Scenario 3:

A deaf graduate who lip reads has been selected to work on a scientific research project. The research team has 11 members. The researcher needs a quiet place to make phone calls and the team's social area is large and very lively.

Possible adjustments

The disability adviser met with the researcher prior to entry. He explained that group situations presented the greatest challenge to effective communication. He was shown the two rooms that the group would occupy and also the café nearest to their base room. The supervisors joined them to discuss the issues in situ.

The smaller office which housed 4 researchers seemed the best option to the researcher and it was arranged so that he could have space at the end of the room relatively free of background noise for making phone calls.

The café had long rectangular tables made up of several smaller tables. The catering staff agreed to rearrange the furniture so that the researcher would be able to see the faces of the majority of the team when they went for coffee breaks.

The researcher alerted the supervisors to specific communication needs so it was decided that the whole research team take part in a very short deaf-awareness training session on the first day. The disability adviser and the researcher organised the training.