The Importance Of Communication With People With Disabilities

Most of the recommendations are low- or no-cost approaches that would be easy to implement in a variety of settings including government, non profits, advocacy agencies, private businesses, the general public and the media.

For many people, there is some awkwardness in communicating with people with disabilities—they’re just not sure how to act and what to say.

Should you look at people with a mobility or disfiguring disability and risk them thinking you’re staring at them, or do you ignore them, avoiding eye contact and risk making them feel ostracized? Should you help someone who seems to be having difficulty getting his/her wheelchair up an incline? What do you do when you can’t understand someone with a speech disability?

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5.People with disabilities always need help.

Many people with disabilities are quite independent and capable of giving help. But if you want to help someone with a disability, ask first if he or she needs it.

6.The lives of people with disabilities are totally different than those of people without disabilities.

People with disabilities go to school, get married, work, have families, do laundry, grocery shop, laugh, cry, pay taxes, get angry, have prejudices, vote, plan and dream, just like everyone else.

7.There’s nothing one person can do to help eliminate the barriers confronting people with disabilities.

Everyone can contribute to change. You can help remove barriers by for example,

Accepting people with disabilities as individual human beings with the same needs and feelings you might have.

Interacting with People with Disabilities

When interacting with people with disabilities, it is important to extend them the same respect that are shown to others. However, there are some rules that will help both you and the person with the disability feel more comfortable. Following are some general recommendations as well as some disability- specific tips to improve communication and interaction

■ It is appropriate to shake hands when introduced to a person with a disability. People with limited hand use or who wear an artificial limb do shake hands.

Language is very important in presenting a realistic portrayal of people with disabilities. There are certain phrases and words that should be avoided because they promote negative stereotypes. Following are some guidelines for reporting on people with disabilities.

1. Use the word disability when referring to persons or people with disabilities—don’t use the word handicapped. A disabling condition may or may not be handicapping. For example, someone who uses a wheelchair has a physical disability. This person is handicapped when faced with a set of stairs when there is no ramp alongside.

2. Emphasize the person, not the disability, by using people-first language. For example, it is preferable to say, “people with disabilities” instead of “the disabled.”

3. Because people are not conditions, don’t label individuals as “the disabled,” “epileptics,” “post-polio” or with other names of conditions. Refer, instead, to “people with cerebral palsy” or “someone who has a seizure