication open at PPG plant
Our employees across the globe communicate in dozens of languages. But not every language includes the spoken word. At our aerospace manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Alabama, Randy Smallwood, a CNC machinist, communicates with co-workers through signs, gestures and written notes. Smallwood has been deaf since losing his hearing at a young age.
“We write notes and use body language with gestures, and some of my coworkers have learned basic signs that help during the day," Smallwood explained in writing. “We also bring in American Sign Language interpreters for meetings so that I can participate. It's a really supportive work environment."
Tom Meyer, plant manager, aerospace, Huntsville, Alabama, and head of our Abilities First Employee Resource Network (ERN), never expected Smallwood's deafness to affect his ability to get the job done. “The more that we are around others who have disabilities like deafness, the more we realize that their disability doesn't affect their performance," said Meyer. “Working together, we can learn skills to improve our connections with each other and find ways to make it happen."
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately 466 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss and projects that the number will double by 2050. Like Smallwood, many rely on sign language to communicate; currently, an estimated 300 sign languages are used in countries around the world. As part of National Deaf Hearing Month in the United States, which concluded on April 15, hearing specialists recommend five strategies to help make signs and gestures more effective:
Get the attention of the deaf or hearing impaired individual so that he or she knows you are speaking
Communicate in a well-lit area so that the person can see your face, read your lips and process any non-verbal communication cues
Speak clearly to make lip reading easier
Check for understanding by writing things down, using gestures or sign language to make the message clear
Use sign language or an interpreter when possible