Choose the Right Headset for Disabled Employees

When you run a call center, you are bound by law to ensure all your employees have the right equipment. That means you have to have computers, monitors, headsets, phones and other electronics that work for those with disabilities and those without disabilities. Finding headsets that can accommodate both types of employees could be a challenge. However, companies like Plantronics can help you find the right equipment. In fact, the company is dedicated to helping people with disabilities with its Section 508 program. Plantronics supplies its headsets to customers who have to implement Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. This is the section that ensures federal agencies' information technology is accessible to people with disabilities. The company makes sure it's headsets follow all standards relating to the section. It is important that headsets address all needs. What Is Assistive Technology? The terms assistive device or assistive technology refers to any device that helps a person with hearing loss, or a voice, speech or language disorder to communicate. These devices aid a person to hear and understand what is being said more clearly or to express thoughts more easily. More and more devices are becoming available to help people with hearing, voice, speech and language disorders communicate more meaningfully and participate more fully in their daily lives. What Are Available? Headsets that act as assistive listening devices amplify the sounds you want to hear, especially where there’s a lot of background noise. Noise-cancellation technology and the listening devices can be used with a hearing aid or cochlear implant to help a wearer hear certain sounds better. Augmentative and alte ative communication devices allow people with communication disorders to express themselves. These devices can range from a simple picture board to a computer program that synthesizes speech from text. Electronic devices can connect to a doorbell, telephone or alarm that emits a loud sound or blinking light to let someone with hearing loss or is blind to know that something is happening. These are available in the workplace to help employees handle their jobs. Some are designed for classrooms, theaters, places of worship and airports. Other types are meant for personal use in small settings and for one-on-one conversations. All can be used with or without hearing aids or a cochlear implant. For many years, people with hearing loss have used text telephone or telecommunications devices, called TTY or TDD machines, to communicate by phone. This same technology also benefits people with speech difficulties. However, they are becoming obsolete. Today, people can place phone calls through the telecommunications relay service using a laptop, personal digital assistant or cell phone. Text messaging has also become a popular method of communication, skipping the relay service altogether. And, headset technology is keeping up with telecommunications. Therefore, if you get the right headset, you can make sure you are providing for those with disabilities.