Employment scheme aids the deaf

Finding a job can be much harder for a hearing-impaired person than for those with hearing, according to a survey. It was conducted by Silence, a charity organisation for people with hearing impairments.

Silence sent out 300 questionnaires to its members to ask them their employment status, and from the 70 replies it received, it estimated the unemployment rate at about 25 per cent, or eight times that for people with hearing (3.2 per cent). Silence founder Lillian Li suspects the actual figure might be higher.

With sponsorships from Operation Santa Claus, an annual charity campaign jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and Radio Television Hong Kong, Silence has launched the Empowerment in Harmony scheme, a support programme to boost the employment of the hearing impaired. The programme includes training and career talks for Silence members to help them familiarise in a workplace environment.