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| Mission | Policies | Services | Staff | Advocacy | Department | Accessibility |
Communicating with Persons
Who Have Disabilities
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1. See the person who has a disability as a person, not a disability. 2. Don't "talk down". Avoid responding to persons with disabilities out of "gratefulness" for not having the disability yourself. 3. Be considerate. It might take extra time for the person with a disability to say or do things. All disabilities are not readily apparent. 4. Don't lean or hang on a person's wheelchair. It is a part of that person's body space. 5. Ask a wheelchair occupant if he or she wants to be pushed before you do so. 6. Don't pet a guide dog when it is working. Remember to walk on the side of the person away from the dog. 7. Ask the person if he or she wants help first. When giving assistance to a person with visual impairment, allow the person to take your arm, which helps you to guide. Warn the person of any steps or changes in level. Use specific terms such as right or left. 8. When communicating with a person with a hearing impairment, speak clearly and slowly. Don't shout or exaggerate lip movements and keep sentences short. Keep hands, food, etc., away from your mouth when talking. 9. Speak directly to the person who has a disability, not to a companion or an interpreter. 10. Relax. Don't worry about using common expressions like "see you later" or "I've got to be running along" when talking to persons with physical or visual disabilities. |
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