Empowering Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Join the Cybersecurity Revolution

Empowering Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Join the Cybersecurity Revolution

At a glance

• Why inclusion matters: Deaf and Hard of Hearing people are underrepresented in cybersecurity.
• The event: NYC Voices is hosting an event to promote cybersecurity education in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
• Speakers: Security and accessibility advocates will share their experience.
• Next steps: Longer-term support is needed to widen the cybersecurity workforce.

An overlooked talent pool

Digital threats keep changing, and the need for skilled security workers is urgent. Yet the field often overlooks Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. A more diverse workforce brings different perspectives to hard problems.

Why inclusion matters

Opportunities in cybersecurity are growing, but the workforce is still narrow. Diversity efforts have expanded, yet people with disabilities remain underrepresented. Including Deaf and Hard of Hearing workers is fair. It also helps.

A 2023 report by Cybersecurity Ventures predicted that there would be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally by 2025. Filling those jobs means recruiting beyond the usual candidates, including people who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

The NYC Voices event

NYC Voices, an advocacy group for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, is organizing an event to help close that gap. It is scheduled for March 18th from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, and organizers plan to walk attendees through what security jobs actually involve day to day, which entry routes work for people without a computer science degree and how Deaf and Hard of Hearing professionals already working in the field got their start.

The event at the Westside Community Hub will include live demonstrations of security skills, networking and resources designed for Deaf and Hard of Hearing participants.

Who is speaking

Speakers include a cybersecurity consultant who advocates for workforce diversity and argues that the field needs people who think differently.

An adaptive technology specialist will also lead workshops on tools that help Deaf and Hard of Hearing workers succeed in security roles.

What comes after the event

The NYC Voices event is a useful start. Real progress needs more: training materials designed for Deaf learners, mentors and adaptive technology on the job.

Employers also need to change how they hire and support staff. Captioned training and interpreters for interviews are a start. Written channels for incident calls help too.

How to get involved

Security teams that want to recruit from this community can start small. Send a recruiter or engineer to events like this one, caption every training video and offer interviews with an ASL interpreter. Deaf and Hard of Hearing candidates interested in the field can contact NYC Voices about the event and follow-up programs.

John King, CISSP, PMP, CISM

John King currently works in the greater Los Angeles area as a ISSO (Information Systems Security Officer). John has a passion for learning and developing his cyber security skills through education, hands on work, and studying for IT certifications.