Communicating with People who have Disabilities

1. Communicating with People who have Disabilities A Team ODOS Presentation Because we care

2. Outline • 10 Commandments of Etiquette • When you meet someone who is blind • Dealing with Guide Dogs • When you meet someone who is in a wheelchair

3. Fix the Paragraph After their horrible juggling grenades accident, Bob was paralyzed from the waist down and stuck in a wheelchair. Jill became deaf and dumb. They visited their friend Grimm who suffered from blindness. They all decided to visit the gravesite of Tiny, their dwarfed friend. It was a shame that there wasn’t a handicapped path.

4. 10 Commandments of Etiquette • When talking with a person with a disability, speak directly to that person • When introduced to a person with a disability, it is appropriate to offer to shake hands • When meeting a person who is visually impaired, always identify yourself and others • If you offer assistance, wait until the offer is accepted. Do not grab visually impaired people, let them grab your arm • Treat adults as adults

5. 10 Commandments of Etiquette Continued • Leaning on or hanging on to a wheelchair is similar to leaning or hanging on to a person • Listen attentively when you’re talking with a person who has difficulty speaking • When speaking with a person who uses a wheelchair or crutches, place yourself at eye level in front of the person • To get the attention of a person who is deaf, tap them on the shoulder or wave your hand, and make sure they they can see you when speaking to them • RELAX

6. When you meet a person who is visually impaired Be Yourself • Introduce yourself • Do not view them as different or unique • Build a friendship

7. Offering Assistance • It is okay to ask a student who is visually impaired if they need some assistance. Just Say, “May I help you?” • Do not assume you know what the student needs or where they need to go. • Do not grab a person who is visually impaired when offering assistance, let them take your arm

8. Dealing With Guide Dogs • Approach the student on his/her free side • Do NOT pet the dog without permission. It is working. • Do not feed, tease or call to the dog. • If you wish to assist someone with a guide dog, first ask and wait for an answer • Do not say commands (you are not the master) • Never grab the leash of a guide dog • Do not offer food or treats to a guide dog

9. Giving Directions • Give explicit verbal directions. “Main street is that way” will have no meaning. • Estimate distances and state whether the person should travel left or right. • Report any changes in the environment such as construction areas.

10. Courtesy • Do not avoid the word “see” when talking to a person who is visually impaired • Ask if someone needs help • Talk about classes, events, etc • Offer to study with a student who is visually impaired • Build a new friendship • Offer to read them class notes

11. Fixed Paragraph After their horrible juggling grenades accident, Bob is paralyzed from the waist down and now confined to a wheelchair. Jill had become deaf. They visited their friend Grimm who is visually impaired. They all decided to visit the gravesite of Tiny, their friend who was a little person. It was a shame that there wasn’t a handicapped path.

12. Questions? • Don’t forget to sign the attendance form • Don’t forget your pamphlets and pins • Put your reflections in your design notebook • Proof your reports for this semester and correct all errors