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Visual Impairments |
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Mobility and Dexterity |
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Deaf/Hard of Hearing |
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Speech Impairments |
The following are tips to improve communication with disabled persons.
Visual Impairments
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Introduce yourself and anyone else who might be present when speaking with a person with a vision impairment.
- Use a normal voice level when speaking; remember a vision impaired person has sight problems, not a hearing loss.
- Speak directly to the vision impaired person and address him or her by name.
- Do not hesitate to use such words as look or see; persons with vision impairments use these terms also.
- When walking with a visually impaired person, allow him or her to take your arm just above the elbow. Walk in a natural manner and pace.
- A guide dog is trained as a working animal and should not be petted or spoken to without the permission of the handler. A general rule of thumb is that the dog is working while in harness.
- When offering a seat to a vision impaired person, place the person’s hand on the back or arm of the seat. This gives the person a frame of reference to seat himself or herself.
Mobility and Dexterity
- Persons with mobility limitations will ask for assistance when they need it. Do not assume assistance is needed.
- When conversing with someone in a wheelchair, sit so that you are at that persons eye level whenever possible.
- Leaning on a wheelchair is tantamount to leaning on a persons shoulder; it is an invasion of personal space.
- When discussing a persons disability and accommodation and adaptation needs, talk only about needs that are relevant to the successful completion of course work.
- Refer to a person in a wheelchair as a “wheelchair user” not as “confined” to a wheelchair. Most people using wheelchairs transfer to furniture, automobiles, etc., using wheelchairs only as a means of movement from one point to another.
- If a persons speech is affected by the disability and difficult to understand, do not hesitate to ask the person to repeat.
Deaf/Hard of Hearing
- Attract the attention of the person before speaking with a cue such as a tap on the shoulder or wave.
- Face the person while talking (try to avoid facing the chalkboard while speaking).
- Speak clearly and naturally without exaggerating lip movements or volume.
- Avoid standing in front of a light source like a window– the glare from behind makes it difficult to read lips.
- Do no chew gum, smoke, or otherwise obstruct the area around your mouth with your hands or other objects that interfere with speech reading. (Be aware that facial hair can inhibit speech reading).
Speech Impairments
- Be patient and listen.
- Do not provide words or finish sentences for a person who stutters or speaks with difficulty; let the person complete his or her thoughts.
- If the course requires oral communication and the person is unable to communicate orally, such as written communication, or use laptop speech synthesizers.
- Allow persons who are unable to communicate orally to use a typewriter, word processor, sign board, or sign interpreter.
- If you do not understand what is being said do not pretend to know; tell the person you do not understand and allow him or her to repeat the communication.
Related Articles:
- About Disabilities
- Current Trends in Disabilities
- Disabilities: Your Options
- Disabilities: How Social Workers Help
- Disabilities Tip Sheets
- Resources on Disabilities
- Disabilities Real Life Stories
