Empowering Deaf Careers | Inclusive Hiring, Accessibility & Workplace Accommodations w/ Lorna Riff

Listen Here: https://youtu.be/C-QvcTGIbbw

During this interview, Judith Weigle and Lorna Riff discuss inclusive hiring practices, empowering deaf job seekers, and the real-world challenges deaf individuals face in the workplace. Lorna speaks on her approach to overcoming barriers to employment.

Lorna shares her firsthand experiences hiring deaf and physically divergent employees, highlighting the importance of accessibility, communication accommodations, and flexibility in modern work environments. Together, Judith and Lorna explore how disability does not equate to inability, and how inclusive hiring benefits both employers and all of the employees.

About Lorna:

Lorna was born and raised by deaf parents in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is fluent in ASL. She is on nonprofit boards that aid people who cannot afford legal representation, and is a volunteer for court programs. Her hobbies include painting, geneology, exploring LA’s food culture, and cooking.

What we discussed:

• Challenges deaf individuals face during job applications and interviews

• The importance of interpreters, closed captioning, and ASL access

• Hiring and onboarding deaf employees in remote and in-person roles

• Overcoming communication barriers using tools like Microsoft Teams closed captions

• Recruiting deaf students and interns through accessible career events

• Creating inclusive, welcoming workplace cultures

• Advocacy, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and long-term change

• Why inclusive hiring is both a personal and professional value

Lorna also shares her mother’s career journey at a major accounting firm, where she created her own opportunities by advocating for accommodations like a phone assistant. She also discusses recruiting deaf interns by providing interpreters at college events, resulting in long-term employment success and teammates learning sign language to better communicate.

This conversation highlights how small accommodations can lead to meaningful inclusion, stronger teams, and lasting cultural change.

If you’re an employer, HR professional, educator, advocate, or job seeker, this interview offers practical insight into how to create accessible, equitable workplaces for deaf and neurodivergent individuals.

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