The D’Driven is an Erasmus+ project which aims to fill a significant gap in modern society by facilitating the inclusion of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) people in the workplace. In this context, it aims to address both DHH people and employers by understanding and bridging both sides into a fruitful collaboration. Additionally, with understanding the needs of modern workers, the creation of the D’Driven allows participants (employers and their staff) to get educated on a work protocol at their own pace and time.

Deaf and hard of hearing people are individuals who have varying degrees of hearing loss, which can impact their ability to perceive and understand sounds. This can range from mild to profound hearing loss. DHH people often face challenges in communication and accessing auditory information, but many have developed strategies and use technologies to overcome these challenges and participate fully in society. Deaf individuals typically have significant hearing loss, and their primary mode of communication might be sign language or a combination of sign language and spoken language, depending on their background and preferences. Hard of hearing individuals have varying levels of hearing loss and may use a range of communication methods.

The D’Driven project aims to fulfill specific Scientific Objectives (SOs):
1) The creation of a robust but flexible 75 hours educational and training protocol to educate modern organization directors and staff members in understanding the deaf culture and accommodation needs.
2) To obtain both soft and hard data on the effectiveness of the educational programme in changing normal typical people’s attitudes towards inclusion, marginalization, and stigmatization associated with the deaf community.
3) To obtain both soft and hard data to support the hypothesis that our educational programme benefits members of the deaf community in relation to their feelings of self-confidence and fulfillment, access to employment and quality of life.

The DDRIVEN project delivered significant outcomes promoting Deaf-friendly workplaces. A dual-curriculum training program was developed, including 12 modules for employers and 10 for DHH individuals, with both live and self-paced learning. A digital platform was launched, featuring 22 interactive modules, CV-building tools, and job-matching functionalities. Over 140 participants, including 100 employers and 40 DHH individuals, were trained across partner countries.

Keywords: Deaf and Hard of Hearing peple, adults education, Erasmus + project.