www.diverseabilitymagazine.com DIVERSEability Magazine 65
Think Before You Speak Bwpje!vtjoh!mbcfmt!xifo!zpv!tqfbl!!uifz! are offensive to everyone, including people xjui!ejtbcjmjujft/!Bmxbzt!vtf!qfpqmft!stu!mbo- guage when writing about or speaking to peo- ple with disabilities. Avoid Showing Pity or Being Patronizing Qfpqmf!xjui!ejtbcjmjujft!bsfou!wjdujnt/!Bt!b! person in a wheelchair said, "I am not a wheel- chair victim. Wheelchair victims are the people I run into with my footrest at the supermarket." When you talk to a person with a disability, don't use pet names, such as "honey." It is also very disrespectful to pat people with disabili- ties on the head or talk down to them as though they were children.
Interacting with People with Disabilities
When you interact with people with disabili- ties, talk directly to them, not to their compan- ions, aides, or interpreters. Here are some ways to interact with people xjui!tqfdjd!uzqft!pg!ejtbcjmjujft; When you interact with someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, remember that some individuals may be able to hear, some may be able to lip read, while others prefer to use sign language or assistive technolo- hz/!Btl!uifn!ipx!uifz!qsfgfs!up!dpnnv- nicate. When you interact with someone who is blind or visually impaired, always intro- duce yourself and let them know when you are leaving. You may offer your arm or el- cpx!bt!b!hvjef!jg!uifz!sfrvftu!bttjtubodf! but never push, pull or grab the individual. Epou!qfu!ps!ejtusbdu!b!hvjef!eph/!Uif!eph! is responsible for its owner's safety and is always working - it is not a pet! When you interact with someone who uses a wheelchair, do not push, lean on or hold the person's wheelchair. Try to put yourself at eye level when talking with someone in a wheelchair. When you interact with someone with a cognitive disability, speak to the person in clear, simple sentences. Be patient with them and give them time to communicate with you. When you interact with someone with a speech impairment, allow them as much time as they need to communicate. Be sftqfdugvm!boe!bwpje!uszjoh!up!ojti!uifjs! sentences.
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