What are some hints for communicating with individuals who have disabilities?

Date Updated
10/14/21

Treat people with disabilities with the same respect and consideration with which you treat others. There are no strict rules when it comes to relating to people with disabilities. However, listed below are some helpful hints from the DO-IT Center at the 糖心原创. These suggestions can also be found on the DO-IT website at Helpful Communication Hints.

General

  • Ask a person with a disability if that person needs help before providing assistance.
  • Talk directly to the person with a disability, not through their companion or interpreter.聽
  • Refer to a person鈥檚 disability only if it is relevant to the conversation.聽
  • Avoid derogatory slang or negative descriptions of a person鈥檚 disability. For example, 鈥渁 person who uses a wheelchair鈥 is more appropriate than 鈥渁 person confined to a wheelchair.鈥 A wheelchair is not confining鈥攊t鈥檚 liberating!
  • Provide information in alternate means (e.g., written, spoken, diagrams).
  • Do not interact with a person鈥檚 guide dog or service dog unless you have received permission to do so.
  • Do not be afraid to use common terms and phrases, like 鈥渟ee you later鈥 or 鈥渓et鈥檚 go for a walk鈥 around people with disabilities.聽
  • Do not touch mobility devices or assistive technology without the owner鈥檚 consent.
  • Do not assume physical contact鈥攍ike handshakes, high-fives, or hugs鈥攊s okay.
  • Understand that not everyone uses eye contact.聽

Blind or Low Vision

  • Be descriptive. Say, 鈥淭he computer is about three feet to your left,鈥 rather than 鈥淭he computer is over there.鈥
  • Speak all of the projected content when presenting and describe the content of charts, graphs, and pictures.
  • When guiding people with visual impairments, offer them your arm rather than grabbing or pushing them.

Learning Disabilities

  • Offer directions or instructions both orally and in writing. If asked, read instructions to individuals who have specific learning disabilities.

Mobility Impairments

  • Consider carrying on a long conversation with an individual who has a mobility impairment from a seated position.

Speech Impairments

  • Listen carefully. Repeat what you think you understand and then ask the person with a speech impairment to clarify or repeat the portion that you did not understand.

Deaf or Hard of Hearing

  • Face people with hearing impairments, and avoid covering your mouth, so they can see your lips. Avoid talking while chewing gum or eating.聽
  • Speak clearly at a normal volume. Speak louder only if requested.
  • Repeat questions from audience members.
  • Use paper and pencil, or type things out on your cell phone, if the person who is deaf does not read lips or if more accurate communication is needed.
  • When using an interpreter, speak directly to the person who is deaf; when an interpreter voices what a person who is deaf signs, look at the person who is deaf, not the interpreter.

Psychiatric Impairments

  • Provide information in clear, calm, respectful tones.
  • Allow opportunities for addressing specific questions.