Communication with disabled people

Knowing how to communicate with disabled people is important and I'll tell you about it here.

Let's think for a moment about how disability can change the life of a person or group of people, affecting their identity, their speech. Advocates have proposed that disability be treated as a trait rather than as a defining characteristic.

There are some guidelines that can help us when interacting with people with disabilities.

1) Talk directly to her instead of looking or talking to her companion or sign language interpreter.

2) When you are introduced to someone who has a disability, greet them with a handshake, people with limited hand use or who use an artificial limb can usually wave (greeting with the left hand is acceptable).

3) When you meet someone with an eye condition, identify yourself and also with others who are with you. When talking in a group, remember to identify the person with whom you are speaking; and if he's already gone, let him know he's gone.

4) If you offer help, wait for your offer to be accepted, then listen to the instructions or ask to be provided.

5) Treat adults as such, address people with disabilities using their first names, only when you treat everyone else the same. Never condescendingly talk to people in wheelchairs by patting them on the head or shoulder.

6) Recharging or hanging from a person's wheelchair is very annoying and is usually part of the body space of the person who uses it.

7) Listen carefully when a person who has difficulty speaking speaks. Be patient and wait for it to end, instead of correcting or speaking for it. If necessary, ask short questions that require the same answers or a shake of the head, never pretend you have understood if you are not. Instead, repeat what you have understood and allow your interlocutor to respond. The answer will serve as clues and guide your understanding.

8) When talking to a person who uses a wheelchair or crutches, place yourself in front of them and at eye level to facilitate conversation.

9) To grab the attention of a person who is deaf, touch his shoulder or gently wave his hand. Look her straight in the face and speak clearly, slowly and expressively, to know if she knows how to read lips, not all deaf people know how to do it. In the case of those who do read them, be sensitive to their needs, position yourself so that you are in front of a light source and do not bring your hands, cigarettes or food to your mouth while talking.

10) Relax. Don't be embarrassed if by chance you use expressions like: "See you later," or Did you hear what they said ?, which apparently would be related to the person's disability. When you are not sure what to do, don't be afraid to ask questions.

These points are very important to be considered, especially if you visit a place or friend, a family member with a disability.

Taken from the book: Organizational Communication by Ronald B Adler and Jeanne Marquardt Elmhorst

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