Fareham: IT company trains staff to work with deaf clients

A Hampshire IT firm has gone the extra mile to ensure its staff can help customers who are deaf or have hearing loss. Taylor Made Computer Solutions has worked with the Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD) to give employees training so they can work better with deaf clients.

The company has even changed some of its working practices as a result of the training, helping to provide a better service.

Service manager Ross Chapman, who took part in the sessions, said: “When you have good hearing you can take it for granted and assume everyone is the same. The training taught us how we can work effectively with people who are profoundly deaf and use British Sign Language (BSL)."

Taylor Made Computer Solutions, which counts the Royal Association for Deaf people as one of its clients, has adapted their working practices to work effectively customers who are deaf or have hearing loss. This new way of working alerts the service desk engineer at Taylor Made that the person making contact is deaf. It allows staff to be prepared and put their training to use.

The company also gives clients the option to raise IT issues through an online portal, eliminating the need to speak on the phone.

Lesley Frearson, director of finance and administration at The Royal Association for Deaf people, added: “Taylor Made is a prime example of a company that goes the extra mile to ensure it is inclusive, which is one of the reasons we chose the team to look after our IT. We’re delighted that the training is being put to good use and hope the staff will go on to share what they’ve learnt with other people they meet.”