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How to relate to students and staff with disabilities?

  • July 21, 2021
  • Posted by: wssenyondo
  • Category: How to ,
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Persons with disabilities are not a homogenous group. Each type of impairment has distinct peculiarities and needs. Even non-disabled persons have their likes and dislikes which you get to know. Therefore, it is good to be aware about what the particular preferences are for an individual, rather than assume that these are the same for all persons.

However, these 5 tips can help you when interacting with students or staff with disabilities.

  • Do not stare at persons with disabilities too much. It makes people uncomfortable.
  • Avoid pity. Pity is a negative attitude.
  • Communicate directly with the person, even when they are accompanied by an assistant.
  • Ask before you render assistance. Unsolicited help may threaten the person’s dignity and security.
  • Avoid ‘heroic’ praises. It signifies that you have a lower expectation of the person.

Tips for talking to and about people with disabilities

  • Call a person with a disability by his/her name and refer to a person’s disability only when it is related to what you are talking about. For example, don’t ask “What’s wrong with you?” Don’t refer to people in general or generic terms such as “the girl in the wheelchair.”
  • Talk directly to the person with a disability and not to his or her assistant, when you want to talk to the person with a disability.
  • It is okay to use words or phrases such as “disabled,” “disability,” or “persons with disabilities” when talking about disability issues. Ask persons with disabilities which term they prefer if they have a disability.
  • When talking about people without disabilities, it is okay to say “people without disabilities.” But do not refer to them as “normal” or “healthy.” These terms can make persons with disabilities feel as though there is something wrong with them and that they are “abnormal.”
  • Be eloquent, audible and avoid using lots of non-verbal.
Disability Negative Language Positive Language
General Handicapped person, invalid, the impaired, the disabled, PWD, CWD, WWD. Person with a disability.
Blind or visual impairment Dumb, Invalid Blind/Visually impaired, person who is blind/visually impaired.
Deaf or Hearing impairment Invalid, Deaf and Dumb, Deaf-Mute Deaf or hard-of-hearing, person who is deaf or hard of hearing
Speech/Communication disability Dumb, One who talks bad Person with a speech/communication disability.
Learning Disability Retarded, Slow, Brain-Damaged, “Special ed Learning disability, Cognitive disability, person with a learning or cognitive disability.
Psychosocial Disability Hyper-sensitive, Psycho, Crazy, Insane, Wacko, Nuts Person with a Psychological  disability.
Mobility/Physical disability Handicapped, Physically Challenged, “Special”, Deformed, Cripple, Gimp, Spastic, Spaz, Wheelchair-bound, Lame Wheelchair user, Physically disabled, Person with a mobility or physical disability.
Emotional disability Emotionally disturbed Emotionally disabled, Person with an emotional disability.
Intellectual disability Retard, Mentally retarded, “Special ed Intellectual disabled/ Person with a cognitive/developmental disability.
Short stature, Little person Dwarf, Midget Someone of short stature
Health Conditions Victim, “Someone “stricken with”, disability (i.e. “someone stricken with cancer” or an AIDS victim) Someone “living with a specific disability (i.e. “someone living with cancer or AIDS”)
disability inclusive education interaction with persons with disabilities students with disabilities university
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