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Communication Tips
Tips for Communicating with
People with Disabilities
Sometimes it can be uncomfortable to interact with someone who is different from us, such as a person who is blind, deaf or uses a wheelchair; or who has a mental illness, learning disorder or chronic pain. Here are general tips for communicating with people who have disabilities.
- When talking with a person who is using an interpreter or an aide, speak directly to the person, not to the interpreter or aide.
- When meeting a person with a visual impairment, always identify yourself and others who may be with you. When conversing in a group, remember to identify the person to whom you are speaking.
- If you offer assistance, wait until the offer is accepted. Then listen to or ask for instructions.
- Treat adults as adults. Address people who have disabilities by their first names only when extending that same familiarity to all others present. Don't pat a person in a wheelchair on the head.
- Listen attentively when talking with someone who has difficulty speaking. Be patient and wait for them to finish. If necessary, ask short questions that require short answers, a nod or a shake of the head. Never pretend to have understood if you are having difficulty doing so. Instead, repeat what you have understood and allow the person to respond.
- When speaking with a person in a wheelchair, place yourself at eye level in front of the person to facilitate the conversation.
- To get the attention of a person who is hearing impaired, tap the person on the shoulder or wave your hand. Look directly at the person and speak clearly, slowly and expressively to establish if the person can read your lips. Not all people with a hearing impairment can read lips. For those who can, place yourself facing the light source and keep hands and food away from your mouth when speaking.
- Relax. Don't be embarrassed if you happen to use common expressions that seem to relate to the person's disability, such as "see you later", or "did you hear about this?"
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