I get it; you’re trying to justify spending all that money to bring me over to run a deaf awareness training.
And with so much information available with the help of a simple Google search, you may be wondering what can I bring differently for you if the information is available for free online.
I’ll be honest with you: you can get away with not paying anything by reading the blogs that I have written and listen/read the podcasts that I have recorded and learn from there.
And you can also do your search online and learn from other reputable sources for free too.
But it’s one thing to read various blog posts; it’s another to receive customised training about deaf awareness directly from me.
If you want to receive a service that is another level, it may come at a price but it is worth it in the long-run.
Below I will explain why am I expensive.
1. You Can’t Buy 30+ Years of Deaf Experience
You can’t buy experience by reading a bunch of books and blog posts.
As someone who has being deaf/hard of hearing since birth, you will find that my experience is a lot different to those who have studied it or have friends within the d/Deaf community.
You may come across a number of workshops out there that may be run by hearing individuals who have experience within the industry.
They may be able to share useful insights to you, perhaps after connecting with the community or perhaps they are from an academic or medical background.
And they have their own benefits which I could not compete against.
However, it is one thing to learn, read or be surrounded by it, but it is completely different if you are living in it.
From being able to share real-life experiences in various scenarios, to sharing emotional and powerful stories, you will hear true insights from a deaf person’s persective…me.
Personally, I sometime have a hard time listening (pun intended) to audiologist if they are not d/Deaf themselves because I don’t think they “GET IT” get it.
Sure, they have years of credible experience and qualifications, plus they provide vital contribution to the health service which many of us depends on.
And again, they have their own advantages which I couldn’t possibly do.
But unless they have a very deep and meaningful connection with d/Deaf people or are d/Deaf themselves, it’s difficult for them to have a true undertanding of what somewhat like myself goes through day in and day out.
This is the benefit that you get with me.
It’s not just about 30+ years of deaf lifestyle, but it covers various scenarios and environments such as:
- going through primary/secondary schools and 2 universities with only hearing students and teachers around me
- dealing with customers working in a restaurant
- being surrounded with only hearing people
- working in an office environment
- the challenges of being on public transports
- handling telephone calls with unhelpful service providers e.g. utility bills or insurance providers
- attending social events such as office parties and family events
- being part of sports team with hearing team-mates, e.g. football
- the challenges that comes with learning new languages
…and so much more.
And like everyone else on this planet, my experience is different to another d/Deaf person’s experience.
2. Bespoke to You & Your Audience
It’s easy for me to use the same workshop every single time someone hires me.
But what’s the point of that?!
Not only will you not get the full benefit of the service, but for me personally, I will have failed as a deaf advocate.
And that’s the worst thing for me to do.
As part of my mission to raise awareness, I vow to make sure that any content that I create (blog, podcast, video, workshop, public speaking, etc.) is put together in a way that I feel will help anyone who is accessing it.
It is the only way for me to help more people deaf aware and failure for me to do so will break my moral and ethical code.
By making it bespoke to you, I want to ensure that you get as much as possible covered and it is also relevant to you.
It is incredibly important for me to be able to provide exactly what you are looking, and only by making sure that you get a bespoke training that I will feel that you have gained what you paid for.
3. Engaging & Informative at the Same Time
Nobody wants to be involved in a workshop which is more likely to make you go “zzzzz” than an encouraging “hmmmm”.
Here is what you won’t get with me:
- going through 50 slides with a list of bullet points on each of them
- reading the slides word-by-word
- playing a bunch of YouTube videos and leave you to it
- hand out leaflets and brochures and leave you to it
- just have a chat about “deaf stuff”
Instead, you will get someone who will make it engaging as possible by organising activities, allow audience participations, use various mediums and provide a safe environment.
It is only this way that you will get your money’s worth.
And speaking of providing a safe environement…
4. A Unique Opportunity to Ask Difficult Questions
This may be the only opportunity for all attendees to be able to open up and ask those difficult questions that you couldn’t do elsewhere.
Let’s clear one thing though; it doesn’t mean that I will open the floor to any forms of abuse or ridicule whether it’s to myself or to other attendees in the room who wants to ask those questions.
It’s provide an opportunity to ask me difficult questions that you may have not had the opportuity elsewhere or you fear that you will offend someone.
And hopefully you can understand the difference between asking important questions and statements, and those that are just plain weird, like those I’ve received in the video below:
An important aspect of the workshop is to make sure that you as an attendee will feel comfortable and come away with more awareness. They might feel that a question is “too stupid” to ask.
But the only way we can get those questions answered is by creating the right environment for everyone involved.
5. Communicate as a Public Speaker
You may have noticed from my Speakers page that I tend to deliver talks at various events.
And I am also consistently uploading new videos on my YouTube channel.
The key thing is not just about what I deliver, but it’s also about how I do it.
I can share all the tips and advice that I want, but if it’s not delivered in the way that is engaging, then I’m wasting your time and money.
As I have mentioned earlier, I have no plans in just listing bullet points on dozens of slides and reading them off word-by-word.
To ensure that you get the quality you deserve, I regularly train and practice my communication as a public speaker and that means you will get the benefit of that during a training session.
6. What You Will Get Back is Priceless
What will it mean for you and your business if you have very happy employees/customers/clients who just happens to also be d/Deaf too?
Deaf is often labelled as an “invisible disability” for obvious reasons.
Unless someone has deliberately pointed it out or you may have noticed some visual clues like hearing aids or cochlear implants, you will not notice it at all.
And you may be going through your daily routine without realising that.
But imagine if you have provided an experience or service to d/Deaf individual that they did not expect nor seen anywhere.
For example:
- as a barista, you used technology and basic BSL signs to help overcome communications at your cafe and provided the best service for your d/Deaf customers that they never received in other cafés.
- as a shop assistant at a clothing store, you were able to provide a personal service to your d/Deaf customers by finding the right clothes for them just because you communicated with them.
- as a waiter/waitress, you effortlessly used various techniques and delivered a great dining experience for your d/Deaf diners
- your deaf employee is more comfortable and is able to deliver tasks better and quicker than ever before. And as a result, he/she is much happier at your workplace
And in each of these situations, what you will get back can vary between having strong loyalty stakeholders who will also rave about you and very positive word-of-mouth within the Deaf community.
Can you put a price on that?
Since not everyone is going out of their way to d/Deaf people them (like myself included), you can be their go-to source of example on how to do things right.
Hopefully, this will page will convince you why this is a worthy investment that will benefit in many ways.
If you have any questions or you want to start the booking process, you can contact me or email me at hello(at)hearmeoutcc.com.