THE Access to Work scheme is crucial in providing support for working people who are deaf, according to not-for-profit organisation Dot Sign.

Dawn Hoskins, from Dot Sign, said: “The benefits of meaningful employment are wider than mental health and wellbeing, they create money for the Government in return, the recipient of the benefit is in work and paying tax, their interpreter is paying tax, and their communication support workers are paying tax.”

She continued: “Deaf people working in a hearing world do not often talk to their colleagues or managers about the benefits they receive. Why should they, it is private? No hearing person would be asked to divulge this sensitive information. Yet, we are now hearing that Access to Work staff are making direct contact with the managers of deaf staff to discuss their benefits and if it is to be capped.”

Further, if it is to be capped, they are requesting that the company now make financial contributions towards the support that the deaf employee receives.

“Deaf people already feel at a disadvantage, to make them a financial liability will cause immeasurable damage,” continued Dawn. “Employers will think twice about hiring a deaf person if they know it will cost them more than a hearing person.