What is "Gratuna," a Job Service for People with Hearing Impairments or Deafness?

According to the 2017 "Survey on Employment Status of Persons with Disabilities," the turnover rate for people with physical disabilities reaches 40% within a year.

Reference: Research on Employment Status of Persons with Disabilities | Organization for Employment of the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities and Job Seekers

Among them, individuals with hearing impairments face challenges such as difficulty in communicating with those around them, making it hard to work effectively. 

A job service that addresses these challenges from the perspective of the individuals themselves was launched in February 2023.

This time, we introduce "Gratuna," a Job Service for People with Hearing Impairments by Hogaku Co., Ltd.

We hope that many people, including those with hearing impairments, their families, and school officials, will learn about this service and use it in their job search activities.

1. The Invisible Challenges of People with Hearing Impairments

One of the challenges faced by people with hearing impairments is that their condition is not easily understood by appearance. This often leads to a lack of understanding from those around them, making it difficult to fully utilize their abilities at work due to communication challenges.

According to the National Institute of Vocational Rehabilitation, the turnover rate for people with hearing impairments in general job postings is about 40%.

Reference: Research on Employment Status of Persons with Disabilities | National Institute of Vocational Rehabilitation

Gratuna was created to help companies understand the considerations and points to share with individuals in advance.

2. What is the Job Service "Gratuna" for People with Hearing Impairments?

Gratuna is a matching service for people with hearing impairments and hiring companies.

Unlike traditional services that group all persons with disabilities together, this is a job site specifically for people with hearing impairments, where communication methods and considerations can be specifically listed.

This allows job seekers to understand these aspects in advance, reducing misunderstandings after employment.

The service also suggests workplace environments to companies to make it easier for people with hearing impairments to work, and provides ongoing support after matching to ensure there is no anxiety for both job seekers and companies.

Gratuna helps create an environment where both parties can know and understand each other in advance.

Reference: Gratuna | Hogaku Co., Ltd.

2-1. The Meaning Behind the Name "Gratuna"

Gratuna combines the English word "Gravity" with the Japanese word for "connect" (tsunagu).

According to research by Hogaku Co., Ltd., in previous employment for people with disabilities, while they could work, the sense of fulfillment and interest in the job for the employee was often secondary.

By clearly indicating what both parties want to know in advance, we aim to create an environment where companies and job seekers are naturally drawn to each other. This is the idea behind Gratuna.

2-2. Why "Gratuna" is Gaining Attention

Hogaku Co., Ltd. has been addressing barriers for people with hearing impairments through design under the concept of "More Design in Welfare." They also employ designers with hearing impairments.

The job templates created for Gratuna, based on the opinions of people with hearing impairments, have three key features.

The first is the tag function. Information that the individuals want to know, such as "employed people with hearing impairments" or "considerations for disabilities," can be checked with tags.

The second is the display of the selection process. It shows how the communication method will be handled during the selection process.

The third is the Gratuna Points. It provides detailed information that individuals are interested in, such as "how many people with hearing impairments are employed" or "what kind of efforts are made towards sign language."

These features make it easy for both job seekers and companies to understand each other.

Gratuna is a service that only Hogaku Co., Ltd., with its know-how in supporting individuals, can provide.

2-3. Creating the Future Through "Gratuna"

Finally, we asked Reiko Katayama, the CEO of Hogaku Co., Ltd., about the future they aim to create through Gratuna.

Katayama became involved with people with hearing impairments through the design of "Ekimatope," a device that visualizes station sounds. Initially, she was confused about how to communicate.

However, when Ekimatope gained attention on social media, she realized the potential of design in welfare.

When asked about the future she wants to create through Gratuna, Katayama responded:

"I want to create a world where, even if you can't hear or have difficulty hearing, you can choose the industry or job you love as a matter of course."

For Katayama, Gratuna is part of the design of employment arrangements. She aims for a future where such designs become widespread and feel natural to everyone. 

3. In Conclusion

This time, we introduced the job service "Gratuna" for people with hearing impairments.

"I want to work but lack confidence," "I'm worried if others will understand me."

This job service is recommended for those who feel this way. If you're interested, please visit the official website.

Gratuna Official Website: https://gratuna.com/

Hogaku Co., Ltd. Official Website: